New Kobe Sun Hotel

A TASTE OF OKINAWA

by heywinks about YUSHOKUYA

You are in Kobe but want to eat Okinawan food? This is the place to go. Good atmosphere & choice of sitting at a counter or table. Okinawan sake jugs line the counter & Okinawan music plays on the stereo giving a more Okinawan feel to the air. The order style is a la carte. You will have to order about half a dozen dishes as each dish size is small. Prices vary per dish but about 600-900yen for the entrees. The salads are delicious & so is the grilled shrimp. Try the noodle dishes as well!
There are 3 locations in Kobe, but I went to only the one in Motomachi.

A Lady of the Night

by Rabbityama

Kobe is a port city of Hyogo Prefecture located quite close to Osaka City. At first glance, the city is not so impressive however, if you stay into the evening after it gets dark, the city lights up, and a walk along the harbor is particularly beautiful! It's also known for being quite romantic, so many couples can be seen strolling along the waterside.

"Historical Sights"

Of course, it is not exclusively a night city. There are some noteworthy activities that can only be enjoyed in the daytime.

The Earthquake Museum is an interesting place to learn about Kobe's historical and devastating earthquake. Of course, "historical" may be misleading, because it is extremely recent history; 1995. Many people probably remember reading about it or seeing it on the news. If you are interested in learning more, the museum is worthwhile. There is another museum on Awaji Island and in Meriken Park they have preserved a small area to show the earthquake damages. It's an interesting sight.

"A Taste of China"

If you are looking for an experience different from that of many Japanese attractions, you may want to have a look at Kobe's Chinatown. It's one of the three most famous Chinatowns in Japan, along with the Chinatowns of Yokohama and Nagasaki. Although it is relatively small, it's a nice place to eat and shop around. They also hold events that are quite enjoyable. If you are in the Kansai area during Setsubun (Chinese New Year), it's well worth a visit to Kobe to view the various performances on the stage in the center of Nankin-machi in the Chinatown. The festivities last an entire week, although the day of Setsubun is the best day, because they offer the most activities and shows on this day.

To add to your Chinese tour of Kobe, you can also visit the Kobe Overseas Chinese History Museum. It's a small one-room museum, but exhibits are in Chinese and Japanese, so it may be well worth the visit for Chinese visitors in Kobe.

The zoo houses a variety of unique animals. The highlight, of course, is the Giant Panda, which you could consider to be part of Kobe's Chinese experience. They also have red pandas, koalas, hippos, an elephant, and a variety of bears, wild cats, monkeys, and birds, among other things. There is also a petting area for children. It's quite a nice zoo.