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Kobe is home to one of Japan's three most famous Chinatowns (Yokohama and Nagasaki being the other two), so when the Chinese New Year arrives (setsubun), the Chinatowns are great places to visit, and Kobe is no exception!
Although the Chinatown in Kobe is relatively small, during the Chinese New Year, the performances and festivities are plentiful and occur from morning on through the evening. The actual day of the Lunar New Year is the best time to go, because they offer the most activities, some of which are only performed on that day however, the performances and celebrations last the entire week, and the final days also have more festivities! The performances are well-put together and the crowds are honestly not that bad. If you can't visit during the New Years, the Chinatown is still a nice place to go for good food and shopping!
(Because this holiday is based on the Lunar Calendar, the date changes every year, so check the day of the Chinese New Year for the year that you will be here. It always occurs around late January or early February.) Directions: By train, get off at Motomachi Station. The Chinatown is about a five minute walk from the station. The New Years performances are held in the center where the four roads that make up the Chinatown intersect.Website: http://www.ryuusenkaku.jp/english/sightseeing.html
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Meriken Park is Kobe's most famous location around the harbor. It houses Kobe Tower, which is the symbol of the city, as well as a variety of other interesting things.
Walking around Meriken Park, you can see a ship, two interesting marine vessels, the Maritime Museum, and a variety of artwork. It also offers a nice view of Harborland. At night the view of Harborland is quite pretty, because the ferris wheel is lit up. Kobe Tower and some of the sites around the park are also lit up at night.
One of the most interesting features of Meriken Park is the Earthquake Memorial, which is dedicated to the victims of the earthquake that devastated the city in 1995. It is one of the only preserved damage sites from the earthquake, featuring broken concrete, railings, and lamp posts pointing in opposite directions. There is also a small area with information about the earthquake. The memorial and preserved sight are rather small, but they are still worth visiting. The earthquake that struck Kobe was quite large and a bit unusual, since the faults that run through Japan are not actually under Kobe city.
The park is free, but to enter the tower it costs 600 yen, and the Maritime Museum costs 200 yen to enter. Phone: 078-327-8983Directions: By train, you can get of at Motomachi Station and walk 15 minutes (past Chinatown) to the harbor OR get off at Kobe Station and walk along the harbor through Harborland to reach Meriken ParkWebsite: http://www.feel-kobe.jp/english/sightseeing/harbor.html
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 Monument Outside Chinese
History Museum by Rabbityama, 1 more photos
Discrimination against Chinese during WWII and restrengthening of ties between China and Japan are also displayed along with famous and influential Chinese citizens of Kobe. Although it is a one-room museum, it's very interesting. Exhibits are in Chinese and Japanese however, they have a very informative book in English (Chinese and Japanese, too) about what you see in the museum, so it is well worth the visit. (Ask for the book upon entering to get the most out of the museum).
The entrance fee is 300 yen (200 yen for college students). It's closed on Wednesdays. Address: 3-1-1 Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe 650-0024Phone: 078-331-3855Directions: The museum is located near Hotel Okura (by Meriken Park). It's beside the New Zealand building. The museum is on the second floor of its building.Website: http://www16.ocn.ne.jp/~ochm1979/index1.html
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This museum is dedicated to showing visitors the effects of the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake that devastated Kobe city on January 1, 1995. The first two exhibits of the museum are videos. In the first video, which recreates the earthquake, be aware that most of the videos are not actual footage; they were simply created to show how the earthquake affected each area. Although the fact that the images are manufactured may be a little disappointing, it is still a good introduction to the rest of the museum. The second video is an account from a survivor of the earthquake.
From there, you reach the main exhibit room, which features artifacts from the earthquake. There are many pictures from the earthquake along the wall, and information in English, Chinese, and Korean can be read in certain areas. It also features how the city dealt with the earthquake and the reconstruction of Kobe City after the earthquake.
The entrance fee is 500 yen for adults. College students can enter for 400 yen with university I.D. You can also purchase a joint-ticket for 800 yen (640 yen for college students) that gives you entrance to this museum and the adjoining Human Renovation Museum. The museum is closed on Mondays. Address: 1-5-2 Wakinohama Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, KobePhone: 078-262-5050Directions: By train, from either Kasuganomichi Station OR Iwaya Station (Hanshin Railway), it is a ten minute walk.Website: www.dri.ne.jp
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Oji Zoo houses a variety of unique animals. Depending on where you come from, a visit to Oji Zoo may be well worth it to see some animals you've never seen before. The highlight of the zoo are the giant pandas, and they are quite cute and impressive. I'd never seen a panda before, so this was fun for me! They also have red pandas, koalas, giraffes, kangaroos, elephants, hippos, rhinocerous, flamingos, tigers, a jaguar, sea lions, bats, monkeys, bears, and many more animals.
If you're travelling with children, Oji Zoo is a great place to take them. Many children enjoy zoos, and this zoo also offers a petting zoo where children can pet goats and other animals. If the kids get bored of the animals (which is rare), there is also a small theme park in the zoo, so they can ride a few rides. The zoo itself is actually quite beautiful and appears to be well-maintained. You can get quite close views of many of the animals, so it's a nice time!
To see the entire zoo, it takes about 2.5 hours. Although the aquariums in Japan tend to be expensive, this zoo only costs 600 yen for adults, 200 yen for middle schoolers, and elementary school children are free! It's closed on Wednesdays. Phone: 078-861-5624Directions: By train, get off at Oji Kouen Station (Hankyu Railway). The zoo is only a five minute walk from the station.Website: http://www.ojizoo.jp/
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If you like going to a zoo, I recommend you to go to Oji Zoo in Kobe.
If you are a fan of giant pandas, you will surely enjoy yourself here. There are two giant pandas in this zoo and you can watch them very close. And, what I would like to mention most is that the pandas are full of hospitality and they show you many lovely behaviors without stint. When I went there in summer, the pandas were almost sleeping. But I could enjoy how they sleep on their back and how they turned over in their sleep. This time they walked around the garden again and again and later showed us how to eat bamboo grass. They were so cute!
In the beg cage of squirrels and little birds, the squirrels run around freely. Sometimes they come up to you and pull the hem of your skirt.
At the water tank for eared seals, the seals come to the glass window from which you are watching them and stop moving there in order to greet you.
*closed on Wednesdays
*Please enjoy the photos of lovely animals in my travelogues: Oji Zoo in Kobe and Meeting the Animals at Oji Zoo Leave a Comment Directions: 250 meters westward from Oji-koen Station, Hankyu Railroad. (Oji-koen Station is 2 stops east from Sannomiya Station. Only local trains stop there.)
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'Meriken Park' is the area along the sea coast of Kobe, which lies to the south of Motomachi, downtown Kobe. Walking a few hundred meters southward from Motomachi, you will reach the seabank. There is a huge red tower called 'Port Tower'. The tower is a good landmark and we can say it is the symbol of Kobe.
In the area, there are Sea Museum, a hotel, MOZAIC (a spot for eating and shopping), an amusement park, etc. On weekends, you will enjoy vaudevillians performing on the seabank.
It is fun to take a walk from Port Tower to MOZAIC. Leave a Comment
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World Park offers miniature world symbol on a scale 1:25.
There are Spinx, Pissa Tower, Notredame, Taj Mahal, Colosseum, etc.
Entrance fee 800 yen for adult, you can print the discount ticket (700 yen) from the website. Directions: From Kobe station to Maiko station, then 2 min walk to bus terminal Keisoku Maiko bus stop. Approximately 50 minutes by bus to World Park bus stop.Website: http://www.onokoro.jp/ (japanese)
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It is small but interesting road to walk. Try some chinese dish here that offered along the road.... mmmh.... yummy..
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A highland pasture spread on the peak of Mt. Rokko. Sheep, donkeys and ponies are free to graze, and visitors can come in close contact with the animals. Children can learn and try to take milk from cow or sheep. Directions: From Sannomiya Station, take the Hankyu Kobe Line to Rokko Station (7 minutes, 180 Yen), and then catch the Rokko Cablecar up the mountain (10 minutes, 570 Yen one way, 1000 Yen round trip).Website: http://www.rokkosan.net/
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