KOBE KONNECTION

Beautifully set amidst mountains and a bay, the city of Kobe is packed with fun things to do

My rst glimpse of Kobe came to me as I was approaching the city, at breakneck speed, in the storied Shinkansen — Japanese bullet train. From a distance, the city of Kobe looks magni cent — the vast expanse of the Osaka bay and glitzy skyline, framed by the Rokko mountains in the distance. Kobe, as I discovered, is a traveller’s delight, famous for many things, its legendary Kobe beef being one of them. Listed among the most visually appealing cities in Japan, Kobe has a strong historical background as a port city, and its port is still one of Japan’s most important. In fact, the mercantile history of Japan, Kobe, along with other ports like Yokohama and Nagasaki, has been a crossroads of international trade.

Today, as I walk down the buzzing streets of Kobe, I experienced its unique vibe — old and new, east meets west. Here, in the midst of modern skyscrapers, ancient temples dot the cityscape. Trendy cafes and boutiques rub shoulders with age-old neighbourhoods.

Kobe is best explored, as I did, over two or three days, where you take the time to soak in its ambience, explore di erent neighbourhoods and try out its world-famous food scene. A er all, it is here that the iconic Kobe steak was born, and today, you can experience this culture of steak excellence in one of the many high-end steak houses in the city, where Japanese food culture is kept alive.

Kobe has much to o er to its visitors . Take, for instance, its staggering choice of museums for the culture bu . e heart of the city boats an unmistakable urban energy but to truly experience the beauty of Kobe, I had to step outside the con nes of the city centre. Mt. Rokko, for instance, o ers sweeping views of the Osaka bay. Catch a slice of traditional Japan by making a trip to the Arima Onsen, an extended suburb of Kobe, which is a cluster of natural hot springs. Take some time to stay in a traditional ryokan — Japanese inn — and experience the hot springs, but not before visiting the old temples that dot the town.

My two days in Kobe went by in a urry, as the city delighted me with sights, sounds,

avours and experiences to last me a lifetime. It should be on the top of anybody’s to-do list in Japan, to experience a unique blend of old and new.