Hey Steemits,
Carl here with my first episode of Xcape by FML. Today we’ll travel to Kobe Japan, a relatively large and thriving city approximately 1-hour West of Osaka. Some of you may know of Kobe because of it's famous produce Kobe beef, a highly prized and sought after cut of beef from the Hyogo Prefecture.
I’d describe Kobe as a quiet and peaceful city with long clean sun kissed boulevards and romantic intimate settings. The city is overlooked by mountains to the north and Osaka Bay to the south. People who enjoy a quieter side of Japan will love Kobe. Have a look at my video below to see some of the places I visited whilst in Kobe.
The city has a bustling working and business district which appears to be located along the edge of the city fronting Osaka Bay. Further inland you will be treated to a sprawling shopping district and mixed cultural hub of restaurants and shops.
Nunobiki Herb Garden
Whilst in Kobe I decided to visit the Nunobiki Herb Garden. The herb garden is an intimate setting on top of the mountains to the north which overlook the city. Catching the Shin-Kobe Ropeway up to the herb garden will set you back ¥1400 ($16 AUD) for a return trip up and down the mountain. It's quite an experience and well worth the money as you'll experience some amazing views of the city and some other local attractions.
All in all, the visit to the Herb Garden was an enlightening experience and I’d definitely encourage any traveller visiting Kobe to make a stop to the Nunobiki Herb Garden.
Meriken Park
I’d also stongly recommend taking a walk down to the harbour to check out the Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park. Here you’ll learn about the tragic history of the city which was devastated in the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. As a remembrance and monument to the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake a small section of waterfront within Meriken Park has been left unrepaired and preserved. Unfortunately when I visited, I was unaware of the memorial and missed it completely even though I was standing approximately 10m from the memorial. For reference I've provided a photo of the memorial site below.
Whilst we certainly did not see all of what Kobe had on offer, it was definitely a well spent day exploring a new part of Japan I’d yet to see. I strongly recommend you set aside some time on your trip to see this amazing city. Its relaxed vibe strikes a nice balance to the usual crazy fast pace lifestyle Osaka and Tokyo have on offer. Time seems to slow down in Kobe leaving you with more time to enjoy the natural beauty, history and culture of the place.
If you've been to Kobe, Japan please let me know your favourite places to visit.
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