Kobe, Arima onsen Travel Guides

Kobe, famous for its "million-dollar night view," is a city area where you can enjoy the exotic atmosphere of Kitano Ijinkan-gai and Nankinmachi.

Arima Onsen, one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan, is located in the northern part of the city, and visitors can enjoy bathing in this hot spring.

Kobe is famous for its "million dollar night view. The Rokko mountain range overlooking the city has some must-see viewing spots, such as Mt.

There is also the Ijinkan-gai in Kitano, where Westerners once resided, and Nankinmachi, formed by Asians, where you can experience the exotic atmosphere of the city. Motomachi and Sannomiya are lined with apparel stores, and the seaside area is filled with date spots such as Kobe Port Tower.

Arima Onsen, one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan, is located in the northern part of the city and attracts many tourists of all ages and both sexes.

To enjoy sightseeing in Kobe and Arima (Arima Onsen)

Kobe is famous for the night view of the city center, which was once called the "million-dollar night view. The Rokko mountain range overlooking the city is dotted with observation spots, such as Suku-seidai on Mt.

The port city of Kobe is also home to Kitano Ijinkan-gai, where Westerners once settled, and Nankinmachi, formed by Asians, where visitors can enjoy an exotic atmosphere. On the ocean side, there are Meriken Park and Rokko Island facing Kobe Port, which are busy date courses with views of the illuminated port, Kobe Port Tower, and Harbor Land.

Unusually for a large city, Kobe still retains a rich natural environment, with the Nunobiki Stream near JR Shin-Kobe Station, known for Nunobiki Falls, and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden near the summit of Mt. Arima Onsen, one of the three oldest hot springs in Japan, is located in the northern part of the city, attracting many tourists of all ages and both sexes.

The Suma district, the setting of the Tale of Genji, Ikuta Shrine and Nagata Shrine, both with histories dating back to Empress Jingu, and other historical sites are abundant here.

History of Kobe and Arima (Arima Onsen)

During the Heian period (794-1185), the city of Kobe had a port called Owadadomari, which served as a strategic point for shipping routes between the western part of Japan and the capital. Later, Owadadomari was renovated by Taira no Kiyomori as a hub for trade between Japan and the Sung Dynasty, and continued to develop until the Muromachi period (1336-1573), changing its name to Hyogo-no-tsu.

The area was once devastated by the Onin War, but when Toyotomi Hideyoshi united the country, Hyogo no Tsu regained its momentum as a logistics center.

After the opening of the country to the outside world, the port of Kobe was developed, and the influx of people and goods from overseas led to the modernization of Kobe.

After the Pacific War, the city achieved rapid growth, but in 1995, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake hit the city of Kobe and caused extensive damage. However, the citizens of Kobe worked together to rebuild the city, and today, the city has regained its nightscape, which is said to be worth 10 million dollars.

Local Gourmet, Food Culture, and Specialties of Kobe and Arima (Arima Onsen)

Since the port city of Kobe was opened to foreign cultures in the Meiji period (1868-1912), many Western-style restaurants and Chinese restaurants are located in the city center. If you want to enjoy the tastes of Kobe's local people, look up the names of the restaurants in travel magazines or on the Internet before you visit.

In the Motomachi and Nankinmachi areas, Kobe's representative gourmet town, you can also enjoy buying and eating pork buns and comparing different famous gyoza restaurants.

B-grade gourmet foods include "Bokkake Soba-meshi," a local dish of beef tendon and konnyaku boiled in a sweet and spicy sauce and served over soba noodles, and Kobe croquettes, which can be purchased at butcher shops and other stores.

Kobe beef, the pride of Kobe, is a premium ingredient that should be enjoyed as a steak or grilled on an iron plate. Kobe also has abundant fishing grounds in the Seto Inland Sea, so you can enjoy fresh seafood such as sea bream, sea eel, and iidako (octopus) at various restaurants in the city.

While restaurants line the streets, Kobe is also home to many nationally renowned confectionary shops and confectionary manufacturers. Once you have your fill of the local delicacy of squid roe, a popular souvenir, why not take a stroll through the city for western-style confectionaries?