Kobe Travel Guide: Must-See Sites, Dining, and Activities, Kobe, Japan

Kobe, one of Japan’s top cities, blends scenic beauty with maritime significance. Despite past challenges, it’s reclaimed its charm. Visitors can savor Kobe beef, visit modern and historic attractions, and explore the natural beauty.

Kobe, a city of exquisite beauty and enduring spirit, is one of Japan’s 10 largest cities, a bustling metropolis perched between the sea and the Rokko mountains. Its captivating beauty and urban charm has earned it a cherished place among Japan’s most attractive cities. For centuries, Kobe has served as a maritime hub. Indeed, its port was among the first in Japan to open its doors to international trade.

A terrible ordeal befell the city in 1995. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, a calamity of immense proportions, claimed the lives of over 5000 people and reduced tens of thousands of structures to rubble. Yet, even in the face of such devastation, the spirit of Kobe proved resilient. The city has since risen from the ashes, its former vibrancy restored and few traces of the calamity remaining. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).