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 Kobe - Culture

There are many things that account for the unique charm of Kobe - the beauty of the surrounding sea and mountains, the international cuisine, the delicious coffee and cakes, the fashionable ambience, the row of historic houses and precious cultural assets and various other delights.

The sea is often regarded as the "face of Kobe." In the western part of Kobe, there are many public parks along the coast such as Sumaura Park, Maiko Park, and Suma Kaihin Park. In addition, there is a famous beach and yacht harbour at Suma, where it is also possible to enjoy fishing throughout the year.

The Rokko Mountains are part of the Seto Inland Sea National Park. They have been a favourite spot for communing with nature since old times, not only for Kobe's citizens but also for people from other parts of Kansai. The many enjoyable hiking courses in the Rokko Mountains are too numerous to mention, and the panorama of Kobe viewed at night from the summit is truly breathtaking.

Located just on the other side of Mount Rokko is the town of Arima, an Onsen (hot spring) resort where the smell of the hot springs drifts throughout the town. As one of Japan's oldest resort towns, Arima has many visitors year round.

Kobe has many other spots of interest such as Oji Zoo, sake breweries in Nada, Suma Aqualife Park, Arboretum, the Nunobiki Waterfalls, Fishing Parks, and Goshikizuka Kofun (an ancient burial tomb). Kobe is also a city which is actively engaged in large-scale events, with the Kobe Festival and the Kobe Luminarie being the yearly highlights. "Kobe Luminarie," originally held as a requiem for the victims of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake as well as a symbol of dreams and hopes for the city's restoration and renaissance, is held in December every year.

In the vicinity of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge connecting Kobe and Awaji Island which was opened in April 1998, new tourist attractions such as Azur Maiko and Marinepia Kobe have been created, adding to the allure of Kobe as a tourist destination.