Kobe

Kobe (Japanese: 神戸市; kōbe-shi) is a city in Japan, located on the island of Honshu. Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and is one of Japan's major ports along with the ports of Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Hakata, and Tokyo. It is in the Kansai region of Japan, in Hyogo Prefecture to the south-west of Osaka. It was one of the first cities to open for trade with the West, as of 1868. The cosmopolitan port city has a population of 45,500 foreign residents from more than 100 countries.

Orientation

Wedged in between the coast and the mountains (Rokko Mountain), the city of Kobe is long and narrow. The landmark of the port area is the red steel Port Tower. A giant ferris wheel sits in nearby Harbor Land, a notable tourist promenade, and offers spectacular views of the surroundings including the bay area, especially at night. Two artificial islands, Port Island and Rokko Island, have been constructed to give the city room to grow.

Related Topics:
Port Tower - Ferris wheel - Promenade - Port Island - Rokko Island

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Away from the seaside at the heart of Kobe lie the Motomachi and Kokashita arcades as well as Kobe's Chinatown Nankinmachi, all well-known retail areas. A multitude of train lines cross the city from east to west. The main transport hub is Sannomiya Station, with the eponymous Kobe Station located towards the west and the Shinkansen Shin-Kobe Station to the north. Nankinmachi is Kobe's Chinatown, and is particularly lively at night.

Related Topics:
Chinatown - Sannomiya Station - Kobe Station - Shinkansen - Shin-Kobe Station

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Mount Rokko overlooks Kobe with an elevation of 931 metres: during the autumn season, it is famous for the rich change in colours of its forests. Mt. Rokko is also the site of Japan's first golf course, established by the Englishman Arthur Groom in 1903.

Related Topics:
Mount Rokko - Golf - English - Arthur Groom - 1903

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Kobe serves as one of the most important seaports in Japan. It is famous for its Kobe beef, the Arima Onsen (hot springs), nightview of the city both from the coast and the mountain, and the exotic atmosphere which mainly came from its history as a port city. Kobe is also home to Kobe University, which traces its roots back to 1902. To the east is the expensive and elite city of Ashiya.

Related Topics:
Kobe beef - Arima Onsen - Kobe University - 1902 - Ashiya

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Most of the movie Sayonara takes place in Kobe.

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