Sitting high on a hillside, Kobe is filled with trendy neighbourhoods, historic sake breweries and a smorgasbord of farm-to-table restaurants. Not to mention a fantastic museum showcasing some of Japan's best examples of "Namban" art.
Things to do in Kobe
Japan is famous for its sake, and there's no better place to learn about rice wine than the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum. Located in Kobe's Nada-gogo district, you can take part in a self-guided tour of the historic wooden brewery, with plenty of opportunities to sample sake.
Just a few kilometres from the city centre, Nunobiki Falls features four cascading waterfalls. The falls have inspired artists and poets for centuries, with some of Nunobiki's most famous literature engraved on stone tablets next to the lookout. Access is via a steep and sometimes slippery path leading down from Shin-Kobe Station.
Lined with historic homes and leafy Ginkgo trees, Kitano-cho is one of Kobe's most atmospheric neighbourhoods. Its winding streets reveal rustic teahouses, sushi restaurants and colourful souvenir shops.
For a glimpse at the city's roots as a Japanese trading port, visit the Kobe City Museum. As well as seafaring artefacts, the museum boasts one of the world's largest collections of "Namban" art, also known as Southern Barbarian Art, a unique Japanese style.
Getting around Kobe
Kobe is easy enough to explore on foot or by using trains and local buses. The city also offers a municipal bike system, with rental stations dotted across the city.