11 Best Things to Do in Kobe

In the late 1800s, Chinese merchants set up shop in a 2-block area now known as Nankin-machi, or Kobe Chinatown. Today, its Chinese flavour remains in this tightly packed, vibrant area filled with streetside vendors selling snacks and souvenirs. At its central square in Nankin Park, animal statues represent each of the 12 years of the Chinese astrological calendar.

Public restrooms are not usually something to note, but the one in Chinatown, called Garyoden, or 'palace of a secluded wise man', has an outer wall that is spectacularly designed with dragons. Chinatown is also a great place to find a good, reasonably priced meal.

Kobe Port Tower has been a seafront landmark for Kobe since it was erected in 1963. The 108-metre-high red lattice tower features an observation deck with views across the bay and out to the Rokko mountain range. Night-time views are particularly dazzling with the nightly 'light show' on nearby Ashaki Kaiko Bridge.

Kobe Port Tower's curved tube-like shape was inspired by the tsuzumi traditional drum instrument used in kabuki plays. The unusual design proved to be sturdy when it held firm during Kobe's great earthquake of 1995. Many other buildings in the port area collapsed. The tower is set in Meriken Park, where there's a small earthquake memorial as well as a launching point for harbour cruises.

A few minutes' walk down a pathway from Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park is Kobe Harborland, one of the city's most popular destinations for visitors and locals. Watch the ships coming to and from in the busy port or grab a bite to eat in one of the many restaurants and cafes.

Kobe Hankyu department store is a great place to shop, or stop by Mosaic, a shopping and dining complex with a relaxed Mediterranean ambiance. There’s also a small amusement park next door with a Ferris wheel and other rides and games.

The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial complex, which opened in 2005 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, houses 2 impressive museums. They provide detailed insights into Kobe's 7.3 Richter scale disaster and general earthquake dynamics. In the Disaster Reduction Museum, vivid documentary films bring viewers into the heart of the destruction and show how the city and its people coped and rebuilt in the aftermath. English signs, electronic guides and English-speaking volunteers are available for all exhibitions.

The Human Renovation Museum focuses more on life, nature and ecology, with a 3-D film and a number of interactive displays that kids in particular will enjoy. The museum is a 10-minute walk from JR Nada station.

The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is a stunning building that contains a vast collection of art from Japan and around the world. Designed by the famed architect Tadao Ando, the museum is a good example of his skills, blending indoor and outdoor spaces together.

Permanent exhibitions feature the works of 2 painters from Kobe, Ryohei Koiso and Heizo Kanayama, who were acclaimed for their Western-style paintings. Exhibitions of modern and contemporary art include Goya, Manet, Klinger, Picasso, Kandinsky, Warhol and Jasper Johns. There is also an extensive Japanese woodblock print display, as well as sculptures by a range of well-known Japanese and Western artists. The museum is just a short walk away from Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial.

Kitano-Cho in Kobe is a historic district, once home to foreign traders when Kobe opened its port to international shipping in the late 1800s. A short walk from Sannomiya Station, Kitano's streets boast Victorian or Gothic-style ijinkan (foreign residences), now housing trendy boutiques, restaurants and museums.

Highlights include Choueke Yashiki, a mansion built in 1889 that is still inhabited by members of its original family. It has an impressive display of antiques and memorabilia. The 100-year-old former home of American consul general Hunter Sharp, Moegi no Yakata, also has a treasure trove of antiques. Kitano-Cho is still home to a large and diverse international community, with multiple religious worship places.

Maiko Park is a seaside recreational area near the base of Akashi Kaiko Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge. Connecting Kobe to Awaji Island, this engineering feat spans 3,911 metres and its 2 main towers are 300 metres high.

See the bridge up close in the observatory halls at Maiko Marine Promenade, under the bridge's platform. Some 50 metres up and reached by elevator from the base of the bridge, the observatory area also offers nice views across Akashi Straight and Osaka Bay. The promenade's observation lounge has a café, restaurant and shop selling bridge memorabilia. The Bridge Exhibition Center nearby provides a full spectrum of information on the Ashaki Kaiko Bridge and other suspension bridges around the world.

A peaceful excursion from the city, the Nunobiki Falls in Mt Rokko have been inspiring poets and writers for many generations, first appearing in Japanese literature in the 10th century. The Japanese consider Nunobiki one of the country's 'divine falls'. Nunobiki is a set of 4 separate cascades: the 43-metre Ondaki (male), Mendaki (female), Tsusumigadaki (drum) and Meotodaki (couple). The cave behind the waterfall is known as the Palace of the Dragon.

From the falls you can catch the nearby Shin-Kobe Ropeway, which leads further up the hills for even more impressive views of the city and to Nunobiki Herb Garden. The closest subway station is Shin-Kobe, which is around a 20-minute walk from the base of the waterfalls.

Rokko Island is a significant land reclamation project in Kobe, which is situated on a narrow strip between mountains and the sea, with limited expansion options. Rokko Island took nearly 20 years to build, was opened in 1992 and has developed into a major residential, tourist and commercial district. People visit Rokko Island to enjoy its water amusement park, sports and convention facilities, jogging paths, restaurants, movie theatres and museums.

Style aficionados will not want to miss a visit to Rokko Island's Fashion Museum, an elaborate celebration of fashion, both Japanese and international. To get to Rokko Island, take the JR train to Sumiyoshi Station, then transfer to the Rokkoliner monorail.

Nada, the eastern part of Kobe, is renowned for its sake breweries and is one of Japan's leading sake-producing regions, accounting for over a quarter of the country's sake. Nada's rice wine industry dates back more than 700 years and is famed for being made with pure mineral-rich 'Miya-mizu water from Rokko Mountain springs and top-quality 'Yamada Nishiki' rice. Nada is dotted with more than 30 sake breweries, many of which have museums with free tastings and production process tours.

One such place is Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery, which has been in operation since 1659. It first began exporting to the UK in 1877 and now has a long list of customers from around the world that serve its signature drink.

Himeji Castle, a national treasure and UNESCO world heritage site, stands unique among Japanese castles. It was never destroyed by war, earthquakes or fires, and has survived in its original form. In early spring, it draws visitors who marvel at the cherry blossoms and enjoy day-long picnics.

Many people hold cherry blossom viewing parties under the bright and colourful perimeter of trees that ring the Sannomaru Hiroba field just outside the paid area of the castle. However, if you head up the steps towards the Senhime Peony Gardens, you'll find a less crowded area covered in a canopy of cherry blossoms that is a better place to picnic. Himeji City is around 60 km west of Kobe.