An international, bay-side city known to many as the most stylish place in Japan, Kobe is full of fantastic spots to visit, including great entertainment and shopping areas, the exotic Yamanote district and the unique streetscape of Kitano-cho. Kobe's Nankin-machi, one of the largest Chinatowns in western Japan, is sure to excite your taste buds. Kobe is my feature city for this second installment introducing the Kansai area.
The first place I visited was the historical residential area of Ijinkan. Exotic western-style buildings in the area were designed by foreign architects and built by Japanese during the Meiji and Taisho eras. Here are my two picks:
Kazamidori-no Yakata (Weathercock House):
G. Thomas, a German trader that lived in Kobe, built this house as his own private residence. Its brightly-hued brick walls and stone-lined entrance porch, together with the half-timbered second floor, create a stately ambience.
Moegi-no Yakata (Yellow-green House):
Built as a private residence for the American Consul General Hunter Sharp, this exquisitely-designed house features two uniquely-shaped bay windows, stairways decorated with arabesque motifs and a stately mantelpiece. The balcony offers a fantastic view overlooking the Port of Kobe.
12:00 P.M.
After meandering around on Flower Road, I somehow ended up at this little cafe at the end of a tunnel of trees. Having lunch at Green House Silva, the Latin word for trees, was a truly soothing experience, as if I was in the middle of a forest. My lunch choice was a generous helping of pasta.
Feeling re-energized, I was off to check out Kyu Kyoryu-chi (Former Foreign Settlement):, founded as a designated commerce/trading hub for foreigners in 1868 after Japan opened the country to the world. The area has since evolved into a multi-functional business and tourism district, offering commercial and cultural advantages. If you are there during the Christmas season, be sure to check out the annual illumination event, "Luminarie," with its displays of unique, geometric patterns of light.
After sampling some of the great tastes of Nankin-machi, I set out to check out Kobe's shopping spots. Kokashita, a backstreet of a popular main arcade crowded with tourists and locals, attracts many quirky shoppers and foreign visitors looking for lucky finds. The stretch between the Motomachi and Sannomiya Stations is lined with cafes and stores that sell clothing and fashion accessories, while more unique vendors, such as antique dealers, can be found near Kobe Station.
More stores are located on Sannomiya's Center-gai Street and its adjacent area. Under the long stretch of the arcade roof, the street is crammed with stores selling articles both new and old and was bustling with weekend visitors. If you prefer shopping in a somewhat quieter area, I recommend heading to Tor West, located a short distance north of Sannomiya. Kobe is definitely a town that has many wonderful spots. The beautiful streetscapes and the relaxing ambience of Kobe might be the reason why, after spending the whole day wandering about town, I was still in high spirits.
Kobe Nankin-machi, designed in the traditional Chinese fashion, is one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. On weekends, local shoppers and tourists crowd the streets dotted with dim sum restaurants, dessert places, grocery shops and souvenir stores. All of the food stalls sell so much delicious-looking stuff that I had a hard time deciding what to get. 
