Kobe
The view of Kobe at night from atop Rokko mountain
Kobe is...
Between the Sea and the Mountains. Kobe is built on a narrow strip of land between the Rokko mountains and the ocean. The city spreads east-west along the coast and the ocean is never far way. Space is at a premium and the city has built a number of artificial islands over the years. The mountains behind the city (as little as 10km from downtown) are coated in thick forests and popular with hikers and sightseers. Cable cars allow easy access from the city to the mountain tops which boast spectacular (and romantic) views of the city especially at night. In Autumn the leaves changing colours in the mountains is particulary beautiful and attracts many visitors.
Cool. The Japanese proverb states "If you can't go to Paris, go to Kobe". The city is full of cool architecture and trendy nightlife. Sannomiya is the downtown district and contains lots of high end shopping promenades and trendy night spots. There is also a huge underground mall stretching across 9 blocks of the downtown district. The Ikuta Shrine (possibly Japan's oldest shrine) is aslo right in the centre of the city.
Exotic. The current city was founded in the late 19th Century as a port to trade with western countries, moreso than other cities it's considered diverse and cosmopolitan. Even to this day the city has the headquarters of a lot foreign companies. It has the highest population of foreigners (gaijin) of any city in Japan (~50,000 foreigners live in the city). Kobe is the centre of Japan's Jazz scene and many western sports and passtimes have permeated into the city (It holds Japan's oldest golf course and Rugby team). The Kitano district built in the 19th Century is full of western style houses and restaurants and is popular with tourists.
Fashionable. Kobe is the centre of Japanese Fashion industry. Kobe Fashion Week (twice a year in Febuary and September) is the premiere fashion event in the country. The Kobe Fashion museum and fashion institute are trendy and influential.
Not just about Beef. Kobe beef is famous worldwide but the city is also known for it's sushi, sake (45% of Japan's sake is produced in Kobe) & Hotsprings (the Arima Onsen resort is famous all over Japan). Major industries in the city include Kobe Steel, Mitsubishi (Ships, Cars and Electronics division), Kawaski (ships, motorbikes & heavy industry), TOA electronics and Sumitomo Rubber.
Tarumi is... A sleepy suburb. On the western edge of the Kobe Tarumi ward is made of quiet litte neighbourhoods of people who commute into the city for work. Access to the rest of the city is by subway or train. The most striking thing in Tarumi ward is the Akashi Kaiyko bridge, the world's longest bridge, connecting the Japanese mainland with Awaji island. The ward's comercial fishing port is particularly busy and known for it's delicious sushi and ikanago.
