Introduction - Kobe

By Wally Barker.  (excerpted from www.KobeJournal.Com)

 Kobe is a wonderfully urban city of 1.5 million people.   However, much of the city is quite rural, with  more than 1/2 of the city's land area protected within a national park.   In Mikage where we live, the wild boars (inoshishi) come down from the mountains at night and make havoc with the gardens and the trash.  See above picture of Mt Rokkō. The developed area of Kobe is long and narrow - flanked on one side by mountains and the other by beautiful ocean.  I joking say that Kobe is sort of like what Malibu California will look like in 200 years, but without the port.  Like Malibu's quick access to Los Angeles, Kobe has fast 20 minute access by train to Osaka - Japan's second largest city and important trade and cultural center.   Kobe is the capital of Hyogo prefecture (sort of a "state"), a prominent port, and a great place to live.  From my perspective, our city has the following attributes which make is a super cool place to live.

• Great people and history.  This is Kansai!  Cultural and historical heart of Japan.

• 213 square miles of other cool stuff and access to other great areas.

  • Rock Climbing up on Mt Rokkō, the birthplace of modern rock climbing in Japan

  • the Kobe Zoo, a public aquarium, a fish hatchery, the Rokkou-san Bokujō (a working farm for visitor), the Kobe Fish Market (wild commercial fish auction from 3:30 AM to 6 AM),  nice bathing beaches, ferry to the airport,  the world's largest suspension bridge leading over to rural Awaji Island. (another great place), small winter ski area on Mt Rokkō (great for kids)

  • Numerous intercity weekend "secret" getaways like Arima Hot Springs in Kobe - this tranquil "onsen" resort area in set in the beautiful natural surroundings behind Mount Rokkō and has more than 20 hotels and Inns.

• Good client base.  Kobe is Asia or Japan headquarters to over 100 international corporations, including Nestle and Proctor and Gamble.  Easy access to Osaka with many more.

• Finally, wonderful local history.  Kansai lays claim to 5 of Japan's 13 World Heritage Sites.   Kansai is the eastern terminus of the "silk road" and was the center of political activity in Japan from the 6th century BC until 1603, when the first of the Tokugawa Shoguns moved the government to Edo (later renamed Tokyo).  On a more sad note, Kobe is also one of four civil targets destroyed by the allied forces in WWII.

• Anyway, welcome to the Kobe Journal - it is a portal to discovering Kobe.

Other Mainstream Stuff to Do.

• For spectator sports minded people, Kobe has a professional baseball team - the Orix Buffaloes - with a super cool stadium set up at the base of the mountains in a large park area. For those who like supporting a more winning team, the Hashin Tigers play in Koshien,    

8th Century Map of Japan