Alvinology goes to Japan - Day 10 of 14

On the tenth day, we headed to Kobe (神戸市), the sixth-largest city in Japan. Kobe is also the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture and a prominent port city in Japan with a population of about 1.5 million.

Kobe is known for it’s cosmopolitan past, being one of the first cities to open for trade with the West in Japan. It is also known for the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake which destroyed much of the city. Finally, the city is also the point of origin and namesake of Kobe beef (神戸ビーフ), the most expensive beef in the world.

The first place we went to in Kobe was Kitano Ijinkan (北野異人館). It is a historical district which contains a number of foreign residences from the late Meiji and early Taishō eras of Japanese history. Each of the individual foreign houses charge separate entry admission fees. As we thought it’s rather silly to pay to look at “foreign houses” given we are foreigners ourselves and also because globalisation has made attractions like these lose their allures, we just walked outside the street and took photos.

Btw, there are lots of bridal salons and other wedding-related shops near Kobe Kitano. It’s probably because the many old foreign architecture that make ideal backdrops for wedding photos.

The train drivers name is displayed to the passengers so you can file complaint if they dont drive properly — The train driver’s name is displayed to the passengers so you can file complaints if they don’t drive properly

In front of a bridal salon - there are lots of wedding-related shops in Kobe, probably because the old cosmopolitan buildings make good backdrops for wedding photos — In front of a bridal salon

There are lots of buildings like this with interesting architecture in Kitano

Weird looking ad which I do not know what it is promoting

We spotted a halal-certified restaurant at Kitano - very rare in Japan — We spotted a halal-certified restaurant at Kitano – very rare in Japan

At Kitan Ijinkan — At Kitano Ijinkan (北野異人館)

Japanese school kids on school excursion

A foreign house with two oriental statues outside

Someones little statue outside the house — Someone’s little statue outside the house

Sherlock Hormes house — Sherlock Holmes’ house

One of the few free admission attractions in Kobe Kitano

Photos depicting the devastating Hanshin Earthquake which ravaged Kobe in 1995

A closer look at one of the photos — A closer look at one of the earthquake photos

Vintage poster depicting Kobes cosmopolitan past — Vintage poster depicting Kobe’s cosmopolitan past

Kobear - a Kobe mascot — Kobear – a Kobe mascot

Oranges spotted in someones house — Oranges spotted in someone’s house

For lunch, we split way with Mark and Meiyen who went to eat a luxurious Kobe beef meal. Rachel and I find the price tag for Kobe beef a tat too steep. Hence we headed to a nearby small restaurant serving charcoal-grilled beef with rice. It was delicious! In fact, we came back here to eat it again on our second last day in Japan.

After lunch, we did some light shopping at the Kobe shopping district. We did not buy much stuff as the exchange rate for the Japanese yen was at an all time high and we found most of the stuff too expensive. In fact, some brands like Agnès B. and Porter bags, which were supposed to be cheaper in Japan than in Singapore were more expensive due to the pathetic exchange rate.

The restaurant Mark went to for his Kobe beef

The chef who prepared Marks Kobe beef — The chef who prepared Mark’s Kobe beef

Marks Kobe beef meal — Mark’s Kobe beef meal

Rachel and are less wealthy, we had lunch at this small restaurant — Rachel and I are less wealthy, we had lunch at this small restaurant

The beef bowl Rachel and I had for lunch

Caramel pudding flavour Kit Kat - exclusive in Kobe — Caramel pudding flavour Kit Kat – exclusive in Kobe

Bath salt for dirty people who work in coal mines

An interesting store that sells just merchants vouchers and coupons at values lower than the printed rates — An interesting store that sells just merchants’ vouchers and coupons at values lower than the printed rates

Some pet charity group in Japan - Rachel made a small donation — Some pet charity group in Japan – Rachel made a small donation

Entrance to a long shopping street in Kobe

Interesting looking buildings which look like water colour paintings

Seen outside an expensive looking Japanese western restaurant - I seriously do not know what the text is trying to say — Seen outside an expensive looking Japanese western restaurant – I seriously do not know what the text is trying to say

Thereafter, we headed to Kobe Chinatown, Nankin-machi (南京町). If you were to ask me, I find the name quite ironic, given the atrocity committed by the Japanese soldiers during the Nanking Massacre in WWII. The place is actually quite cheesy. It looks like the kind of stereotypical “Chinatown” you find in western video games and movies with lots of touristy nonsense perpetuating the notion of the mystical Orient.

These two China doll statues are the ultimate in cheesiness!

Pork dumpling stall - whats with the picture of the fat Chinaman with rosy cheek? — Pork dumpling stall – what’s with the picture of the fat Chinaman with rosy cheek?

Statue of the rabbit - there are statues of all 12 of the Chinese zodiac animals — Rabit statue – there are statues of all 12 of the Chinese zodiac animals

Famous char siew pau stall with long queue

Famous char siew pau stall in Japan — The char siew pau wrapping

The tiny char siew pau - It sucks! The skin tasted very rubbery and tough — The tiny char siew pau – It sucks! The skin tasted very rubbery and tough

Kobe beef coroquette - Rachel and I still tasted Kobe beef afterall :) — Kobe beef coroquette – Rachel and I still tasted Kobe beef afterall 🙂

Small bits of Kobe beef inside the coroquette

Fugu sashimi - for foolhardy gourmet hunters — Fugu sashimi – for foolhardy gourmet hunters

After Chinatown, we went to Harborland (神戸ハーバーランド), a shopping district in Kobe to do more shopping. Harborland is located along Japan’s eastern coast and you can get a fantastic seaview from the area. It is also home to the famouse Kobe Port Tower (神戸ポートタワー).

We visited the Hankyu shopping mall and the Mosaic Garden amusement park located in the area. We managed to catch the sunset in the Mosaic Garden ferris wheel. They had a Valentine’s Day special promotion going on for the ferris wheel whereby you can get a discounted price if you ride in the cheesy pink cabin with heart-shaped cushions and lots of gay-looking pink and red feathers.

Rachel and I had dinner at Saizeriya (サイゼリヤ) which is also available in Singapore at Liang Court. The restaurant chain in Japan has a wider selection in their menu and frankly, the quality of the food is also better.

After dinner, we took the train and headed back to our hotel. This ended our day tour of Kobe. We will be visiting the historic capital city of Kyoto (京都) the next day. Stay tuned for my next blog entry. 🙂