Happy TravellerWelcome to Kobe, the cosmopolitan and dynamic port city located in the Hyōgo Prefecture of Japan. With a population of 1.5 million, Kobe is the seventh-largest city in Japan and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. The city is nestled in the Kansai region, which makes up the southern side of the main island of Honshū, on the north shore of Osaka Bay. It is part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto.
History:
Kobe has a rich history that dates back to the Jōmon period, as evidenced by the tools found in western Kobe. The port in the area became the economic center of the city during the Nara and Heian periods and was briefly the capital of Japan in 1180. During the Kamakura period, the port grew as an important hub for trade with China and other countries. The city came to be known as Hyōgo Port during this time. Later, during the Edo period, the eastern parts of present-day Kobe came under the jurisdiction of the Amagasaki Domain and the western parts under that of the Akashi Domain. It was not until the establishment of the current prefecture system that the area became politically distinct. In 1868, the Shogunal government opened Hyōgo Port to foreign trade, making the area an important hub for international shipping. The city was bombed during World War II but has since been rebuilt and has become known as a nuclear-free zone port city. The Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995 caused significant damage to the city, but it has since recovered and rebuilt.
Geography and Climate:
Kobe is long and narrow, wedged between the coast and the mountains. To the east is the city of Ashiya, while the city of Akashi lies to its west. Other adjacent cities include Takarazuka and Nishinomiya to the east and Sanda and Miki to the north. The city is famous for its Mount Rokkō, which overlooks the city at an elevation of 931 m (3,054 ft). Kobe has a humid subtropical climate with hot summers and cool to cold winters. Precipitation is significantly higher in summer than in winter, though on the whole lower than most parts of Honshū. The average annual temperature in Kobe is 17.0 °C (62.6 °F).
Economy:
The Port of Kobe is one of the busiest ports in Japan, and the city is a major manufacturing center within the Hanshin Industrial Region. Kobe is the busiest container port in the region, surpassing even Osaka, and the fourth-busiest in Japan. The city’s total real GDP was ¥6.3 trillion in 2004, which amounts to thirty-four percent of the GDP for Hyōgo Prefecture and approximately eight percent for the whole Kansai region. Kobe’s manufactured goods produced and exported for 2004 was ¥2.5 trillion. The four largest sectors in terms of value of goods produced are small appliances, food products, transportation equipment, and communication equipment making up over fifty percent of Kobe’s manufactured goods.
Attractions:
Kobe is a thriving and vibrant city, with plenty of attractions to explore. The city is famous for Kobe beef, a high-quality beef that is known for its tenderness and flavor. There are also many museums and galleries to visit, such as the Kobe City Museum, the Kobe Maritime Museum, and the Kobe Fashion Museum. Visitors can also enjoy the hot springs at Arima Onsen, one of Japan’s most famous hot spring resorts. For those interested in shopping, Kobe has many retail areas, including Motomachi and Sannomiya districts, as well as Kobe’s Chinatown, Nankin-machi. The city also boasts a variety of festivals and events throughout the year, such as the Kobe Luminarie, a popular event held every December to commemorate the city’s recovery from the 1995 earthquake.
Whether you’re
