Kobe, one of the cities in Japan, is one of the top 10 big cities, and is easily accessible from Osaka and Kyoto, which are representative cities in Japan.
Kobe has leisure spots where you can feel the nature of the sea and the mountain, and there are plenty of commercial facilities and tourist facilities in urban areas.
On the other hand, the suburbs are quiet and calm, and access to urban areas is well maintained, making it a comfortable place to live.
Kobe Harborland/Meriken Park
Kobe Harborland/Meriken Park is one of the representative sightseeing spots in Kobe.
In addition to commercial facilities, there are many symbols of Kobe, such as Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, and hotel.
This open park is perfect for strolling along the waterfront, feeling the sea breeze, and enjoying the view of Kobe’s cityscape from cruise ships.
The nighttime view, in particular, is stunning and ranks among the best in Kobe.
Also, nearby are Minatogawa Shrine, which is one of the Kobe's famous shrine, Nankinmachi, which is famous as Kobe Chinatown, and Sannomiya, the center of Kobe, so you can enjoy various sightseeing spots.
Suma Beach
Suma, which is famous as a beach, is a place crowded with many beachgoers in the summer.
The 1.11mile sandy beach has been selected as one of the top 100 white sand and green pines in Japan, and you can enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Just a 10-minute train ride from central Kobe, you’ll arrive at Suma Station.
As soon as you exit the gate, you’ll be right by the sea, and it’s only a few minutes’ walk to the beach.
You'll enjoy the blue sky and calm waters, reminiscent of a West Coast beach resort in the United States.
In addition to the beach, there is also a park and an aquarium, which can be enjoyed as one of the leisure spots, so it is a place you should visit when you come to Kobe.
Nishi-ku
Nishi-ku is a countryside and commuter town area.
In the past, there were only countryside, but in recent years, the development of commuter town has progressed, and transportation has been improved, making it a comfortable area to live in.
Blessed with nature, agriculture such as horticulture, livestock farming, and rice farming is thriving, and you can enjoy the quiet and beautiful atmosphere surrounded by mountains and rivers, such as fruit picking, KOBE wine, and visiting temples and shrines.
Suzurandai
Suzurandai prospered as a summer resort and luxury residential area in the 1920s, and many people still live there today.
Surrounded by mountains, the air is clean, and Sannomiya, the center of Kobe, and Arima Onsen, a famous hot spring area in Kobe, can be reached in about 30 minutes by train.
It is a suitable area to live in because it has a calm atmosphere and the infrastructure for living such as administration is in place.
Mt. Rokko
The last place I would like to introduce is Mt. Rokko.
Mt. Rokko is a mountain system that includes large and small mountains from west to north of Kobe, and has an altitude of 3055 feet.
In addition to being famous for hiking and mountaineering, there are many tourist facilities such as Kobe Municipal Rokkosan Pasture, Rokko Garden Terrace, Mt. Rokko Athletic Park GREENIA, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, and Rokko Forest Sound Museum.
It can be reached in about 30 minutes by car from Sannomiya, and it is attractive that you can easily enjoy the great outdoors as a leisure spot on the plateau.
As mentioned above, Kobe has charm from various perspectives, so if you are interested, please visit it in real life.