Kobe is a good place where I who live in Kyoto can go by the day trip. That day was Chinese New Year. So I went to Kobe by the Hankyu train. It took 2 hours from Karasuma (Kyoto) to Sannomiya (Kobe), fare was 600 yen (if you buy a ticket in Kinken shop which is broker that specialized in railroad ticket, book token, coupon, etc., fare is 400 yen!). Let’s enjoy the feel different from Kyoto there.


At Nankin-machi
Nankin-machi in Kobe is one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe has the history that was the foreign settlement. And it is said that Chinese people who had gathered there had started business in Nankin-machi, and had prospered. Nankin-machi had been damaged by Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, but it has revived and has recovered lively. In about 200 meter of street to east and west, there are Chinese restaurants, Chinese foods shops, Chinese variety shops, and souvenir shops.


The variety shops where a panda doll who dance and a dummy Bruce Lee were displayed were interesting simply in seeing.


Because in the restaurants front stands of snack and light meals lined, and the price was reasonable, I came to want to eat this and that.


These stands have begun just after Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It has continued because it gained public favor, after Nankin-machi had revived also, then it became the popular attraction in the Nankin-machi.


That day was Chinese New Year, but firecrackers were not exploding there. It was crowded with people who see the Chinese lion dance.


Moreover the noctilucence dragon danced at the night, and feeling over the Chinese New Year ran high.



Isn’t there delicious Chinese cuisine in Nankin-machi?
I want to eat a delicious Chinese cuisine if having come to the Nankin-machi with great pains.


It seems that the restaurant where a really delicious dish is served is few though Chinese restaurants line up in the Nankin-machi. It is famous that “Kobe-Motomachi-bekkan-Botanen” in two blocks north from Nankin-machi serves good Chinese cuisines. The dishes of that restaurant are expensive, but my recommended Gomoku-soba (fried noodle with vegetables, fish, and meat) is 1,200 yen. If you want to eat buta-man (niku-man; baozi), I recommend “Shikohroh” in front of JR Motomachi Station.


You can take it out. The price per piece is 180 yen. You will be able to consent as it is large and delicious after you eat it though you might feel it is a little expensive.

At Motoko
When I go to Kobe, I always drop in at a shopping arcade of peculiar atmosphere. It is called Motoko. Motoko which stands for “Moto-machi Koka-shita (under the elevated railroad)” is a shopping arcade that exists under the elevated railroad. It reaches about 2km from JR Motomachi station to Kobe Station, and ranges from “1-ban-gai (the 1st street)” to “7-ban-gai (the 7th street)”.


There are secondhand book shop, secondhand clothing store, variety shop, odds and ends, toy shop, pet shop, used word processors, used personal computers, café, and so on. It is a place that I feel as if to stray into a nostalgic age. Because I always think that I may hit pay dirt, I come to want to drop into there. I recommend Motoko shopping arcade to person who is fond of a odd goods.


However, nowadays the store that shutter keeps closed is increasing, I’m sad that Motoko seems to be declining.

The sign of damage caused by Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake which occurred on 17^th January 1995 caused extensive damage to Kobe. You can see a part of earthquake mark in the Kobe port which has been preserved in “Port of Kobe earthquake memorial park” in “Meriken park“.



And also you can see photographs and videos which give description of the revival in there.



If you want to know in fuller detail about Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, please visit “Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution” which exists a little far from “Meriken park” and Nankin-Machi.



If you are in Kobe till night, you can enjoy night view. There is the Arima-onsen where close to Kobe, and you can stay in there.