tour of Japan - part 2: Kobe

After a sensational high speed train ride from Tokyo, we arrived in Kobe, the city that Matt's sister had been living for the past year with her husband.  It was so great to see them for the first time since Thanksgiving (we visited in April) and we were so impressed with how well they were able to navigate the cities, trains, and especially the language.  They quickly picked up on local customs and traditions and made our vacation so much more rewarding.  Thanks Emily & David!

One of the most distinguishing views of Kobe, is the skyline, including Kobe Port Tower.  We enjoyed the skyline in both daylight and when it was lite up at night.  

Another main attraction in Kobe is Ikuta Shrine.  The shrine dates back to around 200AD and is a place to worship to the goddess of making connections, Wakahirume-no-Mikoto.  We spent an afternoon walking around and asking her for help with love and relationships.

Feeling both very American, and very much like a Kobe local, every morning consisted of a trip to the local Starbucks (everything tasted a little bit different yet absolutely delicious!) and then a stop at the neighborhood bakery.  We ate a pastry or two every single morning and even then, didn't get to try all the variety that I would have liked.  Isuzu Bakery was incredible!

Japanese beer generally has less alcohol than American or European beer which made trying all the different varieties so much easier :)  As with most things in Japan, I really enjoyed the packaging!

And now for the star of the region, Kobe Beef!  Kobe Beef is a specific type of Wagyu beef that must meet very high standards to be given the Kobe name.  We didn't have a big ole steak but ate the meat a number of ways, including sliced for shabu shabu, sukiyaki, and teppanyaki.

Matt's sister and brother-in-law had been living in Kobe for quite a while when we visited and knew all the best restaurants.  They would order for us in Japanese, and then plates and plates of uncooked food were brought out for us to enjoy.  Cooking your own food, whether over an open flame or in a pot of hot liquid, is so much more entertaining than a typical restaurant.  And the beef is so darn good.

See more of our trip to Japan in Tour of Japan part 1 (Tokyo & Himeji), part 3 (Kyoto & Osaka), and part 4 (Nara).  Since we used Kobe as a home base for day trips around Japan, we didn't spend that many full days in the city.  The New York Times has a great 36 hour guide you can use to enjoy more of this vibrant city!