Life in Japan

We are moving to Japan from New Zealand in August 2001. Living in the prefecture of Hyogo in the city of Kobe.

Here is information all about Kobe from the official city website!

Here are some pictures of our new town!

Taken from the Hanshin-Awaji Tourist campaign website

Area: 549.94 km2
Population: 1,490,453 (as of September 2000)
City tree: Sasanqua
City flower: Hydrangeas

The city of Kobe developed together with the harbor, and has grown around ship-building and other industries related to the harbor. At present, Kobe City is advancing projects for nurturing new industries such as the "Kobe Medical Industry Municipal Concept " in response to changes in society and as part of the recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake.

As well as being one of the few international trading cities in the world, it is also a tourist city visited by people all over Japan and from around the world. A city with an exotic flavor, the face of Kobe changes in many ways as you move from the sea inwards towards the mountains.

Sightseeing
Kobe, blessed with a rich mountain and marine environment, has its own distinctive atmosphere ideal for tourism. It can be divided into urban areas such as the Ijinkan or Foreigners' Houses and Nankin Town or China Town, the Kobe Harbor area, Seihokushin area home to vineyards and other agricultural areas, the Rokko Mountain and Arima hot spring area, and the Suma-Maiko area home to the Suma coast. Each of these areas has its own special, distinctive atmosphere.

Specialities, food
Kobe is famous for its wine, Nada sake, and beef, to mention but a few. In the city center, you can enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine in Nankin Town or China Town, or gourmet Western cuisine or pastries and cakes. You can encounter lots of stores with their own special character in other areas, too.

Access

From Kansai International Airport

30 minutes by ferry. 70 minutes by bus. Fly direct from Auckalnd - 11 hours!

From Tokyo
By Shinkansen (Hikari):
Approx. 3 hours and 20 min. from Tokyo station to Shin Kobe station

By airplane:
One hour from Haneda Airport to Itami Airport; approx. 40 min.
to Sannomiya by Airport limousine One hour and 15 min.
from Haneda Airport to Kansai International Airport; Approx. 50 to 60 min.
to Sannomiya by high-speed ferry and bus.

By bus:
8 hours and 45 min. from Tokyo station Yaesu south exit toKobe station

From Hakata
By Shinkansen (Hikari):
Approx. 2 hours and 30 min. from Hakata to Shin Kobe

By airplane:
One hour and 5 min. from Fukuoka Airport to Itami Airport: approx. 40 min.
to Sannomiya by Airport limousine One hour and 5 min.
from Fukuoka Airport to Kansai International Airport; approx. 50 to 60 min.
to Sannomiya by high-speed ferry and bus

By bus:
8 hours and 55 min. from Fukuoka Tenjin Bus Terminal to Sannomiya