Kobe is the capital of the Hyogo Prefecture and is located on the island of Honshu. The city is located almost in the centre in Japan and is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities. 44,500 foreigners and over 1,800 students from 117 countries including U.S.A., China, South Korea, North Korea, and Vietnam live here.
The city is known as having a unique style with the exotic atmosphere in Japan, which has been affected by the foreign cultures and flourished as the international port since old days. It is well known for the night view of the city, from the mountains as well as the coast. Kobe is also known for having a some what exotic atmosphere by Japanese standards, which is mainly a result of its history as a port city.
Kobe was originally a good natural harbour which has a long trading history with China and Korea since ancient times.
Kobe opened its new airport Kobe Airport on the 17th of February 2006.
In January 1995, the city was hit by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which killed over 5000 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. But Kobe swiftly recovered from the devastation only in two years
It also boasts the Rokko Mountains which are richly endowed with nature and has flourished as the hot spring such as Arima since old days.
The largest of the shopping districts in the city is the Sannomiya Shopping Centre it is a 550 meters long walk way, dotted with many shops and restaurants.
Kobe Harbour Land is a entertainment and shopping district along the water front of Kobe's port area, it has many cafes, restaurants, shopping malls, a ferries wheel and other forms of entertainment.
Attractions in Kobe includes Akashi Kaikyo Bridge that is a great suspension bridge and crosses the Akashi Strait and connecting Kobe with Lwaya of Awaji Island. The bridge also known as the Pearl Bridge is part of the Honshu- Shikoku Highway.
Sorakuen is a traditional Japanese landscape garden in the centre of Kobe. The garden used to be part of the residence of Kodera Kenkichi, a former mayor, but was opened to the public in 1941. All the buildings, which had originally stood in the garden, were destroyed in the war, except for a stable. The former home of a foreign trader, the Hassam House, was moved into the Sorakuen Garden from the Kitano district in 1961.
