Kobe

Another city which makes up the Kansai region (along with Osaka and Kyoto) is Kobe. It is40 minutes on the cheap/slow train from Osaka. Its famous food is beef, which is supposedly the best in the world, although Si-yieng and Kumo-chan (fellow exhange students,) said it was berri derishasu but actually the same as any other beef they have had. I didn't try it.

Kobe is much more famous for the devastating earthquake which occurred in 1995 .

There is a small section of the port which has been preserved as a reminder of the damage left behind. Apart from that there are no signs. It was really sad to see it and think about all the victims, especially when I think about the earthquake on the 11^th. Since then the city has not done badly and is now prosperous.

There were lots of cute little things to see like the cute roadworks and salad express bus. It could have been a food delivery van or something but it was a coach for people.

This is Kobe tower and a white thing. At the harbour the weather changed from sunny to snowy and it was absolutely freezing.
This is Veri, touching the statue of a girl on a dolphin.
Just as the snow stopped, we came across this lovely shrine in the city centre, but because I'd left my nice warm coat in England, it started hailing.

we went to see a famous waterfall which is featured in loads of classical literature. Unfortunately there was not much water but never mind. Imagine a beautiful cascade. Pretty isn't it.

From the left: Me, Kumo-chan, Si-yieng and Veri.

Kobe is also famous for the view at night. Along with Hakodate in the north and Nagasaki in the south they make up the 3 famous night views. Unfortunately the place you're supposed to view it from was closed so we walked back into town and went up the city hall building and waited for it to get dark.