Kobe. Artificial island of Kobe city

The city of Kobe on the island is one of the main ports of Japan and major center international trade.
At the end of the 19th century. Kobe became the first city in Japan in which Europeans could settle on preferential terms.
Kobe is located in the southwest of the island of Honshu, on the northern shore of Osaka Inland Bay. The city is located in a humid zone subtropical climate, but the overall favorable picture is spoiled by September typhoons (sometimes very destructive) and periodic earthquakes.

City `s history

The history of Kobe began about 12 thousand years ago, when the first inhabitants appeared here. The area was very convenient for fishing, so a fishing village appeared here. In the 8th century in the area of the future Kobe there was already a port called Owadano-Tomari. Even then, Kobe became an important seaport of Southwestern Japan, where ships from China, Korea, and Indochina arrived. Later, in the 13th century, he was given a new name - Hyogo.
In 1639, Japan closed its ports to trade with foreigners. Only Dutch traders had the privilege of commercial transactions with Japan, and the future Kobe became the only port where the Dutch could go ashore. It was not until 1868 that the port was fully opened to international trade. As a result, Hyogo became the first city in the country where Europeans began to settle. At that time, many specialists came to Japan - doctors, engineers, military personnel, and most of them settled in Kobe, where the authorities allocated them land for development.
At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. Western-style houses were built in Hyogo. About thirty of them have survived to this day, mainly in the so-called European quarters of Yamamoto Street. These houses are now among the main attractions of the city, along with Chinatown - Chinatown.
In 1889, the city received its modern name Kobe. It is translated as “temple” or “abode of the deity.” Many religious buildings have indeed been preserved in the city since ancient times, including the three main shrines - the Shinto shrines of Ikuta, Nagata and Minatogawa.
During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. and during the Sino-Japanese Wars of 1894-1895. and 1937-1945 The port of Kobe served as a naval base.
All the wars in which Japan participated, up to the Second World War (1939-1945), served as incentives for the growth of Kobe's economy. During the First World War (1914-1918), shipbuilding actively developed in the city. The port of Kobe's cargo turnover increased many times over, and it itself was significantly expanded after the earthquake of 1923, which destroyed the largest Japanese port of Yokohama.
During the Second World War fighting moved to Japan for the first time in a long time. On April 18, 1942, during the famous “Doolittle Raid,” American bombers bombed Japan for the first time in history, and the strike also fell on Kobe. On March 16-17, 1945, Kobe was bombed by 473 US bombers, killing 8,841 residents, and almost a fifth of Kobe's buildings were destroyed. Subsequently, the Americans admitted that they bombed Kobe not because it was a strategic port, but because the houses in the city were mostly wooden and flammable, and there were simply no means to extinguish the colossal fire in the city.
Also in 1945, another bombing of Kobe was carried out, as a result of which half of the city was damaged. The consequences of the air raids were so catastrophic that the port of Kobe resumed operations only in 1959.

To increase the area of the city of Kobe, two artificial islands were created in the sea - Port Island and Rocco Island.
After restoration, the port expanded at such a pace that it no longer had enough space. In 1966, work began on the implementation of the grandiose project of the artificial island of Port Island with an area of 436 hectares. For the construction of the island, 80 million m3 of sand were brought. The official “discovery” of the island, connected to Kobe by a two-tier bridge, took place in 1981. Initially, the island was intended not only for a port, but also for the construction of other structures. Now it houses the International Exhibition Center, the International Conference Center, and the Fashion City. In 1973-1992. East of Port Island, a second artificial island was built - Rocco Island, with an area of 580 hectares, on which 30 thousand people settled.
Currently, Kobe, together with neighboring cities, forms the Keihanshin Industrial Zone within the Kansai region. Because of geographical location Kobe is called the Gateway to Western Japan. High-speed railways connect Kobe with the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya.
The backbone of Kobe's economy is its seaport, the fourth largest in Japan and thirty-eighth in the world. The port's cargo turnover is about 150 million tons/year (1/3 of the country's foreign trade turnover). Kobe's growth is due to the development of coastal waters. Thus, in 1981, the artificial island of Port Island was opened, on which a new port was built. The city's industry is represented by shipbuilding (a third of the tonnage of all ships built in Japan), metallurgy, military, chemical, food and textile industries, as well as enterprises developing IT technologies. The head offices are located in Kobe largest companies world: Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Procters Gamble, Nestle, Eli Lilly, Boehringer-lngelheim.
Moreover, 78% of all Kobe workers are employed in the service sector.
Almost all of Kobe's old buildings were destroyed during World War II, and today the city is built up with European-style multi-story buildings. In a city sandwiched between the mountains and the coast, the streets have a precise direction: the main ones stretch from east to west, and the alleys from north to south.
The symbol of the city has become the Kobe Port Tower, 108 m high. The tower of a grid structure was built in 1963 and is similar to the hyperboloid towers of the Russian engineer V.G. Shukhov (1853-1939). The structure turned out to be so strong that it did not collapse during the 7.0-magnitude Kobe earthquake in 1995, which became one of the most powerful in the history of Japan. Then about 100 thousand houses were destroyed, more than 6 thousand people died.
The residents of Kobe themselves consider one of the main advantages of their city to be that it is located next to Arima Onsen - the Kinsen (“Golden Spring”) and Ginsen (“Silver Spring”) hot springs behind Mount Rokko, known since the 7th century. Arima Onsen is home to numerous annual festivals during which geisha, known in Kobe as geigi, can be seen.
For the Japanese, Kobe is the epitome of the Japanese way of life, a complex mixture of tradition and cosmopolitanism, reflected in the popular Japanese saying: “If you can’t visit Paris, go to Kobe.”

general information

Location: Honshu Island, Japan.

The administrative center of Hyogo Prefecture, Kansai region.
Administrative division: 9 districts (Nishi, Kita, Tarumi, Suma, Nagata, Hyogo, Chuo, Nada, Higashinada).

Language: Japanese.

Ethnic composition: Japanese.
Religions: Buddhism, Shintoism, Christianity.

Currency unit: yen.

Most important airport: Kobe Airport (serves domestic flights only).

Numbers

Area: 552.26 km2.

Population: 1,545,410 people (2011).
Population density: 2798.3 people/km 2 .

Length: 20 km from west to east along Osaka Bay.
Distance: 32 km west of Osaka city.

Highest point: Mount Rocco-Zan (Rocco-Santi mountain range, 931 m).

Climate and weather

Humid subtropical.

Average January temperature:+4.7°C.

Average temperature in July:+25.9°C.

Average annual precipitation: 1318.6 mm.
Relative humidity: 67,3%.

Economy

GRP (Kobe and Osaka):$341 billion (2007); per capita 4,076,614 (2004).
Large seaport(container terminals).

Representative offices of the largest international companies.
Industry: shipbuilding, mechanical engineering and machine tool building, car assembly, electronics, electrical engineering, chemical (pharmaceutical), metallurgy (steel), light (textile), food (brewing).

Services: tourism, trade, banking, transport.

Attractions

■ Cultural: Museum of Chinese and Japanese Art, Kobe City Museum, Meriken Memorial Park (in memory of the 1995 earthquake), Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum.
■ Architectural: White Heron Castle (Shirasagi-jo, 1620), Port Island man-made island, flower clock, old European quarters of Yamamoto Street, International Exhibition Center, Minatozawa Tomb, Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, Kitano-cho district (Kitano Ijinkan, mansions XIX century), Kobe Port Tower (1963).
■ Cult: Minatogawa Shinto Shrine, Ikuta Shinto Shrine, Shofukuji Buddhist Shrine, Suma Shrine.
■ Natural: Rocco-Santi mountain range (Mount Rokko-Zan, 931 m), Setonaikai National Park (Inland Sea of Japan), hot springs (Arima, Takedao, Arima Onsen), Sorakuen park garden (1941), Koko-en park , Marine national park(Rocco Island), Nunobiki Habuen Herb Garden (Mount Rocco).
■ Others: Akashi seaside resort, Chinatown (Nanki Chinatown), Oyi Zoo.

Curious facts

■ The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge crosses the Akashi Strait and connects the city of Kobe with the city of Awaji on the island of the same name. The bridge, with a total length of 3911 m, was opened in 1998 and is the longest suspension bridge in the world.

■ Kitano-cho (Kitano Ijinkan) is a historical district famous for its well-preserved buildings in the European and Chinese styles of the Meiji period. Ijinkan is the name given to the houses of foreign settlers. There are 90 preserved ijinkan in Kobe, and each building has unique features.
■ Suma is the tallest temple in Kobe. There are 120 very high steps leading to its top. In ancient times, only priests were allowed to climb to the top of the temple to be closer to the god, and the high steps forced them to bow to their deity with every step up.
■ In Chinatown there is a park in which there are statues of twelve animals symbolizing the signs Chinese calendar.
■ Oya Zoo's most popular animals are the pandas Coco and Tantan and the elephant Suwako, born in 1943, is the oldest elephant in Japan.
■ The earthquake-resistant Kobe Mosque is the first mosque in Japan where the Muslim population does not exceed 1%.

■ Every year, the port of Kobe is visited by 11 thousand foreign ships and 83 thousand ships from Japanese ports. At the same time, the port can accommodate 250 large ships. 26 regular lines connect Kobe with 120 countries and 500 ports.
■ Hot spring Kinsen, near Kyoto, is called “golden” for its yellow-brown water containing iron and salts. Ginsen is called “silver” because its water is colorless and contains radium and carbonate.
There is so much iron in Kinsaeng water that if you leave a towel on, after a while it will turn completely red.
■ All over the world, the city of Kobe is known for its breweries and sake factories, as well as a special type of meat - marbled beef, which is produced here using special technologies.
■ In 1903, the British built Japan's first golf course on Mount Rocco.
■ While Yokohama is a port that mainly specializes in imports, Kobe ships goods for export.

Sandwiched on a narrow strip of coastline between the Rokko Mountains and the waters of the Inland Sea, the port city gained its own importance after the Americans forced Japan to open it to foreign trade. Among the foreign merchants who settled in Kobe, there were, in particular, many Persian and Indian merchants. The city is still known in Japan today for a small but highly visible foreign business colony, some of which have lived here for generations. Kobe is a major cosmopolitan center with thriving restaurants, bars and a vibrant nightlife, not to mention Nanjing-machi - the most famous Chinatown in Japan.

One of the early foreign acquisitions was local beef, now famous throughout Japan. No one in the country even thought of eating this meat until foreigners began demanding steaks. The cattle raised in Tajima and Tamba provide the population with unique fatty meat, the special taste of which is attributed to a daily dose of strong beer. Prices at restaurants on Tor Road are exorbitant, but you might still want to try the beef, either simply grilled or prepared Japanese-style as sashimi (raw), sukiyaki (thin slices fried in a frying pan) or shabu-shabu (stewed with vegetables).

Kobe's two main central shopping districts are Sannomiya and neighboring Motomachi. Both have large department stores and fashion boutiques. Numerous small shops make up Cocasita - a long but narrow shopping arcade under the train tracks - definitely not the best place for people suffering from claustrophobia.

The city's largest tourist attraction is of interest primarily to the Japanese themselves. In Kitano, an old residential area once inhabited by foreign traders, survivors of the Second world war 19th century houses in European style. For foreign tourists, the most interesting thing will be to observe the delight that these houses evoke among Japanese tourists. The Zain Temple, Mosque and Synagogue in Kitano add to the exoticism of this quaint part of the city.

Don't miss the intriguing harbor area, a vast waterfront area that has been actively redeveloped since the earthquake. The futuristic building of the Kobe Maritime Museum dominates the parks, shopping centers and red-brick old docks. (Tue-Sun 10.00-17.00) and Port Tower. One of the city's latest acquisitions is a complex located on the opposite shore of Harborland Bay, consisting of shopping centers, brick warehouse buildings, a cinema and a giant Ferris wheel.

In the mountain range against which Kobe is picturesquely located, Mount Rocco stands out, where tourists will find a lot of interesting things created by both nature and man. Without risking testing yourself summer heat, the vast majority, except the most athletic, make the 10-minute cable car ride to the top. From there you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of Kobe, Osaka, Awaji Island and the Inland Sea. Hiking and cycling trails all year round attract nature lovers to the mountain.

On the other side of the mountain is Arima Onsen, one of the oldest hot spring resorts in Japan. Like many similar resorts across the country, the town is experiencing a construction boom, displacing traditional small hotels (ryokan) and bathhouses with big, ugly concrete hotels. However, Arima Onsen may be for you ideal place An introduction to Japanese-style bathing, whether through a short visit to one of the large and well-equipped centers or an overnight stay in a traditional family hotel with its own plunge pools.

Yakuza

With Yakuza roots (criminal organizations) goes back to the 17th century, when unemployed samurai in their strange robes and with long swords sometimes terrorized people for fun. Later, the shoguns hired people called bakuto to play with the workers paid by the government and empty their pockets.

Yamaguchi-gumi is based in Kobe, the largest of about a dozen large groups operating in the country that appeared in the 20s. XX century According to police estimates, the ranks of the Yakuza number over 150 thousand members, belonging to 2,000 gangs, united in groups. The Yakuza colluded with the Chinese triads, the Italian and American mafia, drug cartels and other criminal communities. It disguises its criminal activities as legitimate businesses and has allegedly invested more than $10 billion in the US and European economies.

Kobe is a famous port city with a millionaire population. It is nestled on a small piece of land. On one side it is surrounded by the mighty Rocco mountain ranges. On the other hand, the city is washed by the waters of the Inland Sea. Not far from Kobe are Port Island and Rocco Island, both man-made islands. They were created in order to at least slightly increase the territory of the city.

Kobe is a city with developed infrastructure, a rich historical heritage, a wonderful climate and beautiful picturesque landscapes. Currently, Kobe attracts crowds of tourists from all over the world.

For entertainment lovers, the city provides a large number of restaurants, bars, nightclubs and beach activities. For connoisseurs of history and architecture, Kobe advises visiting numerous museums and excursions, as well as admiring ancient Japanese castles and cathedrals. Fashionistas will find great shopping in the city.

The history of Kobe

In the 9th century, on the site of the city of Kobe, a small fishing village appeared. The village gradually grew and in the 10th century it became a small port. Already in those days the city conducted active trading activities. Numerous foreign ships (from Korea, China, Indochina, etc.) stopped at its port.

But in 1639, Kobe was closed to foreign merchant ships. Only the Dutch had access to the port. For several hundred years the country was isolated from the whole world. It was only in 1868 that Japan decided to open its borders and engage in international trade. At that time the city was called Hegu.

A huge number of Europeans flocked to the city. Doctors, teachers, engineers and scientists came here. Many of them remained in Kobe permanently.

As a result, by the 20th century, a huge number of Western-style houses were built in the city. In 1889, Hegu was renamed Kobe.

During the Russo-Japanese and Sino-Japanese wars, Kobe was one of the country's main military ports.

During World War II, the city was subjected to terrible American bombing. As a result of the fighting, it was severely destroyed.

The restoration of the city began only in 1959. It was at this time that it was decided to build two artificial islands.

In 1995, as a result of a powerful earthquake, Kobe again suffered severe destruction. A huge number of people died under the rubble. But the city was restored again.

Today Kobe is a large cultural, commercial, industrial and entertainment center.

Why is Kobe so attractive to tourists?

Oia Zoo

Children's favorite place is the huge Japanese Oya Zoo. It has up to 850 different animals. Among them: koalas, Amur tiger, golden monkeys, huge pandas, snow leopard and etc.

The oldest elephant in Japan, named Suwako, attracts special attention from visitors. There is a wonderful scientific pavilion on the territory of the zoo. Here you can learn a lot about animal life. A huge amusement park located nearby provides a huge selection of entertainment.

Chinese Chinatown

Of great interest to tourists is the Chinese island nestled near Motomachi Station.

Nanjing Park is located in the heart of Chinatown. Here tourists can see a huge number of Chinese stalls, restaurants and shops. Fragrant smells emanate from small eateries and cafes. These establishments invite you to appreciate all the advantages of national Japanese cuisine. In the park, tourists can admire the magnificent Chinese statues made in the national style. Each statue corresponds to a specific sign of the Chinese calendar.

Steel tower

The symbol of the city of Kobe, its business card is a tall steel tower. This is a powerful steel structure, made in red color. A huge number of lanterns and spotlights illuminating the tower at night makes it especially attractive. It reaches a height of 108 meters. Almost at the very top of the tower there is a small observation deck. From here you have a beautiful view of the entire city.

Harborland

A large selection of entertainment is provided by one of the Japanese Harborland areas. It is nestled on the very shore of the Sea of Japan. Harborland provides tourists with a large number of open cafes, restaurants and shops. This area is one of the most romantic in the city.

Harborland consists of two entertainment complexes - Canal Gaden and Mosaic. On the territory of the complexes there is a huge number of souvenir stalls and electronics stores. Numerous attractions located nearby await all lovers of extreme recreation.

Commemorative Memorial

In memory of the tragic events of 1995 (earthquake), a memorial was erected in Kobe. It consists of a historical museum and a memory park.

Numerous excursions around the museum allow you to learn a lot about the tragedy that occurred. And the memory park is a dilapidated object that allows visitors to appreciate the horror of the tragedy. Here tourists will be able to see numerous stands and canvases depicting the disaster.

Kitano-te

For lovers of history and ancient architecture, Kobe offers a visit to the large cultural district of Kitano-cho. There are buildings made in European and Chinese styles here. Their sophisticated architecture has been delighting tourists for many years.

Suma

Suma Temple is the highest place in Kobe. Numerous stone steps lead to its gate. In ancient centuries, only priests had the opportunity to climb to the very top of Suma.

Of great interest to tourists are: the Museum of Japanese Art, White Heron Castle, Rokko Mountains, hot springs in Takedao, Akashi resort, etc.

Reminder for tourists

You can get to Kobe by plane from Sapporo, Kagoshima or Okinawa. There are numerous high-speed trains from the airport to different parts of the city.

You can also get to Kobe by train. From Tokyo to Shin Station.

Numerous hotels and inns provide their services to city guests.

The Japanese city of Kobe is first and foremost a giant port. The port was created a long time ago and was well known to Europeans, because only here they could go ashore when all other ports in Japan were closed to foreign traders. The port gradually grew and grew rich in military supplies, until American bombs fell on it during the Second World War. Kobe found the strength to restore former greatness and even more: the former port became crowded, and artificial islands were built for it.

EASTERN PORTO WITH EUROPEAN HINTS

At the end of the 19th century. Kobe became the first city in Japan in which Europeans could settle on preferential terms.

Kobe is located in the southwest of the island of Honshu, on the northern shore of Osaka Bay in the Inland Sea of Japan. The city is located in a zone of humid subtropical climate, but the overall favorable picture is spoiled by September typhoons (sometimes very destructive) and periodic earthquakes.

In 1639, Japan closed its ports to trade with foreigners. Only Dutch traders had the privilege of commercial transactions with Japan, and the future Kobe became the only port where the Dutch could go ashore. It was not until 1868 that the port was fully opened to international trade. As a result, Hyogo became the first city in the country where Europeans began to settle. At that time, many specialists came to Japan - doctors, engineers, military personnel, and most of them settled in Kobe, where the authorities allocated them land for development.

At the end of the 19th - beginning of the 20th centuries. Western-style houses were built in Hyogo. About thirty of them have survived to this day, mainly in the so-called European quarters of Yamamoto Street. These houses are now among the main attractions of the city, along with Chinatown - Chinatown.

In 1889, the city received its modern name Kobe. It is translated as “temple” or “abode of the deity.” Many religious buildings have indeed been preserved in the city since ancient times, including the three main shrines - the Shinto shrines of Ikuta, Nagata and Minatogawa.

During the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. and during the Sino-Japanese Wars of 1894-1895. and 1937-1945 The port of Kobe served as a naval base.

All the wars in which Japan participated, up to the Second World War (1939-1945), served as incentives for the growth of Kobe's economy. During the First World War (1914-1918), shipbuilding actively developed in the city. The port of Kobe's cargo turnover increased many times over, and it itself was significantly expanded after the earthquake of 1923, which destroyed the largest Japanese port of Yokohama.

During World War II, fighting shifted to Japan for the first time in a long time. On April 18, 1942, during the famous “Doolittle Raid,” American bombers bombed Japan for the first time in history, and the strike also fell on Kobe. On March 16-17, 1945, Kobe was bombed by 473 US bombers, killing 8,841 residents, and almost a fifth of Kobe's buildings were destroyed. Subsequently, the Americans admitted that they bombed Kobe not because it was a strategic port, but because the houses in the city were mostly wooden and flammable, and there were simply no means to extinguish the colossal fire in the city.

The city of Kobe has an oblong shape: it stretches from west to east, covered by mountains from the north, and open to the Inland from the south. Sea of Japan. To the south of the main territory of Kobe there are two artificial islands - Port Island and Rocco Island. The latter was particularly badly damaged during the 1995 earthquake.

BULK CITY

To increase the area of the city of Kobe, two artificial islands were created in the sea - Port Island and Rocco Island.

Also in 1945, another bombing of Kobe was carried out, as a result of which half of the city was damaged. The consequences of the air raids were so catastrophic that the port of Kobe resumed operations only in 1959.

After restoration, the port expanded at such a pace that it no longer had enough space. In 1966, work began on the implementation of the grandiose project of the artificial island of Port Island with an area of 436 hectares. For the construction of the island, 80 million m3 of sand was brought. The official “discovery” of the island, connected to Kobe by a two-tier bridge, took place in 1981. Initially, the island was intended not only for a port, but also for the construction of other structures. Now it houses the International Exhibition Center, the International Conference Center, and the Fashion City. In 1973-1992. East of Port Island, a second artificial island was built - Rocco Island, with an area of 580 hectares, on which 30 thousand people settled.

Currently, Kobe, together with the neighboring cities of Osaka and Kyoto, forms the Keihanshin Industrial Zone within the Kansai region. Due to its geographical location, Kobe is called the Gateway to Western Japan. High-speed railways connect Kobe with the cities of Osaka, Kyoto and Nagoya.

The basis of Kobe's economy is its seaport, the fourth largest in Japan and thirty-eighth in the world. The port's cargo turnover is about 150 million tons/year (1/3 of the country's foreign trade turnover). Kobe's growth is due to the development of coastal waters. Thus, in 1981, the artificial island of Port Island was opened, on which a new port was built. The city's industry is represented by shipbuilding (a third of the tonnage of all ships built in Japan), metallurgy, military, chemical, food and textile industries, as well as enterprises developing IT technologies. The head offices of the largest companies in the world are located in Kobe: Kawasaki, Mitsubishi, Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Eli Lilly, Boehringer-lngelheim. Moreover, 78% of all Kobe workers are employed in the service sector.

Almost all of Kobe's old buildings were destroyed during World War II, and today the city is built up with European-style multi-story buildings. In a city sandwiched between the mountains and the coast, the streets have a precise direction: the main ones stretch from east to west, and the alleys from north to south.

The 108 m high Kobe Port Tower became the symbol of the city. The tower of a grid structure was built in 1963 and is similar to the hyperboloid towers of the Russian engineer V. G. Shukhov (1853-1939). The structure turned out to be so strong that it did not collapse during the 7.0-magnitude Kobe earthquake in 1995, which became one of the most powerful in the history of Japan. Then about 100 thousand houses were destroyed, more than 6 thousand people died.

The residents of Kobe themselves consider one of the main advantages of their city to be that it is located next to Ari-ma Onsen - the Kinsen (“Golden Spring”) and Ginsen (“Silver Spring”) hot springs behind Mount Rokko, known since the 7th century. Arima Onsen is home to numerous annual festivals during which geisha, known in Kobe as geigi, can be seen.

For the Japanese, Kobe is the epitome of the Japanese way of life, a complex mixture of tradition and cosmopolitanism, reflected in the popular Japanese saying: “If you can’t visit Paris, go to Kobe.”

FUN FACTS

■ The Kinsen hot spring near Kyoto is called “golden” for its yellow-brown water containing iron and salts. Gin-sen is called “silver” because its water is colorless and contains radium and carbonate. There is so much iron in Kinsaeng water that if you leave a towel on, after a while it will turn completely red.

■ All over the world, the city of Kobe is known for its breweries and sake factories, as well as a special type of meat - marbled beef, which is produced here using special technologies.

■ In 1903, the British built Japan's first golf course on Mount Rocco.

■ While Yokohama is a port that mainly specializes in imports, Kobe ships goods for export.

■ Suma is the tallest temple in Kobe. There are 120 very high steps leading to its top. In ancient times, only priests were allowed to climb to the top of the temple to be closer to the god, and the high steps forced them to bow to their deity with every step up.

■ In Chinatown there is a park with statues of twelve animals, symbolizing the signs of the Chinese calendar.

■ Oya Zoo's most popular animals are the pandas Koko and Tantan, and the elephant Su-wako, born in 1943, is the oldest elephant in Japan.

■ The earthquake-resistant Kobe Mosque is the first mosque in Japan where the Muslim population does not exceed 1%.

ATTRACTIONS

■ Cultural: Museum of Chinese and Japanese Art, Kobe City Museum, Meriken Memorial Park (in memory of the 1995 earthquake), Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum.
■ Architectural: White Heron Castle (Shirasagi-jo, 1620), Port Island man-made island, floral
clocks, old European quarters of Yamamoto Street, International Exhibition Center, Minatoza-wa Tomb, Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, Kitano-cho district (Kitano Ijinkan, 19th century mansions), Kobe Port Tower (1963).
■ Religious: Minatogawa Shinto Shrine, Ikuta Shinto Shrine, Shofukuji Buddhist Shrine, Suma Shrine.
■ Natural: Rokko-Santi mountain range (Mount Rokko-Zan, 931 m), Setonakai National Park (Inland Sea of Japan), hot springs (Arima, Takedao, Arima Onsen), Sorakuen park garden (1941), Koko Park -en, Marine National Park (Rocco Island), Nunobiki Habu-en Herbal Garden (Mount Rocco).
■ Others: Akashi seaside resort, Chinatown (Nanki Chinatown), Oyi Zoo.

Atlas. The whole world in your hands No. 173

Sights of Kobe

1. Nankinmachi

Nankinmachi is one of the three main Chinatowns in Japan, along with those in Yokohama and Nagasaki. About 100 Chinese companies operate here.

The main street is an intersection with Seian-mon gates to the west, Choan-mon to the east, and Kaiei-mon to the south. The northern part connects to Motomachi shopping street.

Most of the shops in Nanjingmachi are restaurants and cafes serving light food. Some stores sell dim sum, snacks, steamed meat buns, etc. So, you can try many different treats.

2. Kobe Port Tower

Kobe Port Tower is 108 meter tower at the city port Kobe . ABOUTwas completed in 1963 and has an observation deck at an altitude of 90.28 meters. The tower is a symbol of the city and one of Kobe's most famous tourist attractions.

3. Meriken Park

Built in 1987, Mariken Park is located in Kobe Port. Before his appearance, this territory was divided between the Mariken shipyard and the Kobe port tower. There are many buildings inside and outside the park, including the Kobe Port Tower, the Kobe Seaside Museum, which features fishing boats, and the huge Fish Dance restaurant. There are also hotels, such as the Okura Hotel next to the Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, which has an image of a wave hitting the pier. Opposite these buildings is a view of Mount Rokko that truly represents Kobe.

For tourists, the seaside museum and port tower are a must-see during a tour of Kobe.

4. Kitano-Tenman-jinja Shrine

The Kitano Tenman-jinja Shrine is located in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, where Sugawara no Michizane, the deity of teaching, is enshrined. In 1880, when Emperor Taira no Kiyomori moved the capital of Japan from Kyoto to Kobe, the Kitano-Tenmangu-jinza Shrine was also moved to Kobe to serve as the guardian of the new capital (such shrines usually protect the domain of the Emperor and protect the disadvantaged quarter of the capital from evil spirits).

Honden(main hall) was built 260 years ago. Honden, sukibei(openwork wall), Hayden(prayer hall), torii(passage to the Shinto Shrine), toro(garden lantern) and isidan(stone staircase) officially recognized cultural heritage traditional architecture.

The temple hosts many festivals dedicated to the main deity. Festivals include both traditional Shinto and international performing arts festivals, in keeping with the spirit of a cosmopolitan city like Kobe.

5. Tasaki Pearl Plaza

Tasaki Pearl Plaza is a place where jewelers' works, mainly made of pearls, are exhibited. It is located at the central office jewelry company TASAKI & Co., Ltd. in Kobe. Tasaki is a jeweler who co-created the crown for Miss Universe Japan. You will be able to see a variety of objects made of pearls by the jeweler Tasaki himself: “Pearl Bridge” is a miniature of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge made of pearls, “Aphrodite’s Crown” is a crown made of precious metals and stones with pearls, “Pearl Doll Kobe Likka-chan” - a doll decorated with pearls worth ten million yen, “Shinju no Onagadori” - a rooster with a long tail made of pearls and precious metals, and so on.

6. Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen Hot Springs are one of the oldest springs in Japan, located in the Kita region. The history of Arima Onsen goes back so many years that even the historical document Nihon-Soki, which was written during the Nara period (710-794 AD), contains a line about it. It states that Emperor Jōmei stayed there for three months in 631. Among the others famous people This period was Sei-Sonagon, who wrote about Arima Onsen in his story "Makura no Sauces". It is also known that Hideyoshi Toyotomi visited here in 1596. When the building was destroyed by the Keicho-Fushimi earthquake, Hideyoshi donated a lot to restore it. Hot springs are Kobe's main natural attraction.

Arima Onsen is famous for its Kin-sen, a golden hot spring that contains a lot of salts and iron, as well as its pure Gin-sen.

7. Kobe City Museum

is a humanities museum located in Kyo-machi, Kobe . The main theme of the museum is “international cultural exchange- contact between Eastern and Western cultures and their changes due to interaction.”The museum has about 50 thousand exhibits from the collection, ranging from archaeological materials from ancient times and the Middle Ages to the period of isolation and Westernization of Japan. Exhibited famous works in Japan, including statues of St. Francis Xavier, Oda But bunaga, Toyotomi Hideyoshi, as well as Kanayama Heizo and Koiso Ryohei. The museum building was the last creation of the architect Sakurai Kotaro and is registered as important National treasure culture.

8. Rokko Cable Car

The Rocco Cable Car runs 1.7 km between Shita Station, located at the foot of Mount Rocco, and Rocco Sanjo Station. The difference in height between them is 493.3 meters. The journey takes about 10 minutes. But people come here not just to use transport, but to enjoy the beauty that opens up. The Art Deco building of Rokko Sanjo Station, opened in 1932, has remained unchanged since its opening. And it is still carefully preserved.

Tenran-dai, an observation deck located right next to Rokko Sanjo Station, offers stunning views of the city.

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