Pacific Ocean CHINA SOUTH KOREA Kobe PORT EXPLORER Kobe JAPAN This information has been compiled for the convenience of our guests and is intended solely for that purpose. While we work to ensure that the information contained herein is correct, we cannot accept responsibility for any changes that may have taken place since printing. © RCCL 2009. All rights reserved. GENERAL INFORMATION Located in the south of Japan’s main island of Honshu, tucked up against the Rokko Mountains, overlooking Osaka Bay, the capital of the Kansi Region’s Hyogo Prefecture, lays the beautiful city of Kobe. For much of its history Japan had closed itself off from the west- ern world. The name Kobe in Japanese means “The door of the gods”. In 1868, during a period of Japanese cultural and intel- lectual expansion now known as the Meiji Restoration, the door of the gods, the port city of Kobe, was open to the world. The door swung in both directions, however. Not only did Japanese exports leave for the rest of the world through Kobe, western im- ports, culture and people came into Japan through Kobe. Kobe quickly became a cosmopolitan city; open to new ideas and wel- coming its strong and vibrant foreign population. Even today within the city’s nearly 2 million inhabitants, there are close to 50,000 foreigners representing over 100 different countries. From the mid 1800’s onward, as international trade grew, so grew the city. Kobe is now one of the largest and busiest ports in the world. Japan’s first container port, today with its capability of handling over 150 ships simultaneously, the city is justifiably proud of its technologically advanced, state-of-the-art facilities. This did not come about easily nor did it happen overnight. The city, as previously mentioned, rests up against the Rokko Mountains. There is very little land available that is flat. Kobe’s city and business leaders have reclaimed land from the sea and built islands in the bay in order to expand the port facilities. But, in the midst of all the new construction city leaders and develop- ers wisely kept the single most important feature of the city in mind … the people of Kobe themselves. The rebuilt waterfront areas of the city are alive and vibrant with promenades, stores and restaurants that add greatly to the quality of life of citizens and visitors alike. As important as the port is, in and of itself, there are additional factors that, when combined, insure the continued importance of the city. The first factor is the city’s supporting infrastructure of warehouses, storage, freight forwarders and private and cor- porate entities that provide the operational, logistical and finan- cial backbone of this prosperous international trading hub. This physical infrastructure is in turn supported by a city government that is dedicated to streamlining the bureaucratic red-tape of a highly regulated and complicated import / export industry. On any given day locals and visitors can stroll along the beautiful harbor front and watch ocean going behemoths from China to Africa … Europe to the Americas … from over 500 ports and 130 countries around the world sailing into or departing from this port, this warm and welcoming city of Kobe … Japan’s “Door of the gods”. HISTORY The Japanese islands were inhabited long before recorded history, back to the Ice Age and the Stone Age, back to a time when Japan was not Japan and the islands were not islands at all, back to a time when they were connected by a land bridge to the mainland. The earliest inhabitants of Japan simply walked across from East Asia approximately 30,000 BC. But who were these original people? Even with the dis- covery of their crude flint tools, and little else, archeologists have never been able to determine who they were, only that they were nomadic and hunted, fished and gathered fruits and nuts. Later, archeologists were stunned when they discovered and carbon-dated a few very simple pottery fragments unearthed on the islands of Japan. The scientists were able to determine that these artifacts were the first sign of the island’s original people in their development of a crude culture … approximately 10,500 BC. However, the date of 10,500 BC presented a huge problem for the learned academicians. Scientist, after all, agreed that history proved that the creation of pottery came after the development of organized agriculture and the socially sedentary way of life that accompanied it. This discovery caused anthropologists and archeologists to question the very accuracy of their scholarly and well established prehistoric timelines. At this time the original people had yet to benefit from the introduction of agriculture; they were still hunter / gatherers. Named after the manner in which they made their pottery, using a “cord pattern”, the people were called the Jamon, the cord people and they seemed to have prospered in the islands…until approximately 3,000 BC. What changed in the lives of the Stone Age Jamon beginning in 3,000 BC? A virtual wave hit the islands of Japan … a new wave of bronze and iron, a wave of farming and new language, a wave of new deities and manner of worship, a wave of societal structure all brought across from the Korean mainland by the Yayoi, a people originally You thought we were going to say “Kobe Beef” didn’t you? Sorry, there are no cows in Kobe unless they are steaks on the grill or being loaded onto freighters to be shipped around the globe. What is popularly referred to as “Kobe Beef” is actually raised in the Hyogo Prefecture, the capital of which is Kobe. The historic name for the Hyogo Prefecture was the province of Tajima. No self-respecting gourmet would refer to the best meat in the world by any other name than “Tajima Beef”. Some of the most popular Japanese dishes include: Miso Soup: Dashi stock is combined with soft miso paste. Depending upon the area of the country, other ingredients will be added such as vegetables or mushrooms. Most meals will come with a serving of this delicious soup. Tempura is batter- dipped and deep fried seafood or vegetables. Soba Tsukimi is a hot bowl of soba noodles topped with a raw egg. Kitsune Udon is a bowl of udon noodles combined with fried and seasoned bean curd. Rice Bowl is Japan’s answer to fast-food. One of the most popular toppings is tuna that has been marinated in teriyaki sauce. Kare Raisu (curry rice) is combined with deep fried pork. Curry is not native to Japan but it is popular in some of its cui- sine. Onigiri are rice balls that are often filled with sweet fruit or cooked meats. Chawamnushi is creamy custard often prepared with chicken and mushrooms. Gyoza is a soft dumpling that can be deep-fried, steamed or boiled. A favorite way to fix them however, is pan fried, browning the bot- tom until it is crunchy. Vegetables or ground meats are used as fillings. Ra- men is a noodle served in a meat stock with sliced pork or onions. Every locale will have its own variation. Mentaiko is cod roe that has been spiced. There are many different varieties and it is so popular that some stores carry it as their only product. It is even sold as a souvenir. Drink Specialties: Umeshu is a very popular plumb brandy. It has been made and served in Japan for over 1000 years. Tea: Sencha is perhaps the most popular green tea in Japan. Some people feel that Gyokuro has the richest flavor. Others teas you might want to try would include; Bancha, Genmaicha and Macha, which is a powder tea. Sake: You can not mention Japanese drinks without referring to sake. There are basically two types. Futsu-shu is the “every day” sake and Tokutei me- sho-shu is sake reserved for special occasions. Ginjo-shu and Namazake sake are served cold. Honjozo-shu and Shunmai-shu are served warm. Sap- poro is rated as Japan’s best beer. Bottled water is always recommended. SHOPPING FACILITIES Shopping in Kobe is easy due to the fact that rath- er than being spread out all over the city, the stores and shops are grouped together in a few districts. Sannomiya, just to the west of the Ikuta-gawa River in the center of the city, is the largest shopping area in Kobe. It is filled with modern stores, trendy boutiques, souvenir outlets and older spe- cialty shops that have been in the same family for generations. China Town began to develop as far back as the early 1860s when trade between Japan and China was growing. The area is known for its wide variety of goods from all over Asia as well as the very reasonable prices. As always there are many fine restaurants and cafes. Harborland is a beautiful new waterfront mall with small shops, large department stores and plenty of restaurants and quaint cafes. The area also has a very nice amusement park. The Kobe Port Bazaar, in the western part of the city, is another new and popular mall with an architectural style more along the lines of a European village than Japa- nese. There are a number of factory outlet stores that offer very good prices. Together with ubiquitous restaurants and cafes the waterfront offers a won- derful view of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, as the people of Kobe proudly pro- claim, the longest suspension bridge in the world. The Motomachi Shopping Quarters is an old classic Japanese district offering antiques, brilliantly cre- ated time-honored crafts, handmade dolls and beautiful pearl jewelry. The Naka-machi District is perhaps best known for their world renowned akoya pearls. If you love pearls then you are most likely aware that Japan is the pearl capital of the world and Kobe is the pearl capital of Japan. One of the premiere locations to buy pearls is the internationally famous Tasaki Shinju Company. There is no middleman. The company handles all aspects of the business from cultivation to the creation of beautiful strands and jewelry. LOCAL CURRENCY Japan’s currency is the yen. They come in denomi- nations of 10,000 / 5,000, 2,000 and 1,000 yen. Major banks such as Sumitomo Mitsui Bank and Mitsubishi Bank and Post Offices will exchange US, Australian and Canadian dollars, British pounds, German marks, Swiss and French francs. Major banks in Kobe will cash Traveler’s Checks but they are rarely ac- cepted in city stores and restaurants. Foreign credit/debit cards are not accepted at most of Japan’s ATMs. In- ternational ATMs can usually be found at major department stores and post offices. TRANSPORTATION Train: Three trains cross Kobe from east to west; the Hankyu, Hanshin and JR lines are very inexpensive and very quick and many feel they are the best way to get around the city. Subway: Kobe has two subways that cover the city. The Kaigan Line goes east to west paral- lel to the harbor and the Yamate-Seishin Line runs north to south towards the mountains. The subways cost a good bit more than the train and are not generally recommended for visitors. Bus: Kobe bus line is inexpensive and works best for the visitor when going north to south. Car Rental: There are reputable and well known car rental companies in Kobe. An international driver’s license and a passport will be required. The only International Li- censes that Japan accepts are ones based on the Geneva Convention, 1949. International Diver’s Permits from Switzerland, Belgium and France are not accepted in Japan, Know what your personal auto insurance covers before you buy the rental company’s insurance. Keep in mind that in Japan the driver sits on the right and cars travel in the left lane. Road signs are international and major roads and destinations are often written in Japanese and English. City parking can be expensive. On Foot: There is much to see in Kobe. With its many hills it is best to catch a bus heading north, up hill. In this way you can see many of the sites while continuing to walk down hill. USEFUL WORDS AND PHRASES Greetings - Konnichiwa Good morning - Ohayo gozaimasu Good afternoon - Kon-nichiwa Good evening - Kon-Banwa Good night - Oyasumi-nasai How are you? - Ogenki desuka? Thank you very much - Doo-mo ari-ga-to gozaimau © 2009 maps.com