Kobe, the capital of Hyogo prefecture and home to almost 2 million people is located in the region known as Kansai which covers all the area extending from Kobe to Osaka and up toKyoto.  Sakura, or Cherry Blossom season occurs in Kobe earlier than any other major Japanese city.  The most popular viewing and picnicking areas are along the banks of the rivers which run through the city.

It gained world fame through the natural disaster which occurred in at 5.46am on 17 January 1995 leaving an estimated 6,500 people dead and the town in ruins. Even a quake of this magnitude pales into insignificance when compared to the Great Kanto earthquake in 1923 which claimed more than 140,000 lives.

The three great western railroads being the Hanshin, Hanky and JR, converge in the city of Kobe at Sannomiya which is really the commercial and entertainment hub of the city. Kobe is home to the longest continuous undercover shopping arcade in the world and each year the city emplace hundreds of thousands of lights in the arcade for the Luminaire Festival. The festival is a recent event since it commmorates the loss of life in the Great Hanshin Earthquake and commences on 16th January each year. People flock from all over Japan to walk through the arcade at night viewing this electric fantasy land.

Aside from the Luminaire Festival the arcade is a shoppers paradise and no bargaining has to be done. First class shops are interspersed with coffee houses, restaurants and the odd bar.

Kobe, the port city of western Japan recently completed the 2nd major international airport for the Kansai region. It is a beautiful city with the Sea of Japan on one side and the Rokko mountain range as a backdrop. During the winter season the hills are dusted with snow and on top of Mount Rokko one can have winter fun in the Snow Park.