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