Miscellaneous

Kobe isn’t one of Japan’s most major cities – indeed, Osaka and Kyoto are more well-known in the Kansai region – but it is steeped in a fair amount of history and boasts a number of identifiable landmarks. Opened to foreign trade over 150 years ago, it’s a city with a fusion of both eastern and western influences evident in its architecture and culture. It is famed for its seaport as well as its succulent beef exports, but there is much more to explore here. Find out more about some of Kobe’s landmark structures with this short list. Meriken Park Earthquake Memorial Meriken Park is a peaceful waterfront park in central Kobe. Its name derived from the word “American” on account of the expats in the city, it has long been a hub and contains important facilities such as the Observation Tower and the Maritime Museum. In January 1995, a large section of the park was destroyed by the Great Hanshin Earthquake that claimed around 5,000 lives across the city. Nearly 30 years on, a 60-meter stretch in the corner of the park remains an earthquake memorial. Visitors can see stone monuments, survey untouched damaged quayside remains and learn about…