Hyogo Prefecture

There’s no better way to explore Kobe than on foot. This allows you to take everything in and feel like part of the city. Instead of wandering around aimlessly, have a destination in mind. One idea is to visit some of the best monuments. As there are statues, memorials, and other types of monuments all over the city, you should be able to find a few wherever you are. Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial The most important of all the monuments in the city is the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park. You’ll find it on Meriken Pier. The location was chosen because the breakwater of the pier was damaged in the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. Now, the breakwater is fully repaired, and the pier has an exhibition about the earthquake. Tetsujin 28 Another monument dedicated to earthquake victims is Tetsujin 28. This statue is completely different from the Port of Kobe memorial, though. It is a massive robot figure — the main character from the manga series Tetsujin 28-go. The statue symbolizes the resilience of the people who survived the 7.3-magnitude earthquake and the multiple aftershocks that caused severe destruction in the city. Fish Dance Near the entrance…