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If you’re new to Kobe, you might want to know what the social scene is like regarding expats in the city. There are around 44,000 foreign residents in Kobe – approximately 3% of the city’s population – with distinct communities forming social clubs and groups over time. These range from private members clubs to informal coffee meetups. Here are a few of the local groups worth checking out. Kobe Club The Kobe Club is one of the longest-running English-speaking expat establishments in Kobe. It is a non-profit private membership club that has a restaurant and bar that can be accessed by members, plus the club organizes various events and special occasion celebrations such as Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. The venue is a short 5-minute drive from Motomachi, Sannomiya, and Shin Kobe stations. Website: https://www.kobeclub.org/ Kobe Community Forum This occasional gathering offers residents the chance to meet new people, exchange opinions, and strengthen ties between different communities in Kobe. The forum is aimed at foreign residents, but all, including local Japanese citizens, are welcome. The Kobe Community Forum, just one of many events and activities run through the Kobe International Center for Cooperation and Communication (KICC) located in the Hamabi-dori district,…