The third largest trading port in Japan has long been an international city.
As far back as the eighth century, sea trade flourished and Kobe was one of Japan's first five major ports to open the economic gates to the west in 1868.
The city still shows signs of those exotic bygone days in the downtown area known as the Old Foreign Settlement, which includes Nankin-machi and Kitano
Nankin-machi is Kobe's own authentic Chinatown, while Kitano is famous for its old western-style houses built by early foreign residents and known as Ijinkan.
Kobe is a pleasure to visit, with its backdrop of Mount Rokko and conveniently compact size.