Information
Japan lies to the east of the
Asian mainland. It is made up of Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku,
Kyushu and about 3,000 smaller islands. The climate is generally
warm, the land is fertile and there are four seasons.
Area : 377,801
Population : 125.15 million
(April, 1995)
Capital : Tokyo
Administrative Areas : 47
Currency : Yen
Principal Industries :
Manufacturing,trading,finance,agriculture,fishing
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Developed outward with the
harbor as its center, the city of Kobe is a cosmopolitan
metropolis with a history as old as Japan.
As a major trading port it offers world class cuisines,
fashionable boutiques, and shops with an astonishing variety of
merchandise.
Kobe City is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and sixth largest
city in Japan with a population of about 1,300,000.
It faces Osaka Bay and is also the second largest international
seaport in Japan.
About 10,000 ocean liners come in and go out a year,and the
annual value of its exports and imports amounts to nearly 20
percent of Japan's total foreign trade.
And many international cruising vessels visit Kobe frequently.
Kobe is only about three hours west of Tokyo by Shinkansen bullet
train.
Although the climate is generally temperate, there are days in
the summer when the temperature rises above thirty degrees.
Kobe forms the largest industrial area in the western part of
Japan, together with neighboring cities.
The chief industries such as iron and steel, etc.
It also thrives in manufacturing electric machinery, foodstuffs,
chemicals, rubber goods, flour, sugar, etc. Bounded by the sea on
one side and mountains on the other, Kobe is one of the most
beautiful ports in Japan and an urban resort city with an
international flavor that offers something for everyone.
The Hanshin (South-eastern Hyogo) region is also a modern
metropolitan area situated in the heart of the Osaka Bay Area,
where numerous major development projects are now underway
utilizing the opening of Kansai International Airport as a
stimulus for growth.
Welcome
To Kobe
- From Kansai International
Airport, Kobe can be reached by high-speed boat to K-CAT
or in about 1 hr. by bus or car via the Hashin Expressway
Bay Route.
Convenient public and private train lines connect Kobe to
all major cities in Hyogo Prefecture (30 min. to Osaka, 1
hr. to Kyoto), and buses offer access to more rural
areas.
The Hanshin Expressway connects Kobe to Osaka, and Kyoto
can be reached using the Meishin Expressway.
1.Minatogawa Shrine
The shrine, located immediately north of JR Kobe Station,
is dedicated to Masashige Kusunoki, a wauord in the 14th
century.
His gravestone, made famous by the epitaph wriffin by
Mitsukuni Tokugawa, is contained in the grounds.
Affectionately known as "Nanko-san" by the
local people, the gongen-zukuri style sanctuary and the
hau of worship are risited by many.
[A 10-minute walk from JR Kobe Station.]
2.Nankin-machi
Welknown Nankin-machi, located on the south side of JR
Motomachi Station, is a China town reminiscent of the one
in Yokohama.
Delicious smells fill the exotic streets from the many
Chinese restaurants and food stores to be found here.
On weekends, people line up to get in.
Enjoy the Chinese food and various goods you can see only
here.
- [A 5-minute walk from JR
Motomachi Station or Motomachi Station of Hanshin
Railways.]
3.Sorakuen
Sorakuen is a traditional Japanese garden that allows
visitors to experience the Japanese concepts of quict
refinement (wabi) and tranquility (sabi), right in
metropolitan Kobe.
Walking paths are laid out around a central pond in this
20,000 a square meter park.
[Located a 10-minute walk from either JR Motomachi
Station or Motomachi Station of Hanshin Railways.]
4.Arima Hot Spring
Just 40 minutes by car from downtown Kobe, Arima Hot
Spring is the oldest spa in Japan and one of the three
largest.
Situated on the north side of Mt. Rokko, Arima is
relatively cool in summer and warm in the winter and is
famous for its cherry blossoms in spring and colorul
autumnal foliage.
The many luxurious hotels and inns make this mountain
valley a complete resort.
Even casual visitors who do not have enough time to stay
overnight can enjoy bathing in the reddish iron-rich
spring water of Kobe's Municipal Arima Hot Spring Kaikan.
No trip to Japan is complete without a visit to one of
its famous hot springs.
[From Sannomiya take a Shinki, Hankyu, or Shitetsu bus
for "Arima Onsen" (Arima Hot Spring) are get
off at the last stop. (approx 40min.)]
5.Mount Rokko
Kobe is embraced by the Rokko Mountains.
The area around Mount Rokko's peak is a wide plateau with
obserbation platforms, a botanical garden, a pasture and
first-class hotels.
The nighttime panorama of the city lights far below is
known as the "MillionDollar" view.
[Take a Kobe Municipal Bus from Rokko Station on Hankyu
Railways for the "Rokko Cable Shita" and take
the cable car to the top.
Or, from Rokko Station on Hankyu Railways take a Hankyu
Bus for "Rokko-san" and get off at
"Kinenhidai".
The
Great Hanshin Earthquake
Kobe in Hyogo Pref. was struck
on Jan. 17, 1995, with an intensity of 6.9 on the Richter scale.
Many houses were destroyed and Many people died by the
earthquake.
I felt as if my life had been shortened.
But My house was a partially-destroyed house and My family were
saved.
We were in trouble because no water comes from the tap.
It has become a lasting memory when I take a bath after the
earthquake.
I can't forget my friends of long standing took the trouble to
send me water.
Considerable destruction occurred but the high speed railway has
reopened and the area is gradually returning to normal.
Kobe
Beef
Kobe beef is known throughout
the world for its surprising tenderness and rich flavor.
Fairly small at around 600kg, the black cattle of Kobe are
traditionally prized.
Farmers use such techniques as brushing the cattle to produce
delicious marbled meat.
The fine marbling comes from massaging the cattle, which are
regularly given beer to drink.
Kobe beef is soft and well suited for making the well-known
Japanese dish sukiyaki.
"Sukiyaki" is also one of the most popular Japanese
dishes.
It is prepared by cooking sliced beef with oninos and other
vegetables in a thick iron pan.
Soysauce and sugar are the main seasonings.
It is said that sukiyaki appeals most to the foreign visitor's
taste.
Sukiyaki
for two people
1.Cut 200g of thinly sliced beef
into 3-4cm strips.
Soak a large handful of shirataki noodles briefly in hot water
and then chop.
Also chop 2 leeks, 1 block of tofu, shiitake or other fungi, and
shungiku (edible chrysanthemum leaves).
2.Mix 1 tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tbsp of sugar and a 1/2 cup of soup
stock.
Melt some lard in a large skillet, add beef, seasonings and
simmer until done.
3.You can also cook the beef while adding soy sauce and sugar,
and sugar, and then add the other ingredients.
Confectionery
As Japan's gateway to the sea,
Kobe is home to people from all over the world.
In this cosmopolitan atmosphere Kobe has become known for its
delicious and imaginatively decorated pastries and
confectioneries.
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- I'm a boy Hitohiro Mishima.
- Mishima is my surname, and
Hitohiro is my personal name.
- I go by the nickname of
Teturou.
- Because, I look like the
hero of a cartoon film.(the Galaxy express 999)
I live in Kobe,one of the biggest cities in Japan.
- My birthday is March 29th.
- I have type A blood.
- I like Mr.BIG and Bonjobe
etc.
- I like music, especially
singing.
I'm fond of singing folk song,and I play (on) the guitar.
- I write words and music by
a personal computer, too.
- I like kind of sports and
I'm good at tennis and ski.
I played tennis when a junior high school and high
school.
- I like to see F1 and WGP on
television.
- F1 and WGP are motor
sports.
I thind F1 is a formula car graed 1 world championship
and WGP is a world the grand prize motorcycle
championship.
- I'm a construction
supervisor in Kobe.
I useually working a construction site of cable TV and a
portable telephone.
My corperation name is "kinden".
- My corperation is
electrical construction work.
My corperation have "Bintai Kinden Corporation"
in Malaysia and "Vina Kinden Corporation" in
Hanoi.
There are the top orders received of electrical
construction work in Japan.
- I'm a voluntary worker of
international cooperation.
- I enrollment in volunteers
of Hyogo International Association in Kobe.
I'm a receptionist in Hyougo International Plaza Library
every Saturday.
Internet is served free within an hour there.
I want to check out the links in my homepage, please.
- I really enjoy hearing from
someone in a foreign country.
- I do hope you'll want to
write to me.
I hope you'll visit my homepage often.
I'm still adding pen pals board to it.
I'm looking forward to hearing from you.
- I like to correspond with
E-mail.E-mail click here, please!
-
- E-mail address : h-mishima@eva.hi-ho.ne.jp
I C Q : 35536476
Web address : http://www.eva.hi-ho.ne.jp/h-mishima/
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