Kobe, Day 1

Sunday, November 13, 2011
Kobe, Kinki, Japan
First day in Kobe was a hectic one from the beginning. We had to check out from the hotel first thing in the morning (because we booked a cheaper place for the rest of the stay in Kobe) and then run to the conference venue. Our first hotel provided a free breakfast, so we took a full advantage of that, stuffing ourselves with omelet, cutlets, sausages, miso soup and pastries (me) and with unidentified sea creatures (Maran) :)
After the breakfast we checked out of the hotel, left the bags at the reception and went to conference venue . I attended the first tutorial (by a guy from Microsoft) while Maran was hanging out at a Starbucks.
After that we had to move our stuff from the first hotel to the second place. On the way back to the hotel we stopped by a beautiful and ancient Ikuta Shrine. Turns out, this weekend was right next to Shichi-Go-San festival, when children who turn 3, 5 and 7 are dressed in traditional clothes and taken to a Shinto shrine to celebrate. It was truly an amazing sight: a bright-coloured shrine, priests in fancy hats, red-and-white mikos running around and taking photos of kids and families, and, of course, hordes or festively dressed kids wearing medals and holding flags, balloons and newly acquired toys :) Behind the large haiden (oratory), where a ceremony was being held, we found a smaller shrine dedicated to kami Inari Ōkami and protected by traditional Kitsune (fox) statues. There was also a small fragment of an ancient forest, with beautifully laid out streams and walkways.
When we finished enjoying the shrine grounds, we picked our stuff from the first hotel and moved it to the second hostel, where we were able to check in and relax for a little while . Then we had a lunch at a fancy restaurant located in a rooftop garden.
Then we went for a walk around Kobe, and visited a few places, like Center-Gai shopping arcade (main shopping street, lined with various stores and restaurants), Chinatown (南京町 nankinmachi), which used to be a settlement of Chinese merchants, but now is turned into a Japanised tourist attraction (Maran was not impressed with the lack of authentic Chinese signs, food and people) and harbourfront Meriken Park with an impressive Kobe Tower and a beautiful Kobe Maritime Museum. After walking around the park, we hopped on a tour bus, which turned out to be pretty useless, since the guide only spoke Japanese.. But it took us to the foot of Mt. Rokko, where we took a ropeway all the way up the mountain to Nunobiki Herb Garden. The garden itself was closed so late during the day, but the view of Kobe and Osaka bay was worth it! Look forward to the photos we took from the top of the mountain :)
After the busy day of sightseeing and walking all over the city we were dear tired, but I had a welcome reception to attend . So Maran walked back to the hostel, while I mingled at the reception. After the reception I made my way back to the hostel and pretty much fell asleep right away!

Comments

juliettka
2011-11-14

Miso soup for breakfast – can’t wait for that!! =)
You’ll have to show the pictures from the first week to Rob & I when we come!
Post some on fbook now??
Lots of sightseeing - don't you have to kinda be at the conference?? ;-P

pyres
2011-11-14

I'll post photos after I download them from camera, maybe tonight.
I attended one talk yesterday, so the rest of the day was free. But the other 3 days I'm occupied 9-5.

Irina
2011-11-15

I need photos, please

2025-02-17

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