Friday, June 21, 2013

Kobe 3- Kobe city & -Mount Rokku mountain cable car



 We found Kobe to be surprisingly international - more so than Tokyo in the sense that everything was just EASIER to access!
Maybe this is an old age thing to consider, but, having a German beer festival at the port, which is just ten minutes away from a Belgium bar in the centre was a delight! Of course port towns are national more international or open to other cultures, but Kobe was even more refreshing than Yokohama, a city it is often compared to (and one I also love...although now not as much!! ha ha)


































Saturday, June 15, 2013

 Kobe 2 - Takarazuka - OSAMU TEZUKA

Kobe is a wonderful, lovely port city, with a lot on offer. Despite travelling down from the vibrant capital of Tokyo, I found Kobe to be so much more international with bars and festivals and restaurants a-plenty to welcome us back to Europe ,...almost!

However, on one of our days there, we decided to leave the main hub of the city and set out to the green suburbs where the amazingly creative Osamu Tezuka was brought up.

A short ride on the train from Kobe main station and you are at Takarazuka. At the station, you can get a small, but perfectly (hand)written little map which directs you ever so carefully to the museum.

 

As you walk down the hana-michi (so reads the sign above), you will pass the theatre too, which means that culture in this little area is rife.


Follow the map carefully, and you are left with no doubt of your arrival at, for me, one of the most exciting destinations ever!! 
 

The man himself!


Got my stamp...of course!
Inside the museum, as you would expect are many delights from Osamu's creations. There are original comics locked away , but ever so cute to stare at...





 







Even the coffee came in a cute cup and the spoons were available to buy as well.


This was by far my favourite! The ceiling of the museum as we left!! Simply glorious!

Kobe - Ikutuma shrine

Ikutuma shrine -

Apologies for the lack of words and descriptions on this post. 
We went to Kobe. And on the first day, we found a shrine.
Here are the pictures!
Will put some more effort into the rest of the Kobe uploads!




















Calm and serene at the park surrounding the temple.



There was a wedding taking place at the temple too!






View of a cute train from the shrine!