SIGHTSEEING

■ Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum is opened in 1984 as a project for the 85th anniversary of Takenaka Building Firm's foundation. Kobe is the place where Fujiemon Takenaka established Takenaka Building Firm in 1899 after he left Nagoya where the firm was founded originally. Exhibitions consist of three themes, which are "pass down"(history), "create"(wood and iron), and "master"(expert) to pass the skills and heart of craftsmen to the next generation, and you can touch carpentry tools collected and reserved as an ethnical inheritance. Also events such as exhibitions, lectures, seminars and classes are held regularly to share with more people about the skills and heart of the craftsmen.

■ Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

Due to the annual maintenance, Kobe Nunobiki herb garden and Ropeway will be closed from Thursday, February 15 to Thursday, March 15.

It takes about 10 minutes to the Herb Garden at the peak of the mountain by the new ropeway. All the gondolas are barrier-free, and you can see famous sites such as "Nunobiki waterfall" and "Gohonmatsu Entei" also known as Nunobiki Gohonmatsu dam, with a beautiful view of Kobe from the large window.Approximately 75,000 herbs and flowers of 200 varieties bloom seasonally. There are restaurants and cafes where you can enjoy herb dishes with seasonal ingredients in buffet, stores you can purchase souvenirs of Kobe and herbal goods, and a new spot called "Kobe confectionery factory Honey Bee" offers cakes and drinks made with the herbs and honey harvested from the garden.You can enjoy hanged fuchsias throughout a year in a glasshouse, and can see a view of Kobe all the way to Osaka Bay under your eyes while taking foot bath with herbs at "Herbal Foot Bath" Enjoy the night view of Kobe in a large-scaled panorama from the ropeway or the observation area in open hours in night.

■ Ikuta Shrine

Ikuta Shrine is an ancient shrine with over 1,800 years of its history. The name of the area "Kobe" is originated from Kambe, the house protects the deity of Ikuta. Ikuta means the place filled with vibrant energy. Since it is located central part of an urban area in Kobe, many people, as well as athletes and artist have visited recent years.

■ Minatogawa Shrine

This shrine contains treasures of the warrior Kusunoki Masashige, who is enshrined here. These include important cultural properties such as hand-copied Buddhist Sutras, calligraphy and swords.

■ Kikumasamune Sake Museum

It is the only facility exhibits "Sake brewing utensils of Nada" which are appointed as important tangible folk-cultural properties of Japan. It is a museum of Sake which exhibits the secret techniques of brewing Sake inherited by Toji masters in Tamba region to the present.You can find your favorite one by tasting variety of Sake including freshly brewed unheated Sake for free.

■ Yokoo Tadanori Museum of Contemporary Art

The museum was opened in Nov. 2012 and showcases a variety of art work donated by Tadanori Yokoo, Hyogo-native distinguished artist.

■ Kobe City Museum

Closed period : February 5, 2018 until November 1, 2019. Renewal opening planned for November 2019

The building of "Former Yokohama Seikin Bank" built in 1935, was renovated and opened as Kobe City Museum in 1982. Approximately 40,000 items including National heritage of "Dotaku" or a bronze bell, and "Douki" or a bronze dagger-axe, from Sakuragaoka, ancient historical materials, artistic materials related to Southern Barbarians and Caucasian, and ancient map materials are exhibited with the basic theme of "International culture exchange, and relationship between East and West and its change" The permanent exhibition is focused on Kobe, exhibiting six main themes of how Japan and foreign countries exchange their cultures. Exhibitions with the items that the museum holds mainly and special exhibitions along with the basic theme are also held.

■ Kikusei Dai (observation deck)

Accessible by cable car and ropeway. Kikusei Dai overlooks a dynamic night view of Kobe, or one of the 3 greatest night views in Japan. The sky color at the point of the setting sun takes on a gradation of warm tones and bleeds into cobalt blue. The night views offer glamorous glow dotted with lights of the downtown.

■ Venus Bridge

This is a scenic spot, even for nighttime viewing, that is easily reached by taxi from any point in the city. On "Love Lock Monument" at Venus Terrace, couples attach locks on which they write love messages. Venus, the goddess of love and beauty, will make wishes come true for those who vow eternal love here.

■ Maiko Marine Promenade

Maiko Marine Promenade is an excursion-style promenade which is built on Kobe side of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, known as the longest central span of any suspension bridge in the world, with approximately 47m in height above the sea-level, 150m in height above the ground, and protruded 317m beyond the bridge.Walking on a log 47m above the sea-level would be so intense! The information about the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is located on the first floor at the entrance of the promenade. You would feel like you were on top of the main pole (app. 300m in height) of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge if you look through a observatory camera system in the lounge located on the 8th floor. Enjoy your journey on the marine promenade as you look over the great view of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.

■ Kobe Harborland

Kobe's landmark Kobe port tower and other symbolic buildings attract the most attention of the seaside. Harborland is full of large complex facilities such as shopping, gourmet, movie theater, amusement space and so on. You can feel the sea and the mountain town / Kobe by walking while being blown by the sea breeze. It is also an area of attention as a wedding venue. And in the evening, the light up and the illuminated streets flicker and change to the highest romantic spot. Night view from the sea on a cruise ship is a must-see.