Thankfully the weather wasn’t as brutally cold today! I left our little apartment just before 7am and it was quite comfortable to walk around.
I managed to walk down to the Dotonbori and took a pic to prove to hubby that I’d been there!
When I got back hubby and I had some breakfast then headed for Osaka station. We were going to Kobe today!
When the conductors come into your carriage on the train, they bow, walk through, then bow again before leaving the carriage.
It wasn’t long before we got into Kobe. Hubby had looked at a few things he wanted to do there. One was the “Kawasaki Good Time” museum and another was the Shin-Kobe Ropeway up past the Nonobiki waterfall to some Herb Garden.
But first, Starbucks.
I’m beginning to hate this chain as hubby can’t seem to function without it.
This Starbucks was in an interesting building (left) in an interesting area of Kobe.
We saw a few things in this area that I guess were relating to tourists?
I only took a photo of the Sherlock Holmes one but there were more.
I’m sure if I searched online I’d find out the story behind this area.
After his coffee hubby was back on getting to the Rope Cars.
I just wasn’t into the rope car idea.
I hate the thought of being suspended like that.
I did really want to see the waterfall though so I persuaded hubby to just walk up there. I thought it would be a peaceful way to get up and enjoy… well enjoy the serenity!
There were a few steep bits but mostly it was a pretty mild climb up.
We were able to see the waterfall from a few different levels. The sound of the water rushing past was also quite loud. I really loved it here. It was just so peaceful. I could have stayed there a little longer but it was time to move on to the next thing.
Here are a few pictures I took from a few different viewing areas.
What I love about Kobe is they have these beautiful hills on one side, and the water on the other. Kind of like Adelaide but even closer together than Adelaide. Really, it’s such a beautiful city.
Last time we were in Kobe, hubby and I lunched at this buffet place. It must have made a big impression on us as we found ourselves gravitating towards there again today.
There really was a great selection of foods from Japanese staples to Italian food and things like fries. It was lovely and familiar.
I’m just not adventerous when it comes to food and was really really craving pasta today.
The views from our table were pretty special too! I thought I took some photos but I can’t find them. Here are a few from the Observatory Tower that we went to earlier in the day and some while we were out and about.
We’ve seen a lot of naked women statues in Osaka and there were more in Kobe.
After lunch we were in search of the Kawasaki Good Times Museum. We saw it in the distance!
But what we didn’t know is that it’s closed on Monday’s… argh!!! Will have to research that one better next time.
We decided to wander the streets a bit more and found ourselves going through China Town where hubby made a friend with one of the stall holders who really really really wanted to be Australian just like us.
Sadly we did all we could do in the few hours we were there and were soon back on the train back to Osaka.
We found ourselves back at the Umeda Sky Building and went up again.
Riding down those escalators BETWEEN buildings at such a great height is really something!
We stopped for a drink and watched the suited people rushing by to get wherever they really needed to be.
This place was cute because it seemed none of the workers spoke any English. Hubby pointed to the drink he wanted (they had bottles behind glass).
It took two workers to understand what we were ordering.
Two minutes later they come back to us saying “sold out” and they were both holding four bottles each from which hubby could make his second choice.
They are just so accommodating here!
So sad that our trip is quickly coming to an end. How did that happen?
I’m leaving with a picture for an ad that I saw today. I don’t know what this is advertising. Perhaps you have an idea?
Planes, Plates and Persuasions 