3 November 2025
Back at the docks
Kobe Harborland and Port
Last night in Kobe, better head down to the docks.
The docks are called the harbor and the port. There was a pirate ship.
Kobe had a giant earthquake in 1995, the main image you might remember is the highway on it's side. They have rebuilt nearly everything, but there is a swimming pool sized bit of destruction preserved. It was rather difficult to see in the dark.
Nearby, is the collection of shops referred to as Harborland including Mosaic, which is largely restaurants in what I presume used to be old sheds. I remember going there on my previous visit.
It was all a bit quiet for a national holiday, even though everything seemed to be open.
Tomorrow I go to Tokushima on Shikoku. I have not been there before. Not many people have. Getting there requires either a ferry or a bus, I have done reconnaissance on how to get the bus, so right now that is the way I am leaning, especially because it is cheaper.
I think this is a giant prawn. It is translucent and you can seemingly get inside it.
Here is the earthquake memorial.
The port authority metallic structure.
I presume you can go up this tower. I did not.
It seemed rather fitting that a fake pirate ship would pull up. The sail is a purely decorative mesh.
First long exposure of this trip. All of the port.
This is Mosaic. There are probably 40 restaurants here, some expensive, some cheap.
I always get mildly excited at the opportunity to photograph a ferris wheel.
I decided to go to famous Chinese chain Nanas green tea for dinner, they normally have something healthy. The spinach curry was nice, the cheese was unexpected. Paper cup of tap water tells you it is a classy establishment.
Then I discovered that there is yet another underground complex leading to the largely now pointless Kobe station.
Which soon lead back to the longest of all the Kobe Shotengai, Motomachi, which goes for 1.5km straight back to my hotel.