1 November 2025
Low rent end of town
Shinkaichi and Harborland
Tonight I went to many places, and now have over 40k steps again, I talk about steps like I am old, because I am.
First I did a lap around Chinatown, which is where my hotel is situated, but due to the flood last night I had not walked around it yet as it is the only part of town that is outdoors.
Next I wandered 2 suburbs over to Shinkaichi. Definitely the low rent part of town. It also has many many covered shopping streets and a sizeable underground system of interconnected malls and alleys. I worked out as I was leaving that area that it is actually where I stayed last time I was here, I recall that accommodation was hard to come by then for some reason.
Finally I headed to the nearby Harbortown, just briefly for dinner. I will probably go there again on another night.
There is a lot to Kobe, there is even another undercover shopping area two stations further west at Shin-Nagata, who knows I may end up there yet too, maybe if it rains more.
A Chinatown street. Not as big as Yokohama, but not bad. I did not hear much Chinese being spoken though.
The street stalls were closing up, I think they were mainly selling various noodles.
Not ridiculously busy.
There is a lot going on here.
Shinkaichi area now, starting with an underground corridor leading from Kobe station, with almost no shops.
A large covered shopping street appeared. Longer than I thought, but mainly Pachinko and food that seemed alarmingly cheap.
The far end had almost nothing, but wait, there's still more...
There is then this weird underground bit in the side of a hill, which joins onto YET ANOTHER long covered shopping street. What is going on here?
Once I saw this sign I realised it was where I stayed last time. I will do forensic analysis comparing my trip from 2017 to make sure.
Relatively nearby is the more upmarket area of Harbortown, with a series of interconnected indoor / outdoor malls with aquatic themed entertainment, mermaids and ships and such.
Most places had lines, the pork schnitzel place did not, so pork schnitzel time it was. Yes I know it is called katsu.
And finally, a train. I stood in the street making train noises. Tomorrow is not a hiking day, rejoice?