Kobe Travel Forum

Hello - My daughters and I will be coming to Kobe on March 27 , 2005 for three days. They were born there in 1961 and 1962 but we left when they were toddlers. Now they are both married and busy with children of their own. I'm excited about showing them around and hope someone in VT could help us. They were born at Kaisei International Hospital which I hope is still there. We'd also like to get recommendations on a place to stay. We'll be arriving on the Shinkansen so I thought we'd be better off staying at a hotel near the station. I have a few other questions and wonder if someone out there will respond. I sent a message to Sakura last week and have not received a response yet. Thanks in advance for your help.

Hello.
That's nice story,isn't that?
I live in near Kobe.
I was born in 1963.
So almost same age to your daughters..?
I found KaiseiHospital website.
There are English page is available.

http://www.kobe-kaisei.org/

http://www.kobe-kaisei.org/spotlight/sub36.htm

Maybe Kobe has changed much since early 1960's.
We had big earthquake damage in 1995.
Now Kobe has completelly revived .

I hope your traveling will be nice.

All the best.

Koji

Dear Koji,
Thank you so much for your quick response. I did look up the hospitals website and it is quite beautiful. My son and I returned to Kobe in 1997 so am very aware of the earthquake damage. I was the first exchange teacher with the Seattle-Kobe Sister City affiliation back in 1961 and we lived in Tarumi - actually at 2141 Kaigandori. We hope to see that house on this trip too. Do you live near Tarumi? Your English is very good. Are you a teacher? If it's not too much trouble, can I ask you several more questions? Thanks in advamce for your help. Sincerely, Linda

Hello.
I am very pleased to hear that the website of thospital would be helpful for you.
Well, no way , I am not a teacher but I like to read English except for textbooks in English.
It's a so lovely that you were the first exchange teacher
with the Seattle-Kobe Sister City affiliation back in 1961
, huh?
As you know , nowadays we can learn nice English from teachers who are native speakers.
But when I was a student , it was rare and few opportunities to learn from them.But you used to be the
first teacher. That's great.

Anyway, It seems that the address of Kaigandori still
exists in Tarumi.

http://map.yahoo.co.jp/pl?nl=34.37.24.078&el=135.2.48.946&la=1&fi=1&skey=%bf%e2%bf%e5%b6%e8%b3%a4%b4%df%c4%cc&sc=4

It is just fhe foot of Akasi Kaikyo Bridge which is the most longest bridge right now in the world , accomplished in 1998. Here is some tips

http://www.hsba.go.jp/bridge/e-akasi.htm

Contrary to Tarumi , My town is located at east of Kobe which is about 25 minutes by train.
Yes , please feel free to ask me questions.
I will answer them as possible I can.

Best Regards
Koji

Dear Koji, Again, thank you for your quick response. Yes, I have a few more questions. We would like to stay in a small Ryokan near Kobe for two nights and the guide books I've got don't really mention ryokans except for the large fancy ones. I know many ryokans don't cater to foreigners for a variety of reasons. But I think we would be easy guests. Do you have any ideas? I've looked at the ones in Arima, and that would suit us but I just thought there were more opportunities. I've been reading a wonderful book ,Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji,and the author refers to a ryokan in Nigawa somewhere between Kobe and Osaka. She doesn't mention the name. You were amazing with the hospital and the bridge. Maybe you could find this too.
Linda

Hi Linda.
Um...A Ryokan in Nigawa..Let see..Well..Nigawa is very closeby from here.It's 5 minutes by a bicycle.I have never heard a Ryokan in Nigawa.Yes.Arima might be the best choice for you if you want to stay at traditional style Ryokan near Kobe.
Here is some tips about Arima.Please just click on Accomondation and please look up Arima Spa.
This website also offers information about accomondation around Kobe in English.
http://www.feel-kobe.jp/index-e.html

I have to say about cherry blosom in Arima spa.
Cherry blosom will come out at almost around japan on the end of March except for northern part that is just on your schedule to visit Japan.
You are lucky.I'd love to recomend you to see that.But Cherry blossom in Arima will be late due to lower templeature.Maybe it will come out on the middle of April.Please just remember Arima is behind of Mt Rokko and north.
I hope your travel is going to be nice.

Regards
Koji

Dear Koji, Thank you again for your response. I discovered that Spring Vacation is taking place during our visit so I decided quickly on a convenient hotel - The Holiday Inn Shin-Kobe. That seems fairly predictable for tourists, but we won't be in the hotel very much so the price and the location appealed. I was unable to find an Inn in Nigawa - so I guess I will have to discover one while we are there to use on our next visit. You have been so helpful - we would love to invite you for a meal somewhere. Is that possible? I'm also going to try and find a volunteer in VT that can help us out one day getting around. Again, thanks and I hope to hear from you.
Sincerely, Linda

Dear Koji, Thank you again for your response. I discovered that Spring Vacation is taking place during our visit so I decided quickly on a convenient hotel - The Holiday Inn Shin-Kobe. That seems fairly predictable for tourists, but we won't be in the hotel very much so the price and the location appealed. I was unable to find an Inn in Nigawa - so I guess I will have to discover one while we are there to use on our next visit. You have been so helpful - we would love to invite you for a meal somewhere. Is that possible? I'm also going to try and find a volunteer in VT that can help us out one day getting around. Again, thanks and I hope to hear from you.
Sincerely, Linda