Kobe

 

Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kobe is one of Japan’s most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. 

Wedged between sea and mountains, the city is long and narrow and will welcome England for their second pool match against the USA.

From its earliest days, Kobe was a maritime gateway with trade to and from China after Japan re-opened to the world in the mid 19th century.

Thanks to its relatively small size, Kobe is a pleasure for a casual wander, stopping in high-quality cafes and restaurants where you could sample some of their famous Kobe Beef along the way. It means it won’t be daunting for England fans who are desperate to soak up as much of Japan as possible while making memories that last a lifetime at Rugby World Cup 2019.

A trip to Kobe would not be complete without a tour around Hakutsuru, Kobe’s famous sake-brewing centre. The self-guided tour through its historic, wooden former brewery building is a fascinating look into traditional sake-making methods.

Complete your trip to Kobe with a tour of the Memorial Park, in memory of the 1995 earthquake that struck the region. This simple, open-air, harbourside museum tells the story in artefacts and a video presentation in English.

See our top 10 things to do in Kobe here.