Another batch of shots from around Kobe today. The theme (though unintentional) was definitely an overarching look at the city – from a number of different perspectives.

First we have Suwakoen, a park in the foothills of the Rokko Mountains, which provide one-half of the dramatic backdrop for this city (the other being the sea).  Today’s journeys indeed spanned both the mountains and the port, and I’d note that in the full range of travels depicted here, I never used a motorized conveyance apart from an elevator – Kobe is eminently walkable.  Don’t get me wrong. I’m, putting a ton of miles on the tires (I’ve been here a less than a week, and I’m already struggling to keep my pants from falling down), but being to get to all these places on foot is a big advantage for this town over more sprawling Japanese cities.

After Suwakoen (where I had a visit from some kumabachi – I love these stingless and scary-looking carpenter bees which like to get all up in your grill, but can do you no harm whatsoever) it was Sorakuen, the traditional Japanese garden that’s only about 300 meters from my place.  It’s smaller than some (as befits Kobe) but does have a couple of Important Cultural Properties and some lovely vistas.  Finally the Kobe Waterfront, known broadly as Harborland, which stretches from the Port Tower area to the vicinity of Kobe Station.  It was a lot of walking, but I took all of this area in over the course of a couple of hours.