It's beginning my travelogue episode 3 (06 November 2016 – Sunday) about my trip to Japan with my sister. This time, we are going to explore Kobe, Japan for 1 day tour as free and easy. Before we're going to Kobe, we're passing by first at Osaka Castle. 

The Osaka Castle is the one of the famous Osaka's Landmarks. It's also a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century of the Azuchi-Momoyama period. The main tower of Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one square kilometer. 

It is built on two raised platforms of landfill supported by sheer walls of cut rock, using a technique called Burdock piling, each overlooking a moat. The central building is five stories on the outside and eight stories on the inside and built atop a tall stone foundation to protect its occupants from attackers. That is some history about the Osaka Castle.

Actually, I'm not sure what's the festival nearby Osaka Castle? It is like 2 times, I came to Japan and I will saw this kind of festival. I really don't know what this festival's name is. Maybe I'm a lucky girl, who's willing to see this kind of festival in Japan.

After I ask to one of the Japanese friends about this festival and she says to me – it's maybe Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri. So I make the search in Google and I found some information about it. The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is a fun high-octane festival held in Kishiwada in the south of Osaka. The festival is the biggest and most famous danjiri matsuri in Japan. A danjiri is a traditional Japanese wooden float that has elaborate carvings and is decorated with various ornaments. The wooden floats are made in the shape of a shrine or temple and are pulled through the streets of a neighborhood during festival days.  

The Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri first began in 1703 when the daimyo (feudal lord) of Kishiwada Castle, Okabe Nagayasu prayed to the Shinto gods for an abundant harvest at Fushimi Inari-Taisha in Kyoto. Typical of many fall festivals in Japan, the Danjiri Matsuri is essentially a harvest festival to pray for a good autumn bounty. 

Then, we're continuing our journey to Kobe, Japan. On this day, we are using the 3 Days Kansai Thru Pass and also ICOCA card for some trains that can't be using 3 Days Kansai Thru Pass. Our first destination in Kobe is Arima Onsen (Taiko-Dori Street).

The Arima Onsen has been thriving as one of the famous hot-spring resorts in Japan. It's located surrounded by mountains. It only takes around 30 minutes by train from Sannomiya Station in downtown Kobe and about an hour from Osaka City.

This is the main street of the Arima Spa Resort area names after Taiko Hideyoshi, where many souvenir shops stand creating a nostalgic atmosphere. 

What's I have been learning when our journey to Kobe is we have the difficult time to read the some of the station's name since it's write in Japanese. So we really take the time to read it especially like me that I don't know anything about Japanese words rather than like my sister. My conclusion is to look the same Japanese words of the station that we're want to go around Kobe.

Then, our next destination is Kobe Sannomiya Center-Gai Shopping Street. The Kobe Sannomiya Center-Gai Shopping Street is a district in Kobe which is a hub of many transportation systems. 

The place is a favorite of not only the locals but also of people in Kobe. It is a place that you can find the latest trends and a variety of shops. Many people from Kobe and nearby Kobe is come to visit on every day.

We just walking around Kobe Sannomiya Center-Gai Shopping Street and looking something new things before we continue our journey to Kyu-Kyoryuchi (Former Foreign Settlement Building) by walking.

When Kobe port was opened as an international port in 1868 after long national isolation, the foreign settlement was constructed. This settlement was designed by British civil engineers, and 126 blocks in the district were sold to Western foreigners at auction. And this settlement had exterritoriality. We can feel like we walking at old European town. Nowadays, sophisticated cafes and shops are dotted in this district but I think most of the shops around this district are luxury shops and cafes.

It is like normal to us that we are always taken late lunch or dinner. The main reasons are we always getting lost to go some destinations. I just luckily found Luke's Lobster Restaurant at nearby of Kyu-Kyoryuchi (Former Foreign Settlement Building). I feel so happy when one of bucking list foods is the tick. 

The Luke's Lobster Restaurant is the famous restaurant that sells their main meal of Lobster. I would like to try their famous meals is Lobster Roll (US). The price is JPY 1,706 include tax. I think whose seafood lover like me, you should try this too. 

Then, our last destination in Kobe is Kobe Harborland. The Kobe Harborland is a premier commercial and sightseeing destination on the site of the former Japan National Railways Minatogawa Cargo Station, opened in October 1992 as a cultural hub that links the city and the sea. 

Kobe Harborland features an array of large-scale commercial sites, from department stores, superstores, and specialty shops to hotels. This new cityscape, with its seaside sightseeing spots, pier, and pedestrian bridge so perfectly suited to its Kobe surroundings, has gained growing popularity among local residents as well as fans of Kobe from around the world.

I company my sister dinner at the Turkish Restaurant, inside the MOSAIC Building. If you have planned to go MOSAIC building, you need to buy the famous strawberry chocolate at Frantz Kobe Shop. I like this strawberry chocolate and I bought it as souvenirs. 

Now is time to back hostel at Osaka, Japan. We need to have beauty sleep since next day is our fun time at USJ. I'm a big fan of Harry Potter so I'm looking forward the USJ.

Here, the link to the continue stories about Joyful Trip to Japan in Autumn, 2016 – Day 1, Day 2, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, and Day 10.

P/S: A few of the photos is the credit to my sister.