Kobe, Japan 2023
Our ship has been in Kobe for the last couple of days. Many people visited Kyoto, Japan’s cultural capital or Osaka, Japan’s second largest city. Since Allyn is still recovering from surgery, we decided to stay close and take it easy.
I took the shuttle in to check things out in the morning. Like everything else in Japan, the bus was small and tight. After the bus was seemingly full, they put down middle jumper seats which were half the size of the normal small ones and I was lucky to get one. Fortunately, I do not suffer from claustrophobia. Equally fortunate was that I didn’t need to exit in a hurry.
The downtown area was fascinating – so many stores and people, yet so immaculate.
We came back in for dinner during the evening. The city was even more vibrant. We passed so many tiny Japanese restaurants (smaller than the size of our cabin) that had typically one tiny counter with 7 or 8 seated patrons and an equal number standing and squished behind them. Everybody seemed lively and joined each other’s conversations.
We had reserved dinner at an elegant Chinese restaurant, Totenkaku, which required we ordered one of their fixed meals the night before.
Note: Yes, I know Kobe is world famous for their Kobe beef and it happens we are returning next week. Our group of eight already has dinner reservations for a Kobe teppanyaki dinner then.
Today the ship hosted a fancy lunch affair for their Grand Voyage guests ( about 80 of us) at some famous old house turned banquet hall. They provided Geisha entertainment and the works for us.
Fascinating & thanks for sharing!
Best wishes for a complete & speedy recovery Allyn. You guys look great! 💗
I hope Allyn is OK. I want to thank you for your very timely review of Kyoto. Now I know I will not get on that bus. Do you have any restaurant recommendations? You two always seem to get it right. Linda and I will be in Tokyo on APL 2 and in Kyoto on APL 6.
We didn’t eat dinner out.
Looks absolutely wonderful. Allyn looks good too! So glad she is recovering well. Tokyo was the first big city I was ever in. My family went when I was 17. I remember being in Kobe very well. We went to a steakhouse one night and liked it so well we went back. My dad and I had martinis with our beef!
Enjoy Japan’
My cousin is visiting Japan now and will be boarding Silver Muse soon.
Sounds interesting. How is Allyn now? When we were in Japan we stayed in the mountain at one of the very Japanese resorts with small tub you bathed in and we ate on the floor and had servants helping us. I forget the name of it. But it was a good experience.
Adrienne and Richard Kaufman
We will be in Kobe overnight 15th & 16th we love Tepenyaki could you send us the name of the one you are going to. It’s always hard in Japan to follow maps and names of Restaurants thank you Stay well and always smile. Sandra and allan
Another beautiful stop. Enjoy.