HyogoJapan.com got in contact with Ms. Roboto, a travel blogger from Hyogo Prefecture, and asked her to share her favorite spots in Kobe. This is her story and recommendations. Make sure you check out her blog and Instagram at the bottom of this article!
Ms. Roboto’s Story
Hi everyone! I’m Ms. Roboto, a travel & lifestyle blogger from Japan. I’m super excited to share with you my local top picks of things to do in Kobe!
Since I was a teenager, I was obsessed with fashion and thought I wanted to work in the fashion industry for the longest time. I started out my career in fashion right after graduating university. I worked in the industry for about 7 years, working shifts as a store manager and eventually moving up into the corporate office. The time I spent working in fashion was a great experience for me, but I didn’t feel 100% that this was how I wanted to live my life, so I decided to take a chance to figure out what I really wanted to do. In 2016, I left the fashion industry. I had no idea what I wanted to do, so I decided to spend a year to figure out my plans for the future. I spent the year tutoring Japanese and traveling to different countries mainly to attend weddings. In 2017, I attended 11 weddings and 9 out of 11 were abroad!
I came to realise that traveling is what makes me happy, so decided to work hard to travel harder! In my travels, I aim to find less-touristy, more local, hidden, interesting spots to visit in Japan.
Ms. Roboto’s Favourite Spots in Kobe
Shopping
Kobe – Sanda Premium Outlet – Feeling tired from sightseeing every day? Why not take a break and spend some time shopping! In Kobe, my favourite shopping area is the Kobe – Sanda Premium Outlet. It’s a massive outlet (at least in Japan, but maybe not in the U.S.) with 210 outlet stores. There’s a big variety of stores from local Japanese brands to high-end designer brands. There’s an awesome food court there, so make sure you go there hungry!
Spa & Relaxation
Kobe Minato Onsen Ren – My favourite and most conveniently located natural hot spring spa is Kobe Minato Onsen Ren. It’s in a beautiful location by the ocean with an amazing view, especially in the evening. The spa includes indoor and outdoor hot springs, indoor and outdoor pools, hot stone beds, saunas, hot yoga studio, restaurants, and more. I love coming here when I need a short getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Bleu by El Tres – Bleu by El Tres is a hair salon located in Motomachi. I’m sure you’re wondering why I picked a hair salon for travellers. It’s because Japanese hair salons gives the best head massages ever! If you’re in need of a bit of relaxation without going all the way to hot springs or spas, go to Bleu by El Tres for their head spa. Most hair salons have head spa on their menu, but this salon is my favourite!
Coffee Break
Caffera – Caffera is the most stylish cafe in Motomachi. On a nice sunny day, I love to sit outside and sip on their matcha caffe latte. Oh, and they make the cutest latte art!
Lunch
Kobe Kitcho – Looking for great kaiseki food in the city? I recommend Kobe Kitcho, which is a very famous and highly regarded restaurant in Japan. Ingredients in the kaiseki set changes every season. The last time I went was a few weeks ago (in April), so their kaiseki theme was cherry blossoms, which they incorporated in the food and the tableware.
Dinner
Kasahara – One of my top 3 Japanese food is yakitori. Kasahara is a modern yakitori restaurant, that serves incredibly fresh and tasty chicken – both raw and grilled. Their chicken sashimi is so delicious, it’s the best I’ve ever had. It’s quite common to eat raw meat in Japan, but we always make sure we eat it at restaurants we trust. Kasahara is definitely a trust-worthy and high quality restaurant, so please try it! Read the restaurant review on my blog!
I hope you visit and enjoy these spots in Kobe!
Don’t forget to check out my blog and instagram page @msroboto
Domo Arigato,
MS. ROBOTO
