We Are Tomodachi Spring 2017

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4Inspirational Views: Present and PastJanuary 2017 marked the 150th anniversary of the opening of the Port of Kobe to international trade. Thanks to the calm waters of its naturally protected harbor, Kobe had long developed as a maritime trading hub, and since the opening of the port it has come to play a major part in Japan’s international commerce. Also, the many tourist attractions in and around Kobe, along with the beauty of the port itself, have in recent years been drawing a growing number of cruise ships to make stops here. In the Rokko Mountains, which rise up behind the port, are springs of water with a high mineral content, thanks to which the Kobe area has become famous as one of Japan’s leading sake-brewing regions. The Port of Kobe is just 30 minutes by train from Osaka, and the nearby Kobe Airport offers frequent flights on various routes.Port of Kobe: Hyogo PrefecturePort of KobeHyogo Pref.Kansai International AirportOsaka CityKobe City