Kobe

Housed in a former bank (1935) with a neo-Classical appearance, the theme of the Kobe City Museum is cultural exchange between Asia and the West. — Michelin Guide

The collections chronicle the maritime history of Kobe and feature some interesting scale models of boats. A second section is devoted to the history of the port of Kobe. — Michelin Guide

These 43m-/141-foot high falls are made up of a set of four waterfalls. — Michelin Guide

Its winding streets, nostalgic brick- and weatherboard-built ijinkan (literally 'foreigners' houses'), cafes, restaurants and, yes, souvenir shops are great for strolling. — Lonely Planet

A "walk" 300m from the shore and 50m above sea level, which commands a view of the bridge through bay windows. If you book, you can go up the lift to the top of one of the bridge's pillars. — Michelin Guide

The memorial (2000) of the 1995 earthquake, designed by Shingo Kusuda, is located in Higashiyuenchi Park near the town hall of the city of Kobe. — Michelin Guide

The old cable-car, now renovated, takes you up in 10mins to the Art deco Rokko Sanjo station. Tenran observation platform commands a sweeping view over the sprawling Kobe/Osaka metropolis. — Michelin Guide

On a ridge of Mount Rokko (alt. 400m/1,312ft), the main appeal of this garden, home to over 75,000 aromatic and medicinal plants, is the view, particularly grandiose at night. — Michelin Guide

The permanent exhibit here features art from prominent 20th-century Japanese painters Ryohei Koiso and Heizo Kanayama, Kobe natives who specialized in Western techniques. — Fodor's

Located on artificial Rokko Island, this is Japan's first museum devoted to fashion, housed in a contemporary, sophisticated setting that does justice to the highbrow costumes it contains. — Frommer's

A collection of the specialized tools used to construct Japan’s beautiful architecture.  — Atlas Obscura

If you're heading to Meriken Park, consider a short stop in Kobe's Chinatown. — Fodor's