So I spent a whole day just walking around Kobe, racking up some 45,000 steps, which apparently translates to about 33 km.
I have no idea how many calories that burned, but I’m pretty sure I put them all back on with my lunch and dinner. Yes, hamburgers are actually really good in Japan these days compared to what they were 35 years ago when I first arrived.
What’s really amazed me is the English level of the staff at these restaurants. With all the inbound tourism in Japan right now, the staff have really stepped up their game. The woman who served me spoke incredible English… sure, I could’ve cut it short and said, “Hey, don’t worry, I speak Japanese,” but honestly, I’m past that now. It actually makes me happy when I go into a restaurant and a local comes up to me speaking flawless English
The weather was overcast, which made Kobe look a bit dull, but no matter how many times I see the Port Tower, it still mesmerizes me. My long stroll took me through Motomachi, Chinatown, and many of the arcades (商店街), which I absolutely love in Japan. Honestly, I consider them a national treasure.
After wandering around, checking out bicycle shops, and buying a few things I’ll need for my camping trip along the Shimanami Kaido, I finally took a train back to my son’s house, only to find he wasn’t home. Thankfully, there’s an onsen nearby, so I could soak and rest my tired legs there.
One great thing about living in the countryside is that when you go to the city… riding trains, hearing the noises, getting jostled on crowded buses, trying all sorts of foods… it almost feels like taking an overseas trip.
