This is a private guided tour report by Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.), a network of 1,000+ government-licensed, English-speaking local guides across all 47 prefectures of Japan. Not affiliated with the Japan Guide Association.

Tour Itinerary

  • 10:30 Meet up @ JR Shin-Kobe Station
  • 10:45 @ Kitano Ijinkan District (Moegi House, Weathercock House)
  • 12:30 @ Meriken Park (Earthquake Memorial Park)
  • 14:00 @ Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
  • 15:30 Disband @ Kobe Steak "Miyabi"

Title: What Can You See on a Private Kobe Tour? A Licensed Guide's Report from Japan Guide Agency

Body:

[Japan Guide Agency (JGA Inc.)](https://www.j-g-a.org/) guides led a private tour of Kobe for guests visiting from Asia. One of the guests enjoyed photography and frequently took pictures not only at the main sightseeing spots but also throughout the streets. Because some of the guests grew a little tired and needed frequent restroom breaks, the tour ran considerably over the planned time. The guests listened attentively to the guide's explanations at each spot and asked many thoughtful, in-depth questions.

On the way to the Kitano Ijinkan district at the start, one of the guests spotted a café displaying a national flag, and upon inquiring, learned that the owner was from the same region, leading to a fond and nostalgic conversation. In the Kitano Ijinkan area, the guests were delighted to try a soft-serve ice cream that had been reported as "the best in Japan." They were also very interested in the nearby Starbucks, which occupies a Meiji-era former residence designated as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property and features a logo different from the standard one.

The guests had been looking forward to the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, and they explored it with great interest. They also enjoyed the tasting and purchased many souvenirs. I presented them with a handmade drawstring pouch made by my sister, which they were very pleased to receive.

For a late lunch, the guests wished to try Kobe beef, so I guided them to a restaurant I recommended, where we parted ways. The guests planned to watch a football match at Noevir Stadium Kobe afterward, so I explained the route. Both were very pleasant, and they warmly invited me to join them for the meal. They also expressed a strong wish to visit Himeji next time and said they would like to request me as their guide, which I found very gratifying.

Transportation cost per person

No.TransportationRouteFare
Section 1TrainSumiyoshi (Hyogo Prefecture, Hanshin Line)~Sannomiya200JPY
Total200JPY

Dear my guests,

This is (Mr.) Yama, greeting from Kobe, Japan.
I would like to warmly welcome you to Japan this time. I am from the city of Kobe, which is of course, well-known for very tasty Kobe Beef . You can taste
real genuine Kobe Beef here. Kobe is also called “Home of Japanese Sake” with lots of Sake breweries, and I recommend you would visit those breweries
if you have any interest in Japanese Sake as well as one aspect of Japanese cultures. Of course, you can have tastings of various kinds of Sake there.

Whenever during the tour, I always try to make it safe, pleasant and comfortable for all of the guests, which is my first priority. I am very much confident
that you can have a pleasant and unforgettable experience in Japan. Just tell me about your preference; what you would like to like to see, have, know
and eat and so on. Particularly, I hold the license for cooking qualified by the government here and maybe, I can reply you for questions related to the
foods here. In this respect, I strongly recommend you would try not only famous Japanese cuisine such as Sushi, Tempura or Suki-yaki but some
Japanese traditional local foods, like Tako-yaki, Okonomi-yaki and Kushkatsu. They are sometimes called the soul foods of Japan. Here is the brief
explanation for these three foods.

1) Tako-yaki
Tako-yaki is a snack filled with pieces of octopus in a batter of flour , egg and soup stock. You can call them octopus dumplings or balls. “Tako” means
octopus and “yaki” means grilled or broiled.
2) Okonomi-yaki
This word Okonomi-yaki means “cook just as you like” and you can use whatever you like as toppings, such as beef, pork, shrimp, squid and octopus.
Okonomi-yaki is round shape and just like pancakes or pizza in shape mainly made from egg, flour and water.
3) Kushi-katsu
Kushi-katsu is skewered cutlet or deep-fried foods on a stick. “Kushi” means skewer and “katsu” means cutlet. Various kinds of foods are used for
ingredients such as beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, squid, octopus and lots of kinds of vegetables.

Actually, the western Japan including Osaka, Kobe and Himeji is called as “Home of such local soul foods”. You should give it a try and I am sure
that you like them very much.

I sincerely hope that I can be your tour guide this time in Kobe, Osaka and Himeji. If my guests said to me after the tour, “I have had a very good
and pleasant time with you today. I hope I can come here again and name you as our guide”, which is my great pleasure. Moreover, I would be
great honored if they say “I like Japan now thanks to you”.

Looking forward to meeting you soon here.
Doomo Arigato Gozaimasu!
Yama

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