Articles of category "Kobe"

The Hyogo prefecture is located in the Kinki region on the Honshu Island, Japan. The capital of Hyogo is Kobe, a popular tourist destination. It is one of Japan's major ports along with the ports of Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Hakata and Tokyo. It was one of the first cities to open for trade with the West in 1868. Today, the port city has a population of over forty five thousand foreign residents from more than hundred countries and symbolizes the contact with the Western world.

The Japanese love onsen, as the Westerners enjoy a spa massage today. Many hot springs in the open air comprise ones of the major attractions in Japan, since the visitors have started to find it enjoyable to experience a traditional Japanese bathing. Many hot springs are very old and become famous for their age. The others are considered sacred and belong to the holiest springs in the country. In any case, they are worth visiting if you love Japan and want to learn more about its special nature and original culture.