City, Food and Fashion

Below are some pictures around the Sannomiya Station, which is the main transit hub of Kobe.

The trains coming into Sannomiya

Ads in downtown Kobe - every available bit of space is covered with some advertisment

Restaurant specializing in fugu (pufferfish), which can be deadly if prepared incorrectly

Pufferfish 

Liz's dinner - tomato-based ramen with kakuni (braised pork belly), water cress, shredded cabbage and an egg

Tang's dinner - Tonkatsu (rich pork broth) ramen with char-su (bbq pork), scallions, boiled egg and seaweed

Dinner at Taro Ramen

Covered shopping street at Nankimachi (China-town)

Covered shopping street at Nankimachi

Entrance to Nankimachi

While at Nankimachi, we found the juxtaposition of traditions that really characterize Japan.  One shop sold beautiful traditional kimons and obis - today, kimonos are worn at very traditional weddings.  And the shop next door sold very fanciful and much more modern wedding gowns.

Traditional kimono and obi

And the modern wedding gown next door