A walk around Sorakuen Gardens, the old foreign settlement and Sannomiya

Photograph of a woman walking over a wooden bridge with a pond in the foreground and green leaves from ornamental Japanese gardens around her

Japan’s Golden Week has arrived again. Over the course of 10 days there are 4 public holidays, one lengthening a weekend, three more sitting mid-week. It’s a time of year when the Japanese rush off to enjoy holidays – and traffic jams can easily exceed twenty kilometres.

For my part, I decided to start the holiday week with something a little closer to home.

Sorakuen Gardens

Located a short walk from Kencho-Mae, this small park is a beautiful escape from the bustle of Kobe. A traditional Japanese Garden with walkways to explore and secrets to uncover, there’s barely a vista that isn’t photogenic. As is the way with traditional gardens, it changes as the year progresses. I missed the Sakura (cherry blossom), but caught the azalea. A return for the autumn Kyo looks to be in order.

Photograph of a wooden bridge spanning a dry steam bed in a Japanese ornamental garden, surrounded by lush green leaves

Photograph of bright pink flowers with hints of green foliage

Photograph of a Japanese shrine rising up from behind green shrubbery in an ornamental garden

Yamate Kansen

This is nothing more exciting than a long, wide road. However, it’s also an opportunity to enjoy some of the architectural signatures Kobe has to offer.

Photograph of a golden high rise tower flanked on either side with drab grey buildings

Infiorata

Kobe has a multi-cultural heritage (insofar as Japan can manage), and has borrowed a few bits of culture here and there. One example is the annual Infiorata, where pictures are formed on the street by flower petals. The high-point of the mini-festival is considered to be when it moves to the old foreigner settlement, and it’s possible to see all the displays at once.

Photograph of a young Japanese woman crouching by a bed of yellow flower petals, adding to the display

Photograph of two people taking a photograph from a balcony, both with their mobile phones held up

Motomachi

Between Sannomiya and Harborland is a series of covered shopping streets which stretch for about two kilometres.

Photograph of a crowded Japanese shopping mall with a large banner hanging from the ceiling proclaiming support for children's charities in Ukraine

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My name is Ross Hori

I'm a freelance writer, designer and photographer. By day I create articles, features and reports. At night I take photos and write fiction. Find out more.

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