Kobe offers a superior living environment, compared to other large cities like Tokyo and Osaka. It provides the residents with every advantage of a big city, while still offering merits typically only found in suburban towns, such as larger housing options, lower living expenses, less traffic and crowding on trains, shorter commutes, and a greater sense of public safety.
　At the same time, Kobe is also surrounded in nature’s beauty thanks to the Seto Inland Sea to its south and the Rokko mountain range in the north. It is easy to enjoy seasonal activities like climbing or skiing in the Rokko Mountains, going for a stroll along the beach around Suma or Maiko, or swimming in the ocean. You can also experience traditional Japanese culture at the numerous local shrines, temples, and hot springs.
　You will also find standard big-city activities like shopping and food tours. Kobe’s chic cityscape is famous across Japan, making it a very popular city not only for Japanese people, but for foreigners too. The Sannomiya and Motomachi areas are home to boutiques for famous brands, and there are restaurants featuring global dishes scattered everywhere you look, including in Nankinmachi, Kobe’s own Chinatown. Kobe also offers up its own unique flavors, including Kobe beef and Kobe wine.
　It has been over 130 years since foreigners saw the unique characteristics of Kobe and began living there, adding to our history and transforming it into the international city it is today. Cultural exchange is still highly active even on an individual scale, providing an enriched and satisfying lifestyle for foreign residents both during work and when spending time off with family on weekends.