The 2019 Rugby World Cup is set to take place in Japan from September 20 to November 2. Many stadiums are hosting the games across Japan this year, one of which is Kobe Misaki Stadium. It is predicted that there will be many people visiting the city of Kobe for the World Cup.
The competing teams at Kobe Misaki Stadium, also known as Noevir Stadium Kobe, are as follows: England vs USA on September 30, Ireland vs Russia on October 3, and South Africa vs Canada on October 8. An estimated 120,000 spectators will be present across the four matches, around 30,000 of which arriving from overseas.
In response to the many fans set to appear in Japan’s sixth-largest city, venues are shops across Kobe are set to serve up a classic plate of Japanese omotenashi―or “hospitality―with a line-up of events and tours. Let’s take a look at just some of the exciting things the city has planned for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
1. Meriken Park Fanzone in Kobe
Rugby fans can enjoy the thrilling atmosphere of the World Cup at one of the many Fanzones set to open across Japan for the games. Entry to all of the Fanzones is free. In Kobe, look forward to live screenings of the matches, food stalls serving local food, promotional booths and more. The fun doesn’t have to end at the matches: fans can continue to enjoy the excitement before and after too at a Fanzone.
2. Hospitable Events
The Kobe Tourism Bureau has teamed up with local business around the city to prepare what they are calling “Hospitable Events For Fans.” Taking place from late September to early October, these events will offer exclusive and unique Kobe experiences. There are 6 in total, but we will take a look at just 2.
MUSIC&DANCE@KOBE PORTOPIA Night 2019
From big disco hits to rock tunes, EDM beats and groove, enjoy a feel-good late-night dance and music party at the fancy Kobe Portopia Hotel. Soak up the warm summer evening while freestyle boogieing.
YORU-BAR ~Night Food Festival~
People of all ages are invited to the popular YORU-BAR at Sannomiya Center Gai which will run from late September to early October. They will serve up a tasty selection of Japanese seafood to Kobe cuisine.
3. KOBE Experience Guided Tour
Aimed at foreign tourists attending the Rugby World Cup in Kobe, the Experience Guided Tour is comprised of 25 unique programs for people to experience Japanese culture, Kobe’s local food culture, and more. The tours will not only be limited to Kobe either―some will also spread to neighbouring cities. Let’s take a look at some of them.
*All programs available in English only
Premium Kobe beef at the almost 150-year-old restaurant Oi Nikuten
Kobe beef is one of the three top brands of high-quality Japanese Wagyu beef. It’s the most well-known and popular type of Wagyu in Japan. With this program, you will learn various ways to enjoy Kobe beef at Oi Nikuten, a long-standing restaurant that first opened back in 1871.
▼Bookings
Experience Zen Meditation at Tenjoji Temple in Kobe City
Immerse yourself in traditional Japanese culture with Zen meditation session at Tenjoji Temple. Learn all about the rich history of the temple with an incredible guided walk before sinking deep into meditation.
▼Bookings
There is lots to be discovered in Kobe, and the doors to its culture are open and ready to embrace all for the Rugby World Cup. Look forward to everything here and much, much more when the matches begin on September 20.
Information
Meriken Park Fanzone in Kobe
Dates/Times
9/26@ 11:00-22:00
9/28 @ 11:00-21:30
9/29 @ 11:00-19:00
9/30 @ 11:00-21:30
10/3 @ 11:00-21:30
10/5 @ 11:00-22:00
10/6 @ 11:00-19:00
10/8 @ 11:00-21:30
Venue: Kobe Meriken Park (Address: 2-2 Hatobacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture
Entry: Free
Official Website (English): https://www.2019kobe.com/news/20190816_03/
MUSIC&DANCE@KOBE PORTOPIA Night 2019
Dates: September 25th-30th / October 3rd-4th, 7th-8th
Time: 19:00-Midnight
*An event titled “FM802 & FM COCOLO Night” will run on September 27 and October 4
Venue: Party Room Key Notes at Kobe Portopia Hotel (South Building Floor 3F) (Address: 6-10-1 Minatojima Nakamachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture)
Official Website (English): https://www.portopia.co.jp/en/convention/venues/keynotes/
Official Website (Japanese): https://www.portopia.co.jp/event-culture/event/detail/25/
YORU-BAR ~Night Food Festival~
Dates: September 26 / September 30 / October 3 / October 8
Time: 20:00-Midnight
Location: Sannomiya Center Gai, Kobe
Official Website (Japanese): http://yorubaru.kobe-sc.jp/
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Fans of Japan and Japanese culture may know that Kobe’s food scene is not to be missed. A new restaurant, KANBE, is now open and tells the story of the city’s food culture. The grand opening was on November 30 in Sannomiya.
The story begins with water, the source of Kobe's food. The city’s famed fare like Kobe beef, Suma salmon, and seasonal vegetables will take the stage through storytelling, projection mapping, and uniquely planed dishes. Ingredients are served to guests the same day that they are delivered to the restaurant, offering the freshest possible experience. The restaurant also offers a wide selection of drinks made in Kobe, including Nada Gogou sake and Kobe wine. These are made using Nunobiki water from the Rokko mountain range, meaning that everything guests enjoy was truly made in Kobe. At KANBE, visitors will chat with a storyteller who weaves the story of Kobe's food into the experience. A chef himself, he is well-versed in cooking methods, food history, and nutrition. The 18-meter-long counter adds to the experience by displaying seasonal scenery, the water of Nunobiki, and the night view from Mt. Rokko. Nature sounds, like the murmuring of Nunobiki Falls and the chirping of birds, also echo through the restaurant in time with the projection mapping, creating an atmosphere that feels alive. Why not come enjoy a new kind of dining experience? Information
FARM TO TABLE ‘KANBE’
Opening Date: November 30, 2022
Reservations Required (May be made up to 3 days prior.)
Address: Taishin Sunset Building 7F (2-5-1 Kitanagasadori, Chuo-ku, Kobe)
Reservations/Official Site: https://www.ko-z.com/
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Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its selection of tasty sweets!The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture. Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious treats, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON went along for the ride! Here are some of the singer's favorite spots around town.
Kobe, known as a city where East meets West, is lined with sweets shops that are unique to the area. The tea salon TOOTH TOOTH Dekoboko Sabo opened in 2019 in the Kobe City Museum and offers a menu that mixes Western food and sweets with tea and ingredients from traditional Japanese cuisine. Kyary ordered the Dekoboko Sabo Afternoon Tea Set, a collection of western sweets blended with the essence of traditional Japanese flavors. Guests are invited to enjoy their tea and sweets in a one-of-a-kind space filled with Meiji period flare and retro Western furniture. Those interested will need to make a reservation, so be sure to remember the next time you’re in Kobe. TOOTH TOOTH Decoboco SaboAddress: 24 Kyomachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe (Inside the Kobe City Museum)Hours: 9:30-17:30 (Last Order at 16:30) Closed MondaysOfficial Site: https://toothtooth.com/restaurant/decoboco-sabo The next stop was Kobe Nankin-machi, one of the three major Chinatowns in Japan. Kobe MILK is known nationwide for its Apricot Pudding, which is made with local ingredients. The raw apricot pudding is mixed with milk brought from the foot of Mt. Rokko and other ingredients from Hyogo Prefecture. Of course, Kyary ordered some, and was amazed by its fluffy texture. You can only enjoy it in Kobe–also, the shop sells other puddings mixed with seasonal fruits, so don’t miss those either! Kobe MILKAddress: Shin-Motomachi Building 1F (1 Motomachi-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe)Hours: Weekdays 9:30-19:00 / Weekends 9:30-19:30Official Site: https://kobe-milk.com For Kyary’s final stop, the singer visited the Moore House, a cafe located in a building with over 100 years of history. Guests are surrounded by greenery, and the Western-style building is incredibly elegant. The Strawberry Mille-feuille Kyary ordered was created by an expert patissier and based on the strawberry mille-feuille recipe from the legendary French restaurant Maxim’s de Paris in Ginza. A generous amount of custard cream complements the crispy pie crust and enhances the sweetness of the fresh strawberries. We’d recommend it with a glass of champagne–if you’re of age. Kitano Ijin-kan Moore HouseAddress: 2-9-3 Kitanocho, Chuo-ku, KobeHours: 11:00-17:00Closed TuesdaysOfficial Site: https://www.kitanomoore.com/cafe/ The streets of Kobe are packed with sweets that you can only enjoy if you visit. Why not come experience these incredible spots like Kyary did? Kobe Sweets Trailer: https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI -
Kobe is filled with famous sightseeing spots like the nostalgic Ijinkan neighborhood and port. The city is packed with fashionable shops and restaurants and is highly regarded for its Kobe beef restaurants and tasty local spirits. Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Kobe is surrounded by rich nature and produces plenty of tasty veggies while also bringing in tons of fresh fish. The port city, with over 150 years of history, has fostered a unique and diverse culinary culture. Recently, Kyary Pamyu Pamyu began starring in a series of promotional videos for the Gastropolis Kobe project. The artist traveled to the city to partake in plenty of delicious fare, and MOSHI MOSHI NIPPON tagged along. Let’s take a look at her top picks! Kobe beef is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the name of this Japanese city, right?
Teppanyaki restaurant Tajima, located in the Kobe Portopia Hotel, serves Kobe beef along with other Japanese black beef, seafood, and seasonal vegetables. Kyary ordered the Kobe beef loin and seasonal grilled vegetables, watching with excitement as the chef prepared the meal in front of her. The steak is made from carefully selected Kobe beef and melts in your mouth. Tajima has private rooms as well as counter seating, making it a perfect location for everything from a family get-together to a first date. Teppanyaki TajimaAddress: Kobe Portopia Hotel 2F (6-10-1 Minatojima Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe)Hours:11:30-14:3017:30-21:30 *Open at 17:00 on weekends and holidaysOpen DailyOfficial site：https://www.portopia.co.jp/restaurant/detail/tajima/ What goes better with Kobe beef than local sake? One area of the city, Nada Gogou, has an incredibly high concentration of sake breweries. Nada Gogo Sake Brewery opened in April 2022 in a renovated building that was formerly the location of Kenbishi, a long-established local sake brewer with over 500 years of history. Visitors can enjoy sake and cuisine from 26 breweries in the area under the themes of ‘Seasonal, Local, Compatible, Fermentation.’ Here, Kyary ordered the Nada Gogou Set which includes the best possible food and drink pairings. Limited to 100 servings each day, the set includes five different sake and three seasonal small plates perfecting for pairing. The drinks and food offerings change with the seasons, allowing guests to enjoy tons of unique flavors from the region no matter what time they visit. Nada Gogou BreweryAddress: 3-11-2 Mikagehonmachi, Hagashinada-ku, KobeHours: 12:00-21:00 *Opens until 20:00 on Sunday and holidaysClosed Monday-ThursdayOfficial Site: https://nadagogo.com/ GOCOCU is an all-day buffet restaurant in the Kobe Portopia Hotel where guests can enjoy dishes using carefully selected ingredients from the five Hyogo provinces (Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tanba, and Awaji) with a spectacular view of Kobe. Visitors can enjoy the chef's specialties including roasted and grilled dishes cooked in a custom-made stone oven. The restaurant is also known for its selection of alcoholic beverages, and Kyary enjoyed the Fukuju Junmai Ginjo. This particular sake has won many awards in Japan and abroad, including a gold medal at the National Sake Competition for three consecutive years. Popular for its smooth rice flavor, this well-loved brand uses rice and rice malt grown in Hyogo Prefecture. Adults can enjoy this and many more delicious beverages during buffet hours and cocktail hours after 8:30 or 9:00 on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays. GOCOCU ~Blessings of the Five Kingdoms~Address: Kobe Portopia Hotel 30F (6-10-1 Minatojima Nakamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe)Hours: 7:00-10:30, 11:30-15:00, 17:30-21:00, 20:30-23:00Open DailyOfficial Site: https://www.portopia.co.jp/restaurant/detail/gococu/ Founded in 1659, Kiku Masamune is a leader in the sake industry. We visited the Kiku Masamune Sake Factory, opened to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its handy barreled sake, perfect for allowing customers to enjoy barrel-aged sake at home easily. Visitors can enjoy browsing sake barrels, with many created using traditional barrel making techniques that are still used today. They can also enjoy an exhibition of Yoshino cedar, the material used to make the barrels. Tours are by appointment only. Reservations are taken on a first-come, first-served basis, so early reservations are recommended! Kiku Masamune Sake FactoryAddress: Uozaki Nishimachi, Higashinada-ku, KobeTour Times: 10:30~, 14:00~, 15:00~ (Each tour is approximately 30 minutes.)Closed during New Year's holidays.Official Site: https://www.kikumasamune.co.jp/tarusake-mf/ *No outside food or beverages are allowed inside the factory. Tastings are available at the Memorial Hall after the tour. After reading this, you’re interested in coming to Kobe, right? Enjoy some of this savory fare the next time you’re in the area. Kobe Beef Version:https://youtu.be/-HrNq6JGO3A Nada Sake Version: https://youtu.be/cd9_f59NWIw -
Kyary Pamyu Pamyu is now starring in a series of promotional videos for Gastropolis Kobe, a project aiming to share the city’s incredible food culture with both domestic and international travelers. The project began on November 3, 2022.
[Kobe Beef Version] https://youtu.be/-HrNq6JGO3A In the new videos, Kyary experiences the wonders of Kobe beef as well as local sake and desserts while exploring the city’s best sightseeing spots. T The main video will be aired on a massive screen near Shibuya Station in Tokyo starting in mid-November, and will also be available to watch online. [Nada Sake Version] https://youtu.be/cd9_f59NWIw[Kobe Sweets Version] https://youtu.be/Sx9B1ZdAvlI To celebrate the campaign, four popular restaurants in Tokyo will participate in the Gastropolis Kobe Fair, inviting guests to enjoy cuisine from the capital of Hyogo Prefecture. Interview with Kyary Pamyu Pamyu
Q: After filming, what was your impression of Kobe? A: “I took pictures in all kinds of places, but honestly, they were all so close to each other. It was easy to get around and see everything–it only took between 15 and 20 minutes to get somewhere, and shooting went smoothly, so I was really able to enjoy every second!” Q: What's your overall impression of Kobe's cuisine?A: “There was so much amazing food. Everything was delicious and I ate and drink so much...because of how much drinking was involved in this shoot, I felt like food and alcohol were really connected in Kobe. Even between takes, the staff would ask if I wanted to try something or have another drink. I was so moved by the warmth and kindness of the people I met. This trip was filled with love and hospitality.” Q: You traveled around Kobe, right? What was your favorite place? A: “I love fashion and history, and Kobe had so many incredible historical buildings. I wanted to have tea at a place like that, and the view at night was unbelievable. I thought it was a great date spot or even a place you could spend time with your family and friends. I loved watching the big boats in the harbor.” Q: There are only two months left in 2022. Is there anything you still want to do? A: “I’ve been on my Japan tour since January, so I’d finally like to relax a little bit. Maybe eat some good food and go to a hot spring. Q: Do you have a message for the readers?A: “The two days of shooting in Kobe were incredible. The weather was perfect, the food was delicious, and the drinks were divine. I’d love to return on my own trip! I hope everyone enjoys the videos!”Information
Gastropolis Kobe Web Series
Streaming: November 3, 2022 at 0:00
Gastropolis Kobe Fair
Running: November 3 – November 9, 2022
*Shiseido Parlor Harajuku will be closed from November 7 until November 10
Participating Venues:
・TAVERN by the green
Address: THE STRINGS Omotesando 2F (3-6-8 Kitaaoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
・Shiseido Parlor Harajuku
Address: WITH HARAJUKU 8F (1-14-30 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
・Ginza Onodera
Address: Il Palazzino Omotesando (5-1-6 Jingumae, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo)
・Tokyo Jugatsu
Address: Ohararyu Kaikan B1F (5-7-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo)
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Antenor, a beloved patisserie located in Kobe, began selling limited-time Halloween-themed cakes on October 1, 2021. The exciting lineup will have guests ready for the scariest day of the year, offering sweets made with purple sweet potato, Mont Blanc, and pumpkin.
Halloween Petit Four - Available from October 16 until October 31
Pumpkin Mont Blanc - Available from October 1 until October 31
Halloween Cheesecake - Available from October 1 until October 31
Gateau Chocolat Classic Cake - Available from October 1 until October 31
Halloween Assortment (M) - Available from September 1 until October 31
The Halloween Assortment (M) includes three types of popular cookies and is available now ahead of the October holiday. It would make a perfect gift, so snag one of these festive boxes before they’re gone! -
MERICAN GOODSTAND, a brunch restaurant in Kobe, will host a 5-day pop-up event by specialty Ebisu-based coffee shop Sarutahiko Coffee starting October 6, 2021. This marks the first event for Sarutahiko Coffee in Kobe, and visitors can enjoy a wide range of delicious drinks including espresso, original drip coffee, and iced coffee. T-shirts and bags commemorating 10 years of Sarutahiko Coffee will also be available for purchase!
10th Anniversary Drip
Crisp Black Coffee
Sarutahiko 'Coffee Dude' T-Shirt
The event itself is sponsored by MERICAN BARBERSHOP, a barbershop with a neo-classic concept that has been sharing diverse cultures through fashion, music, and art since opening in 2015. In addition to Sarutahiko’s drink menu, five different sweets will also be on sale to enjoy with your beverage. The entire concept of the event is ‘enjoying a cup of coffee with something sweet while having some pleasant conversation,’ which sounds like heaven! anytee, a shop specializing in vintage t-shirts, will also be on-site selling coffee and sweets-themed apparel that they personally selected, so be sure to check it out!Information
MERICAN GOODSTAND KOBE
Address: Sannomiya Denden Building 1F, 64 Naniwamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe
Phone: 078-385-4600
Running: October 6 – October 10, 2021, 11:00-19:00