Perched on a hillside overlooking the sea, Kobe is reputed to be one of Japan’s most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. We made our approach late morning and were lucky to be invited (thanks to our suite status) to the helipad in the front of the ship where we enjoyed great views as we came into the harbor. Kobe was first among Japan’s ports until 1995; it is now number four.

Having the morning to while away we enjoyed a Sebastian-delivered breakfast and then took in two fabulous lectures, one centered on snow monkeys and the other on the history, customs, and culture of Japan. Cyd and Ricky will appreciate that the speakers were Brent Nixon and Mary Amanda Fairchild, the husband and wife team that mesmerized us with their lectures on our Panama Canal cruise.

In case you are ever under the gun to spout off snow monkey facts, here are a few guaranteed to please. These macaques have the distinction of living the farthest north of any primate. They live in a matriarchal society that enjoys soaking in thermal waters during the winter. Their babies are arriving right about now, so we are kicking ourselves for not arranging a visit. Deb is the only person I know who has seen them.

Speaking of trivia here’s some non-primate tidbits. Japan’s first emperor, believed to directly descend from the sun goddess, was named in 660 BC and remained numero uno politically for centuries. Today the government’s most influential person is the prime minister who shares the limelight with the emperor. The life expectancy here is an impressive 80. Having a purpose for each day, known as ikigai, is believed to be one of the contributors to long life.

To give our brains a rest after the lectures we had a quick lunch and then took a shuttle bus a short distance to Chinatown. We strolled down the busy, impeccably clean, main street of the interesting area and then headed back to the ship to freshen up for dinner. My meal of veal cannelloni was just as fabulous as the halibut last night and the sea bass the night before!

… Fun Facts about Kobe …

As a port city with Western exposure, Japanese musicians were playing jazz here as early as 1923.
Its popularity soared with the occupation of U.S. troops after World War II.
Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong played in Kobe multiple times.

The world-famous Kobe beef comes from Tajima cattle, a regional breed of Wagyu black cattle.
Producers claim the Tajima bloodline has been kept pure since the 17th century.
This rigorous standard and the fact that only 5,000 cattle are sold a year
make Kobe beef a rare and expensive treat indeed.

The longest suspension bridge ever built spans across the busy shipping lane
linking Kobe with Awaji-Shima Island.
It’s designed to withstand typhoons, tsunamis, and earthquakes.