For my 30th review and Critic award I left this restaurant. On my last day in Japan I spend half day for going to Kobe specially for the KOBE BEEF! I choose Wakkoku because it was really closer Shin-Kobe, it was recommended by Lonely Planet and I can't find any recomendations about where to eat Kobe beef in Kobe! Wakkoky is a kind of luxury restaurant so go properly dressed(not like me!). Decorated on Black/Grey stone, I spend like 20 minutes to find it. The menús as you can see are expensives from 8.000 to 20.000 Yens! But I think the cost is correct. I arrive there really early, arround 12h there was empty, they drive me to an empty Teppan-Yaki and I have a Cook only for me! I choose the 10500 Yens Menu :p I like so much to see the cook in front of me cooking each and every product, first of all a kind of salmon, vegetables and a salad that were really good, also I order a cup of wine that was correct but I left oxigenate moving all time the cup, when the beef was ready the wine was perfect (he he he) Then the 220gr Kobe Beef arrives and also the cook was making it only for me!! He made 4 or 5 pieces, give me to me and wait that I finish to make me 4 or 5 more... The menu is enought, they also give me a soup and tea ocha, don't need to order anything more. The beef is really good one of the best meats that I ever taste, really delicate and strong at the same time. I RECOMMEND WITHOUT DOUBTS THIS PLACE AND MEAT AND ADD IT TO MY TOP 10 RESTAURANT LIST

In the morning, we had to check out from the hotel. We only stayed one night in Kobe. Tonight, we would stay in Osaka.

Today, we visited Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (DRI). They had 2 meseums, Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation. We only visited the first one. It was a big museum about the big earthquake (The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake) that happened in Kobe on 17 January 1995. The museum was very complete. We could experience how it felt like during the earthquake through a simulation. We could watch a movie that told by one of the witness. I was crying while watching that movie. It was very sad. The earthquake caused large numbers of material and human lost. We also could see the memorabilia and other things about earthquake.

Before that, we had visited the department that handle earthquake mitigation in Kobe. We got explanation how Kobe city prepare for the next earthquake. Yeah... earthquake often happens in Japan, so it is very important to be always prepared for it. From the explanation, I could see that they were very prepared and they were supported by technology. 

From the museum, we went Kobe Harbor for lunch. The restaurant was situated at a shopping arcade. The menu was sea food. Yum yum, I liked fried shrimp and squid. After having lunch, on the way to our bus, we could buy souvenirs. I bought an umbrella. It was small and white with pink polka dots. It was matched with the jacket I bought in Kyoto. Ha ha ha ha, I always want pink stuffs.

Then, we continued our trip to Osaka.

It was late when we arrived at New Otani Kobe Hotel. Before we went to our rooms, Ibu Miyo suggested us to have dinner first. Yeah... we were hungry and it was dinner time. I chose eurepean food. I chose steak. But... we had to wait for a quite long time before the food was served. Maybe because were tired and hungry.

When I arrived at my bedroom, I found it smaller than in Kyoto. I just left Kyoto but I had missed it...

Kobe bird park is definately not for everyone if I weren't living here and was only travelling, then this place would be terrible, plus I have a child so it's a lot better if you have children with you. The place does have a large variety of birds and exotic birds as well, like the toucan, the hornbill and a large variety of owls but none of the aviaries are anything like their natural enviroments. The birds are also put on show where everyone can touch, hold and take photos of the birds, the poor birds are quite harassed especially the poor little penguin gets put on everyones knee for a photo oppurtunity. I admitt I took photos of birds with my son because I thought they were cute but at the same time I sought of felt bad for doing it. I refused to let my son hold the penguin just to get a photo. The place is also very expensive around 4500 yen,$45 for the family that's not including the buffet lunch which is another 1500 yen $15 per person or the cost of public transport To get to the bird park take the JR train from Osaka staion to Sannomiya and then change to the Port Pier Liner and take it to the second last stop. The station before the airport.

Today was the last day on my Do! fitness membership, so I had a good final workout. Then, a rush back to the room to get ready for today's day trip: Kobe.

Kobe is famous for the exorbitantly expensive beef it produces. The beef is apparently quite tender -- partially attributed to the breed, but mostly due to the cows' daily massages and steady diet of beer and sake! We should all be so lucky.

Kobe is also the sight of a horrific earthquake that devastated the city in 1995 and plunged Japan into an economic crisis.  I still remember the images from the news programs, and can't believe it was 13 years ago... it feels more recent.

We took a regular old slow train to Kobe. It took us more time to orient ourselves once we had arrived, as we couldn't find an information area in the station (I don't think there is one). We went outside and tried to walk around the train station -- that didn't work. Then we went back and entered the underground area, into a mall called Harborland. Here we found an information booth, but the attendant spoke very little English, and she didn't have English language literature. We left with a couple brochures (in Japanese) and a bad map.

From there we wandered out into Harborland, and up some stairs to the outside world. All around there was newer construction, and it seemed oddly desolate. Where are the crowds? Haaalllllooo? We walked along a pathway called Gas Light Street, which was very Disney-like and American looking. A woman pushing a stroller. A couple other tourists. Again, so quiet! 

This street lead us to a shopping center called Mosaic. We strolled along the bottom level looking for lunch options, wondering where everyone was. It kind of freaked us out frankly. I wondered, Has there been a bomb scare? We haven't really experienced an empty Japan yet. Then we went upstairs, and people were shopping in American-looking boutiques. It was far more sedate and quiet than our experiences at Osaka and Kyoto, but at least there were people. We felt better.

We ate at a cute restaurant on the bottom level. I didn't catch the name, but it was fully decked out in Navajo finery. They had authentic rugs, dolls, and turquoise jewelry displayed... the works. Bizarre! I had a Mexican-style salad, served on a tortilla (but not really a tortilla), with lettuce, avocado, and tomato. It was delicious. Steve had "tacos" but there was no taco to be found on his plate...just a mound of rice with some taco seasoning, some chips, and a salad. Tasty though.

From there we walked along the waterfront towards the big orange Kobe port tower near the site of the earthquake memorial. It was windy but nice out, and we seemed to have the place to ourselves again as we made our way past the Maritime Museum.

The committee that organized the Great Hansai-Awaii Earthquake Memorial did a very unique and interesting thing:  they preserved a large chunk of the earthquake-damaged pier as a reminder. A newer construction walking area surrounds the destroyed chunk of seawall, with its devastated concrete and streetlights all helter skelter.  It was amazing to see, and put a lump in my throat. There are plaques with pictures describing the earthquake and the aftermath, all in Japanese and English. It had a positive and upbeat tone about how the citizens came together to overcome such devastation, and touched on the immense outpouring of aid from foreign countries.  It was an excellent memorial, and so very worthwhile. (Note that Fodor's seems to imply there is an actual museum, but we only found an outdoor display).

From there we wanted to visit a sake brewery, and headed off in the direction of a train station. We ended up walking through Chinatown, with many brightly colored shops and outdoor food vendors. It was way too orderly! There was none of the ruckus and smells of Chinatown in San Francisco or Chicago. 

From there we happened upon a covered shopping street with many high-end stores - aaaaah. This is more like the Japan we have come to know and love! Still, after the crowds of Osaka, things were relatively quiet.

We found a train and took it to the Sumiyoshi stop, which it where many sake breweries offer tours (and samples!). We were let off in a very industrial looking area, near a freeway. We could smell the sake, we could see the breweries, but it was all loading docks and chain link fence. We walked for blocks and blocks trying to find a touristy looking area for visits, but to no avail. Perhaps we were too late in the days for tours. Oh, well, it wasn't very much fun at all so we gave up and went home.

Back in Osaka, we decided to check out the Pig & Whistle English Pub as recommended by TB's reikunboy. (My own review is below). We walked there, and founds the streets of Osaka to be as jam-packed as ever. Odd that crowds like this are starting to feel "familiar" after less than two weeks here. I guess since we will be in Asia for quite some time, I guess it's a good thing we are getting accustomed to crowds. I hear there are a few people in Beijing :^)

This day started with us just jumping onto the JR train and only expecting a simple day trip to Kobe, but it turned out to be a strange day that I will never forget.  One of the first things I try to do when traveling, every morning, is to try to by an English language newspaper.  However Takatsuki, Osaka does not see many westerners so it was not possible at in the morning until I got to Kobe.  At the Kobe station I was able to find one and buy one and quickly read the headlines about an earthquake in the Indian Ocean but there were very few details as it had only occurred a few hours before printing time. Only later in the day would I discover the full scale of the disaster.

Ironically the reason we went to Kobe was to check the museum of the huge earthquake that had happened many years ago.  I was some what disappointed as the museum really was only a wharf that had fallen into the harbour and had been left alone over the years.  So after quickly viewing this display we decided to explore and walked towards a hilly part of the city that was known to be home to many westerners.  We found a nice large English style pub that had CNN on theTV and for the first time we saw photos of what was happening in several countries after the earthquake caused the huge tsunami.  Of course it took days and even weeks until we really knew all the damage that had happened but it was strange to only be a few hundred meters from a older disaster sight and see a new one on the TV.  It was also the day I decided I wanted to visit Thailand and more specifically the Phuket region (I will be there in April 2008).

Kobe was a nice city that I would have enjoyed if not for the world events.  After seeing the  news stories from all the effected regions it sort of but a damper on the day.  We did so some more exploring and found some interesting homes on very narrow and hilly streets but all I remember is seeing those tourist filmed shots of the tsunami coming up the Phuket beach and wiping out everything in it's path.

A viagem de volta foi novamente uma seca, e tivemos azar. Desta vez estamos 16 na camarata (homens e mulheres). No barco encontrámos uma colega nossa japonesa. Pudemos partilhar o táxi até à universidade. Não foi mau…

Dinner!!! Kobe beef in Kobe - I was so looking forward to this. The restaurant name is in japanese but i took a picture (looks like a christmas sign) - i had had kobe before in the U.S. but it is so different here. The authentic kobe (or wagyu) beef is so marbled, tender and flavorful ... mmm... some of the other travelers felt it was too rich and intense - I was more than happy to eat their share ... they also served the beef with fried garlic chips - quite a good complement in texture and taste. And yet, i was not done that evening. Our guide mentioned that we were going to Chinatown afterwards and there was more food to be had - so I managed to eat some beef dumplings and a bowl of rice noodle soup.  At this point, I was about to burst. We took a detour at the Mosaic Mall which was quite charming, but all I wanted was to lie down and massage my tummy. We stayed at the Hotel Okura Kobe - one of the best breakfast buffets - less variety, but everything was quite tasty especially the brioche bread and sugar snap peas (odd combination, i know).