Travel
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Is The Beautiful Beitou District Worth Visiting In Taipei?
Beitou is a popular tourist destination for both international travelers and domestic travelers alike due to its famous hot springs. Located in the northernmost part of Taipei, Beitou can feel like a completely separate city than Taipei. If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of Taipei, Beitou can be just the place for you.
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The History of the Beitou District
What makes Beitou so popular and famous is its hot springs. The hot springs have long been used by whomever has occupied the area.
The aboriginal people of Taiwan whom lived in the area had long used the hot springs prior to any foreigners.
Once trade to Taiwan opened up, German merchants established a hot spring club at one point in Beitou.
The hot springs were recognized, utilized and, ultimately commericalized, during Japanese rule (1895-1945). The first hot spring hotel (Tianguan Hot Spring Hotel) was built in 1896 and the first public hot spring bath (Beitou Hot Spring Public Bath) was constructed in 1913.
Japanese rule in Taiwan ended in 1945 and was handed back to China. Beitou fell under Taipei jurisdiction in 1968. The area declined for a period of time in the 1980s before it slowly started to rebuild itself and gain popularity once again.
Today, there are over 30 hot spring resorts in the district, one of the largest concentrations of hot spring resorts in the world.
Beitou Hot Spring Museum
The Beitou Hot Spring Museum was originally built as a public bathhouse and was constructed in 1913. After Japanese rule ended in Taiwan in 1945 the building was used in a variety of different ways but was eventually abandoned. The corrosive nature of the local hot springs had taken hold of the building and done its damage. It wasn’t until 1995 when Taiwan’s Ministry of the Interior declared the building a historical site. In 1998, a major renovation of the building took place and the Beitou Hot Spring Museum was created.
This little museum is free of charge and provides the history of the hot springs in Beitou, from it’s humble beginnings to its fall, and then its restoration and rise to the popular tourist destination it has now become.
It still retains some of the original bathing rooms, which is pretty interesting to see and to learn about!
Beitou Library
Located right next to the Hot Spring Museum is the Beitou Library. The first “green” library in Taiwan, this distinctive looking building is notable for its architecture, which at a quick glance resembles a giant treehouse.
The library is adorned with a number of large windows that provides a lot of natural lighting throughout the buidling and helps to curb the use of electricity. Part of the roof is covered in solar panels which helps to store and utilize electricity for the building. The sloping roof’s drainage system is used to water the library’s plants and flush the toilets.
Since you can’t take pictures inside the library I didn’t venture in, just walked around it and checked it out. It’s a really cool looking, interesting builidng which happens to be a library.
Thermal Valley
Also known as Hell Valley, Thermal Valley, is a popular attraction in the area. It’s one of the sources that supplies the area’s hot springs. The average temperature of the water sits at a “cool” 80-100 degree celsius year round which produces a mystifying sulfur steam within the valley. There’s a nice little paved path that takes you around the valley where you can enjoy different viewpoints of the steam rising. It’s a really little walk watching the steam rise up from the depths of this blue /green spring water.
Visit A Spa Resort
If you’re visiting an area known for their hot springs then you gotta visit a spa resort right? ABSOLUTELY. There’s a wide range of spas you can visit in Beitou, ranging from the boujee and luxurious to the budget types. So it all depends on how much you’re willing to spend and what kind of experience you want to have.
I opted for more of a budget option. I really just wanted to relax for a couple hours for the experience and wasn’t looking to lounge for an entire day or even half a day. I was able to find a place that suited my needs for a reasonable cost – 1670 NTD, $51.98 USD for two hours.
It really was a perfect amount of time to relax and enjoy a nice soak at the tail end of my visit to Beitou. The water from the hot springs as one would imagine is piping hot and it’s really comforting to just relax and enjoy some peace and quiet.
Is Beitou Worth Visiting?
If you’re visiting Taipei and want to have a totally different experience then what you’ve had in the city then 100% Beitou is worth a visit. Individually, the sights are cool, especially the Thermal Valley, but none by themselves would really warrant a time-consuming trip from the center of Taipei to get to and visit. But the sights, combined with a stay at spa, make a trip to Beitou well worth it.
Even though it’s technically part of Taipei, it just doesn’t feel like Taipei at all. Just a completely different vibe, much more laid back and less hectic. You feel like you’re in a totally different city. I really enjoyed it and would consider staying there for a night or two during my next trip to Taiwan just to fully unwind and relax at one of the spa resorts.
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Unlock the Treasures of Taiwan’s National Palace Museum: A Captivating Journey Through Time and Culture
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If you’re a fan of museums and learning about a country’s culture and history, the Taiwan National Palace Museum is the place for you while visiting Taipei. Housing over 700,000 pieces of Chinese artwork and artifacts the museum is absolutely massive. Depending on how you like to enjoy your time at museums, you can easily spend half a day at the Taiwan National Palace. There’s a variety of different exhibits to view within the cavernous building and the surrounding area, which includes a huge pond stocked with koi fish.
The History Of The National Palace Museum And Its Artifacts
Originally established in China’s Forbidden City, the National Palace Museum has a history that dates all the way back to 1925. Due to fear of the valuable pieces falling into the hands of the Japanese, the musuem pieces were constantly on the move. From 1931 – 1947, the artifacts, artwork, and other objects of value, were shuttled within thousands of crates, from the Forbidden City to Shanghai to Nanjing to Anshun / Leshan then back to Nanjing.
In 1948, following the end of World War II, the Chinese Civil War resumed. It was due to the worsening conditions from this Civil War on mainland China that led to some of the artifacts being shipped to Taiwan. It’s estimated that about 22% of the original collection made its way to Taiwan. Much of it remained in China after the controlling Communist party had seized control of the National Beijing Palace Museum where many of the artifacts were being stored.
The collection was stored in the mountain village of Beigou, which is located in Taichung. Here it stayed in storage until a small exhibition hall was built in 1956 where a small sample of the artificats could be displayed.
By 1960 a special fund had been created for the construction of the National Palace Museum. It took over fiver year to build and opened in August of 1965. After 40 years traversing several cities, the many artificats, artwork, and other valuables, had found a permanent home.
The National Palace Museum Experience
The National Palace Museum isn’t located near a subway exit so it’s a little more complicated to get to as opposed to some of the other attractions and will require taking the bus if you plan on taking public transportation.
Once you do get there, you are greeted to a huge tree-lined walkway with the massive National Palace Museum looming in the distance. It’s really a beautiful setting since there’s nothing but lush greenery behind the museum. It takes your mind out of the busy city vibes of Taipei and transports you to another time and place in Taiwan’s history.
As you walk up to the museum, to the right there’s a path that leads to a huge pond that has walkways and bridges and pavilions with places to sit, escape the sun, and have a snack or drink. The pond is stacked with huge koi fish. It’s peaceful little place to take a stroll before or after the visit and take a breather. It’s cool little area.
Once you make the walk to the museum itself, you’ll be impressed with the sheer size of the building. It’s HUGE. The price of admission is 350 NTD ($10.89 USD).
There’s multiple levels here, each absolutely packed with exhibits stocked full of all those artifacts, artwork, and other valuables that had made the journey through all those cities decades ago.
Notable Artifacts
In total, it’s estimated the museum has accumulated nearly 700,000 artifacts. Of which, only about 1% is exhibited at a time at the National Palace Museum which is about 3,000 items. Exhibits and items can get swapped out and the remaining items are stored in temperature controlled vaults.
Of all the artifacts and items at the museum, there are two which are very popular and famous.
The Jadeite Cabbage is a piece of jade that’s carved into the shape of a cabbage head with a small grasshopper hidden amongst its leaves. It’s a beautiful piece of craftsmanship.
The Meat Shaped Stone is a piece of jasper, which was carved into a piece of pork, which looks incredibly real.
Based off the official website, you’re not supposed to post any pictures of the actual artifacts on sites like this so I decided not to include any pictures of anything within the museum itself, unfortunately.
Is The National Palace Museum Worth Visiting?
If you’re going to Taipei the National Palace Museum should certainly be circled on your list of places to visit within the city. It has so much history within its walls. The exhibits are impressive and huge and are all very nicely displayed. The museum building is massive and it will take some time to walk through if you want to really see everything and learn about all the pieces displayed. The property itself is quite nice to walk around, especially the nearby pond area.
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Watching A Fubon Guardians Game In Taipei Is Both Memorable Experience
The Fubon Guardians
Baseball is an incredibly popular sport in Taiwan. The Chinese Professional Baseball League (CPBL) is the six-team professional baseball league in Taiwan. Established in 1989, the league kicked off its inaugural season in 1990.
Through the years the league has both expanded and contracted , with four defunct teams and one team – the Wei Chuan Dragons that folded and was brought back (in 2020). The stadiums are tiny in comparison to those in the US and Japan but that makes the experience even more intimate and the fan experience even more fun. You can really get a feel for the passion that fans have for Taiwan baseball.
Throughout my time in Taiwan I was able to see games in three of the six ballparks with the Tainan City Unilions playing in every game I saw (coincidentally). So, in a way, and by sheer coincidence, I became a Unilion fan.
Fubon Guardians History
The Fubon Guardians play their home games in the Xinzhuang District in Taipei. The team has gone through several name changes as ownership has changed four times since the team’s initial inception in 1993. The team has from the Jungo Bears to Sinon, Bulls to EDA Rhinos, to the current Fubon Guardians.
Playing in Taipei, the Guardians are one of two teams in Taiwan’s capital. Taipei is the only city that currently has two teams. The Guardians play their home games at Xinzhuang Baseball Stadium which can seat up to 12,500 people. The stadium is in the middle of a large sports park.
The Game Experience
Tickets are easy to come by and you can easily walk right up to a ticket booth the day of the game and purchase a Fubon Guardians ticket. They have a variety of seating options to choose from and seats are very affordable. I got a seat along the first base line at field level for only 500 NTD ($15.58 USD).
You can bring in outside food and drinks and I just walked right in with a backpack with no one checking it or anything. I could certainly tell I wasn’t going to a baseball game in the US.
Of course, being in Taiwan the concessions were are a little different than what you might find in the US. There’s Taiwanese fried chicken, boba tea, sushi, a Family Mart (a popular convenience store chain in Asia), and many other stalls selling Taiwanese centric food and snacks.
There’s also familiar fast food places like McDonald’s and Dominos here too. I grabbed some fried chicken, a bag of seaweed flavored chips and a tea and soaked it all in.
Even though the stadium was small and not overly packed, it was very lively. The fans and enthusiasm was awesome. There’s essentially what amounts to a “hype man” that leads the crowds with singing, chants, and various arm movements, the ENTIRE game. This doesn’t fall onto deaf ears with the crowd very much engaged and following the “hype man’s” lead. Everyone is chanting, singing, and mimicking the “hype man” so it does get pretty loud. The crowd also goes wild with every ball in play. A hard hit ball, a double play, a fly out, there’s a lot of oohs and ahhs and genuine excitement for routine baseball plays.
There’s also Guardian cheerleaders, yes, cheerleaders at a baseball game, that are on top of the dugouts dancing. It just adds to the entertainment value and atmosphere of the game and really fits right into everything that’s going on.
I’ve been to a baseball game in Japan and this was a very similar atmosphere albeit in a smaller size. It’s so much different than watching a game in the US. The fans are there having a great time, are really engaged in every pitch, and are super passionate for their teams which they aren’t afraid to show! It’s a really fun time and is great way to wind down after a long day of doing touristy things.
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Discover the Wonders of Taipei Zoo: The Ultimate Wildlife Haven In Taiwan
One of the ten largest zoos in the world and the largest zoo in Southeast Asia, Taipei Zoo is a extremely popular attraction for visitors to Taipei (100 NTD, $3.13). I generally don’t go out of my way to visit zoos while traveling but made an exception for this zoo, since it sounded like it was no ordinary zoo and a must see attraction while in Taipai.
The History Of The Taipei Zoo
The current location of the Taipai Zoo (located in the Muzha district in the southern part of Taipei) has been operational since 1986. The zoo itself is over 100 years old dating back to 1914 when Taiwan was still under Japanese sovereignty. This original zoo was located in the Yuan-shan area, in the northern part of Taipei. It covered about 14 acres. In 1973 it was determined that a newer, more modern zoo with ample space was needed in order to grow.
It took 13 years to construct the Taipei Zoo as it stands today (with improvements and expansions also taking place through the present). The current zoo is 407 acres with 222 acres accessible to the public on their visits. This is a massive zoo to visit to say the least.
The Many Displays At Taipei Zoo
It has several terrain themed outdoor displays including a Formosan , Tropical, African, Desert, Australian, Temperate, and Bird World. Indoor exhibits include a Insectarium, Penguin House, Koala House, Amphibian and Reptile House, Giant Panda House, an Education Center, and the impressive Pangolin Dome. These zones are all quite large and house a wide array of different types of animals and species.
The layout of the Taipei Zoo, due to the many acres it lies upon, is quite wide open. It was definitely busy the day I went, but it never felt like it was overly stifling. There was still enough space while walking around as the roads and pathways are pretty wide open with plenty of viewing area space.
You can easily spend the whole day, or at the very least half a day here.
The Panda House
I was looking forward to seeing the Panda House. I couldn’t recall the last time, if ever, seeing a panda in person. The Panda House is obvioulsy one of, if not the most popular attraction at the zoo as one would imagine. You get in a line that moves through the indoor display which has two separate panda exhibits within it (the pandas are separated).
The line is constantly moving so you only have a few opportunites to snap some pics as you move into and out of the exhibit at a pretty quick pace. It’s a smart way to keep people moving since the indoor display would be way too packed with minimal visibility if they didn’t keep the line moving at all times.
The panda themselves are goofy and adorable. One of the pandas was passed out and the other was crusing around their display at the time I went. Very cute without a doubt.
The Pangolin Dome
Built in 2013, the Pangolin Dome is the tropical rainforest area in the Taipei Zoo. It’s a 78-foot dome that houses over 40 animal species and 250 plant species. What makes the dome special is that for a large portion of it, there’s a pathway that spirals throughout it from the bottom floor up to the top. There’s animals and birds moving around freely with a large pool that has several different types of fish and other aquatic species swimming around in.
There’s also a Nocturnal Zone within the dome. This exhibit is enclosed and dark, with only dim red lights illuminating the nocturnal critters housed here. There’s a fat-tailed dwarf lemur, Azara night monkey and pygmy slow loris included in here, which you may or may not see, depending on their mood lol.
The Pandolin Dome is just really cool to walk through with all the animals and trees, and plants. It was definitely my favorite exhibit at the zoo!
Is The Taipei Zoo Worth Visiting?
Without a doubt the Taipei Zoo is one of Taipei’s biggest attractions and is a must visit. It’s one the largest zoos in the world and the exhibits are really nice. The number of animals and species spotted throughout the numerous exhibits was really cool to see. The Pangolin Dome by itself is worth the visit. I’ve never seen anything like it at any zoo I’ve been to. For only 100 NTD for admission, it is well worth visiting!
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Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall: An Absolute Must-See Landmark in Taipei
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taipai, Taiwan is a national monument and is a must visit attraction during any trip to Taiwan.
Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall History
The Memorial was built as tribute to Chiang Kai-Shek who was a well-known president of Taiwan that passed away in 1975. Construction started on the memorial in 1976 and was completed and opened to the public in 1980.
The sprawling park is a total of 240,000 square meters and is really a wide space. The memorial includes historical exhibits that details the history of Chiang Kai-shek. The monument is surrounded by a large park, with ponds, gardens, and the Memorial Hall Square. The National Concert Hall and National Theater are located on the left and right sides of the Memorial Hall, as well.
On the west side of the memorial is the Gate of Great Centrality and Perfect Uprightness, a huge main gate to the memorial which will lead guests to the Memorial Hall Square and directly to the main Memorial.
A view looking out from the main memorial. You can see the National Concert Hall, National Theater, and main gate in the distance Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall And Grounds
The centerpiece of the memorial is the memorial hall. All white with an octagonal blue roof, the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall really stands out. It’s quite a striking structure. If you enter through the main gate, you’ll walk through the Memorial Hall Square and the wide pathway which will lead you to to hall. It’s a nice walk as you stroll past the National Concert Hall and National Theater and the immaculate gardens as you approach.
Once you get to the foot of the hall, you must walk up 89 steps, which represents the age of Chiang Kai-shek at his death. The steps lead you to the hall entrance. Within the hall is the 21 ft bronze statue of Chiang Kai-shek. It was here (the location has changed recently) that the changing of the guard took place. The ceremony is an impressive display to behold with how meticulous every movement by the guards is mirrored and synched perfectly to one another. It was definitely very cool to witness.
The gardens are very well kept and the area is quite nice to walk around and enjoy either in the walk up to the hall or just walking around the area after you’ve visited the hall.
If you’re a history buff a trip to the memorial’s exhibit area is a must. This area details the life and career of Chiang Kai-shek while also detailing the history of Taiwan and its development. It’s fascinating to walk through and take in. I didn’t have any knowledge of Chiang Kai-shek and what he meant to Taiwan so it was interesting to get some insight to his accomplishments.
Within the memorial there’s also a couple of places to eat and grab drinks and also some gift / souvenir shops to check out as well.
Is Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall Worth Visiting?
The Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall is absolutely worth a visit. It’s one of the premier attractions in all of Taiwan and cetainly Taipai. The memorial hall groundls, with the tranquilty of the gardens and the beauty of the architecture of National Concert Hall and National Theater, is a treat to walk through. The exhibit halls are interesting to walk through to learn some historical tid bits of Chiang Kai-shek and Taiwan.
You can easily spend two to four hours walking around the area to soak everything in. It’s definitely worth the time and will be a very enjoyable experience!
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Discover Tokyo Disneyland: Overview Of The Unique Rides
Tokyo Disneyland is a major attraction in Tokyo. Immensley popular, it offers awe-inspiring sights and sounds that are both familiar and new to Disney fans alike. If you’re a Disney fan, there’s no doubt that you have a trip planned to visit Tokyo Disneyland and most likely Tokyo DisneySea as well.
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Tokyo Disneyland’s History
Tokyo Disneyland opened it’s gates in April 1983 becoming the first Disney park to be built outside the United States. It, along with its companion park, Tokyo DisneySea are the only Disney parks in the world that are not owned or operated by The Walt Disney Company. They are both owned by the Oriental Land Company which licenses the intellectual property from the Walt Disney Company.
The park mainly mirrors the original Disneyland with both the same themed lands and many of the same rides and iconic structures. There are differences though. Tokyo Disneyland includes themed rides including Beauty & The Beast, Monsters Inc., and Baymax which are not in its American counterpart.
Here are the unique rides that can be found at Tokyo Disneyland:
Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast
As I mentioned above, Tokyo Disneyland has a few rides that are unique to the park and not found in any other Disney parks. The biggest of them all is the Enchanted Tale of Beauty and the Beast. Opened in 2020, the attraction includes a 108 foot castle which you can admire as you wait in the always lengthy line.
Once inside the castle, you’re provided with pre-show that includes the backstory of how the Prince became the Beast and then Belle and Beast both make an appearance. This pre-show is fantastic and the animatronic Beast and Belle are really, really cool. The ride itself is amazing.
Seated in tea cups that are trackless, guests are whisked through various scenes and all the popular songs from the movie are played, including “Be Our Guest”, “Something There”, and “Beauty and the Beast”. What makes this so unique is how the tea cups dip and dive and spin in concert with the music. The way they move it makes you feel as if you’re dancing to the music. The all-around environment and presentation of the ride along with top notch animatronics, make the ride, well, magical to say the least. I’m not even a Beauty and the Beast fan but was really awed by the experience.
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt
I’m not entirely sure if the actual story and different scenes of Pooh’s story within the ride is different than other Pooh rides, but the presentation is certainly different and unique. Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is entirely trackless. This trackless technology allows for a new ride experience each and every time you go on the ride since the way your honey pot vehicles moves is different each time.
The ride itself and the story it tells may feel familiar (again, not sure if the other Pooh rides are exactly the same) with the ride taking you through the Hundred Acre Woods where all of Pooh’s famous pals reside. You’ll see plenty of Kanga, Roo, Eeyore, Owl, Rabbit, Piglet, as well as Tigger, who provides a fun “bouncing” experience.
In Tigger’s portion of the ride, as he comes bouncing into the scene, the entire room bounces, including the honey pots. It’s a really, really fun portion of the ride.
Pooh’s Hunny Hunt is colorful and vibrant and the attention to detail is outstanding. It’s a really fun ride with the trackless technology and is certainly a must ride while at Tokyo Disneyland.
The Happy Ride with BaymaxThe only Big Hero 6 themed ride in the world, The Happy Ride with Baymax is a “whip ride” that has guests seated in a vehicle that is hitched to a “personal healthcare companion” vehicle which Baymax is seated in. The ride whips around in unpredictable routes in an arena that’s similar to a roller rink. The entire time one of six original songs, made specifically for the ride, is blaring.
The basis for the ride is that in order to take better care of people and keep them healthy, the first step is making them happy. What better way to do that than through upbeat music and lights?
I didn’t have time to jump aboard this one but guests were definitely jamming out to the music here and it seemed like a good time. Time permitting I would have gone on it, but I didn’t have it circled as a “must”. Hopefully next time!
Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek
Another Tokyo Disneyland exclusive, Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek, is based after the events of Monsters, Inc. The premise of the ride is that an exciting new event called Flashlight Tag is being held at the Monsters, Inc. factory where humans are invited back to the scare / laugh floor of the factory to play a game of hide and go seek but the ride takes you to various places outside the factory within Monstropolis as well.
The two person “security vehicles” are equipped with flashlights. Shining your flashlight at Monster Inc. helmets placed throughout the attraction causes items and monsters to react in fun ways. They might light up, pop up, or do some other form of movement. It’s a lot of fun as there’s a lot of these Monster, Inc. helmets throughout the ride. Some blend in well with the background and are harder to locate than others that are right in the line of sight.
This is a fun, interactive ride, where you can see all of your favorite characters from the Monsters, Inc. universe. Like all the rides, the attention to detail and the animatronics are top notch!
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7 Popular Things To Do In Kobe, Japan
Kobe, located in the Kansai region, is Japan’s 7th largest city with a population around 1.5 million. It’s about a 20-30 minute train ride from Osaka and makes for a perfect day trip if you’re using Osaka as a hub for the surrounding area. There’s plenty to see and do in this lovely port city!
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7 Popular Things To Do In Kobe, Japan:
Eat Kobe Beef
As the saying goes “When In Rome..” or perhaps the more suitable, “When in Kobe..” in this instance. Kobe beef is a worldwide delicacy renowned for its flavor, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture. As the name implies, Kobe beef is cultivated from Japanese Black cattle which is raised in the Hyogo Prefecture region of Japan, near Kobe. It’s considered the highest quality beef that Japanese cattle can produce and is must try! There’s various cuts of this and obviously the higher the price the better the cut and quality. So the experience can certainly vary upon how much you’re willing to spend.
I went the “cheap” route at a Kobe beef restaurant ($36.14 USD) for six pieces of Kobe beef and the meat was just alright. Some pieces melted in my mouth, while others were pretty chewy. You get what you pay for. On the other hand, I got a Kobe beef bowl in Himeji and the Kobe beef was AMAZING.
Regardless, Kobe beef is an EXPERIENCE. It’s one of the most popular things to do in Kobe and is something you’ll definitely want to try (just do some better research than myself to find a proper Kobe beef restaurant!).
Visit Kobe’s Chinatown
One of the most popular things to do in Kobe is taking a visit to its Chinatown. This is one of the largest Chinatown’s in all of Japan. This is a small area – 270 meters east to west and 110 meters north to south – but is jam packed with over 100 shops, food stalls, and restaurants.
A lot of the food stalls, as you’ll notice, sell a lot of the same types of food items. There are some unique food items though. Some restaurants are quite popular with massive lines.
Needless to say, you don’t need to walk to far to find some tasty, cheap food or drinks. Be sure to come with a big appetite, you’ll certainly need it here!
Explore The Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
One of the biggest attractions and things to do in Kobe is taking a visit to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens. Located on Mt. Rokko above Kobe, the best way to access Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens is via the Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway. The ropeway ride takes about 10 minutes and provide a great view of Kobe on the way up.
A round trip on the ropeway which also provides access to the garden, will set you back 2000 yen ($12.43 USD), a one-way ticket is 1400 yen, ($8.70 USD).
Once you get to the actual garden area, it opens up with a large, open view plaza that includes the German castle themed rest house. This building has some souvenir shops and a shop selling food and drinks. The open concourse area can house vendor tents selling seasonal boutique items while provide an abundance of bench seating.
There’s also a frangrance museum next to the rest house. This museum has a huge array of unique, natural smelling perfumes and oils that can be purchased and is well worth a walk through.
It’s a nice walk down the mountain with a paved, windy pathway that takes you through multiple types of herb and flower gardens.
This pathway also leads you to the glasshouse which you can walkthrough and holds a cafe / lounge on the second floor, a herbal area where you can create your own household friendly scents and the “statue of love”
You can easily spend a few hours in total, at The Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens which is why it’s one of hte most popular things to do in Kobe. It’s a nice change of pace from the regular tourist attractions and is a great way to walk off all that food from the Kobe Chinatown!
Visit The Many Attractions At Meriken Park
Meriken Park is one of the most popular things to do in Kobe due to the abundance of attractions within it. A large, wide open park, home to some impressive contemporary architecture, and a spacious lawn, Meriken Park is great place to enjoy some outdoor sights all within walking distance to one another.
It’s also located right on the waters of the port and is a short walk from Harborland, which is major shopping area in Kobe.
Kobe Port Tower
Kobe Port Tower is one of the attractions located within Meriken Park. Standing at 354 ft tall, the tower has multiple observations decks as well as an open air rooftop deck and cafe.
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park
The Port Of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park is a small memorial for the victims who lost their lives in the port during the 1995 Kobe earthquake. Located in Meriken Park, there’s a small section of the waterfront area that was left unrepaired as a part of the memorial. It’s an opportunity for visitors to catch a small glimpse of the destructive power of the earthquake. It’s a somber area, but interesting nonetheless.
BE KOBE Sign
One of the most popular things to do in Kobe is taking a photo with the BE KOBE sign. The sign was built to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1995 earthquake. City Hall had this sign created to instill a sense of civic pride in the citizens of Kobe. If visiting the area at night, the sign is illuminated by colored lights on the base of the sign.
Unrelated, if you’re a big Kobe Bryant fan like myself, the sign has a different type of significance and is pretty special to see.
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Meriken Park In Kobe Is Home To Many Visually Exciting Sights
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Meriken Park is one of the more popular places to see while visiting Kobe. Located in the Kobe port area, the water front park is home to several attractions.
Meriken Park
In Meriken Park you can find the iconic Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial, the Be Kobe sign.
What made this area stand out to me was all the contemporary architecture found throughout the park with the Kobe Port Tower and Kobe Maritime Museum at the forefront. There’s also a variety of different works of art throughout the park which was really cool to see, especially at night since everything was lit up.
The park is wide open with lots of open space and large paved pathways to get around. There’s a spacious lawn as well which would be a great spot to chill and have a snack and drink when the weather is nice.
Kobe Port Tower
Built in 1963, the red painted Kobe Port Tower is hard to miss. Standing at 354 ft tall, the tower has multiple observations decks as well as an open air rooftop deck and cafe. I didn’t get the chance to enter the tower and go up it to get the views this visit, but the structure itself was unique looking with its design and it’s distinctive red color.
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park
1995 is the year that a massive 6.9 earthquake devasted Kobe. The Port Of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park is a small memorial for the victims who lost their lives in the port during the earthquake. A small section of the waterfront area was left unrepaired as a part of the memorial and for visitors to catch a small glimpse of the destructive power of the earthquake.
It’s defintely a somber area, knowing what transpired here, but the small informational placards detailing the effects of the earthquake and relief efforts are certainly interesting.
BE KOBE Sign
This distinctive sign located in Meriken Park was built to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the 1995 earthquake. City Hall had this sign created to instill a sense of civic pride in the citizens of Kobe. It’s a popular attraction in Kobe and specifically Meriken Park.
The sign has lights on the base of it which provide different colored lighting. On this particular night it was illuminated in purple and gold. I’m not sure if this is always the case, but being a Kobe Bryant fan this was pretty awesome to see. I know the sign is for the city, but being a Kobe fan it had a bit of dual meaning for myself and the Mamba mentality.
It was definitely cool to see it illuminated in purple and gold the night I went.
Is Meriken Park Worth A Visit?
Meriken Park is certainly worth a stop if visiting Kobe. There’s quite a few attractions to be seen within it. The park is wide open with ample space and between the Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial, and the Be Kobe sign, there’s plenty to see with lots of opportunities for photos. That’s not mentioning the walk around the port itself. With some great waterfront views, just cruising around on the outskirts of the park taking in the nice ocean breeze is quite nice and relaxing.
The nearby Harborland, which is a huge shopping and entertainment area featuring two malls and the Mosaic, which consists of a ton of restaurants are also extremely popular places in Kobe. It’s another huge area with lots of shopping and food options to choose from. There’s also a ferris wheel that looks out on the port. Harborland is right next to Meriken Park and is an easy walk if you’re looking to hit two birds with one stone!
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Exploring Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens: A Hidden Gem in Japan
One of the biggest attractions in Kobe is the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens. With over 75,000 herbs and flowers spread across 12 gardens, the premises contains a fragrance museum, gift shops, a restaurant and cafe, and other exhibits. A ropeway takes you up to the garden and then a long winding trail takes you through the gardens until you reach a ropeway station that takes you back down the mountain, if you choose.
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The Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway
Located on Mt. Rokko above Kobe, the best way to access Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens is via the Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway. A round trip which also provides access to the garden, will set you back 2000 yen ($12.43 USD), a one-way ticket is 1400 yen, ($8.70 USD).
The ride up takes about 10 minutes and provides some great views of the city, ending at the top station. I’m sure even better if it wasn’t a little drizzly on the day I went!
Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden View Plaza
Once you exit the station it opens up to what is called the rest house. This building is designed after an old German castle and includes souvenir shops and snacks and refreshments. The Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens view plaza is also here which offers seating where you can enjoy your snacks amongst the beauty of the rest house and garden.
I’m not sure if they alway have little boutique tents up throughout the year, but during Christmas time they had tables set up selling ornaments and other Christmas decorations / trinkets.
Honey Dew is a part of the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens view plaza and you can pick up some food and drinks here. I had just come from Kobe’s Chinatown so wasn’t very hungry but still got a little snack. I got a honey chai (600 yen, $3.73 USD) and honey comb soft ice cream (800 yen, $4.98 USD). They give you some extra honey you can drizzle over the soft serve which was great!
Also, at the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens view plaza is the rose garden which is home to over 60 different types of roses and the fragrance museum / concert hall. The fragrance museum has a huge array of unique, natural smelling perfumes and oils that can be purchased. It’s fun to peruse and smell the various fragrances they have concocted in this little museum!
The concert hall is located upstairs. It’s basically a medium-sized room that looked like it could seat 100+ people with a small stage. When I was there there was a pianist that was performing. There’s an admission fee to see the performers here. I had wandered upstairs exploring and didn’t actually attend the show but you could still hear the music which was nice.
The view plaza also offers a great panoramic view of the city, floating above the tree top strewn horizon, pretty cool.
The Walk Through Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden
Something that is really cool about this experience is the way the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden is designed. The paved, winding paths take you through multiple types of herb and flower gardens. This path and how it interweaves throughout these numerous gardens is aesthetically pleasing. I went in the winter time and it found it to be quite peaceful and pleasing but can only imagine what this little journey would like when everything is in full bloom.
Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden Glasshouse
This pathway eventually takes you down towards the glasshouse.
The glasshouse is quite large. It’s full of lush plant life within, complete with a little stream running through it. There’s also a cafe / lounge on the second floor, a herbal area where you can create your own household friendly scents, the “statue of love”, and even an herbal footbath located outside on the back of the glasshouse.
The End Of The Journey
Towards the end of walk back down the mountain there’s a great little recreation area. This wide open lawn area includes a slew of hammocks where you can literally kick your feet up and relax a bit while enjoying a nice view of Kobe while watching ropeway carts zooming up the mountain.
Overall, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens is a really nice, peaceful place to come and visit if you’re in Kobe. The unique architecture of its rest house and the fantastic walk through the gardens is a nice change of pace from other touristy types of attractions. I highly recommend visiting if in Kobe!
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Towering Himeji Castle Is One Of Japan’s Great Wonders
Himeji Castle, the world heritage site, is Japan’s best preserved feudal castle. Also known as the White Heron Castle due to its elegant white sheen, Himeji Castle is considered to be Japan’s greatest castle, for good reason.
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Himeji Castle
One of the 12 remaining original castles from Japan’s past, Himeji Castle is the country’s most famous and most visited as well. Early fortifications for the castle were completed in the 1400s with the main castle being completed in 1609.
Luckily, the castle has survived World War II, fires, and earthquakes and remains intact over the duration of hundreds of years.
The grounds here are quite expansive. Prior to entering the grounds you’ll cross over the outer moat via the Sakuramon-bashi Bridge and most likely enter through the Otemon Gate.
Once you enter through the gate you get the full view of Sannomaru Square. This is a HUGE lawn area with cherry blossom trees lined around it. As one would imagine, this area becomes quite popular around cherry blossom season. It must be quite the spectacle to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom with the castle in the distance. This area is also free to roam around.
As you approach the castle you get to the paid area which has booths in the front. The entrance fee is 1000 yen ($6.26 USD) or you can get a combined entrance fee (1050 yen, $6.57 USD) which includes the castle and nearby Kokoen Garden.
Once you enter the castle grounds you’ll be amazed at how intricate the layout is. There’s many different zig-zagging narrow pathways that lead to the main keep. This was designed as a defense mechanism to confuse would be intruders on their way to the keep. It can be a little confusing just walking around as a tourist with signs so I can only imagine what it would be like with no signage anywhere. These pathways lead through a total of 21 gates within the grounds. At it’s peak, the grounds had over 80 total.
There are two main bailey’s which you can actually walk through. The main keep and the residence of the former princess. The residence is a long building with mulitple empty rooms which is located to the west of the main keep.
The grounds of the princess’s residence 
A hallway within the princess residence Once you make your way through the princess residence it’s off to the main keep.
The main keep is six stories with each floor getting progressively smaller and smaller. The floors are accessed by narrow, steep staircases and are sparsely furnished. Even without furnishing it’s quite a sight to see. The top floor provides nice views of the entire castle grounds. You can appreciate just how large and expansive they truly are.
They did a really good job in restoring this and preserving the look. Himeji Castle went under restoration work to preserve the castle buildings from 2010-2015. Not only does the main keep look magnificent, but the overall Himeji Castle grounds are truly amazing. It really gives you an idea of what the castle once looked like.
A view from around the castle area 
Is Himeji Castle Worth Visiting?
Himeji Castle is 100% worth visiting. It was a highlight of my trip. With how much access you have to wander around and how well preserved everything within the grounds are, it’s a special place to visit. Being able to walk within the main keep and to see it preserved to how it once was is just a really cool experience. You certainly will not be disappointed if you come here. It’s a perfect day or half-day trip from Osaka or Kyoto as well.
