Zen's opinion
On the web I am called Zen. In Japan I am called "Fuu". My Wife is born in Osaka. In the year of 2005 was my first visit to Kobe. We had first planned on moving to Fukuoka to be near her parents. After visiting them we came to Kobe to visit her sister and brother in law.It was the plan to take me around to a couple of marinas so I could check them out and meet a couple of folks I met on-line from the SailJapan site. As it turned out my first experience of Kobe was different than I planed. We met my sis-n-law at the train station and went to their Condo. It was a nice place. I was impressed with the style and the fact they parked their car in a car elevator that put the car underground in a hole once on the lift. Whao, too cool! Now the plan was for us to sight see the next day after a VERY wonderful dinner! However, I was getting sick over the last couple of days and by the time tour day came I was not up to doing anything much. Everyone was very concerned. So we walk over to the clinic. It was only a few blocks through a very cosy area. I got to check out some of the local housing. At the doctor I was the only Gaijin there, however everyone was very nice. It was a different experience than than a Western Doctor. He checked me over and said, I'll be ok in a few days, it was nothing major. So I got some medicine ,which turned out to be in a power form not pills. The big shock was that the whole thing, the visit and the medicine cost about 30.00. Wow shocking ! it would have cost 3 times that much in the States!
The next day I was still on the weak side so we got driven back to Oaska to Obaasan's place. I got to see Kobe from a car. It looked interesting I wanted to see and know more, but time was up.
We always watch Japan TV dramas on Sat at home. When we returned a new show was starting, it was called Wakaba. It was based in Kobe!! I had to watch! From what I had heard about Kobe I found it intreging. I asked my wife what about moving there? She said Fukuoka was better. The time we spent there was interesting, but I did not get "the vib" like I got in Kobe. But Fukuoka was near Otosan and Okasan so... Anyway I digress The show Wakaba got me more interesting in Kobe.
Soon time came around for our next visit to Japan. This time I was ready to see Kobe. The family in Kobe knew the places I wanted to see and we were set. This time Kobe was our first stop. We went to the mountains and did archery in the park and hiked around. This was my family's 1st trip there as well so it was all new for all of us and great fun. The view was not so great because of the clouds but it was still wonderful to me. Next we went to Kobe Marina to visit an on-line sailing friend of mine, who runs BLISS, a sailing school, there in Kobe. He is from Ca as well. So we chatted a bit and everyone checked out his boat. He was getting it repaired so no ride was available.
Next we were off to The Kobe Sake Factory. That was most interesting, and I found some GREAT TASTING SAKE! which I'm hooked on now!
The next day we were off to Fukuoka, but were suppose to be back in Kobe for a Sakura festival. However the Universe had other plans for us, so we had to saddly change eveything. I did not get to see more of Kobe other than the trip to the airport a few days later. What I did see I enjoyed. Once back in the States, my wife asks, since Okasan is moving back to Osaka, what to you think about moving to Kobe!I think we would be comfortable there as it is a very international city. Whaaaat, I said. COOL!!!
I have been since then learning all I can about our future home. I continue to be pleased. I look forward to our next visit and meeting the helpful people from there I have incountered on-line. Douzo Yoroshiku
Zen