Mitsui Outlet Park Marine Pia Kobe, Kazamidori Cheese Cake & Toraku Pudding

Day 3

December 30, 2012

Mitsui Outlet Park 
Marine Pia Kobe
12-2 Kaigan Dori,
Taruni-ku,
Kobe, Hyogo-Prefecture
078-709-4466

Operating Hours: 10am to 8pm

I can't get enough of Kobe. Aside from Kobe Beef, there are a lot of things to do, places to visit and food to try. There are a lot of things we crossed out in my itinerary due to bad weather. I will definitely be back during summer time.

 Mitsui Outlet Park

From Tarumi Station, we walked towards Mitsui Outlet Park. It was a long walk. I was tired and at the same time excited to see what's in store for us ; )

Are you ready? Read more after the break...

Discover Kobe: Steak Land for the Best Kobe Beef!

The entire content of this entry has been transferred in my new blog, xoxo MrsMartinez visit the link here.  

Day 3

December 30, 2012

Kobe Beef Steak Land (Suteki-rando)
about two blocks away from Hankyu Sannomiya Station
078-3321653

Did you know that Kobe Beef is sold only within Japan? Yes, it's true. I have seen labels like "For Domestic Consumption ONLY" attached to Kobe beef.

Anyway, when our Japan trip was still in the planning stage, I insisted that we should eat Kobe beef while in Kobe or don't go there at all ; p

Kobe Beef Steak Lunch 150g JPY 2,980 (PhP 1,490) per pax

I ate all 10 cubes, you don't want to waste any of these mouth-watering, juicy Kobe beef, do you? To sum it all up, it's Y-U-M-M-Y!

This set includes salad, miso soup, rice, pickles, grilled vegetables and coffee (served after). This lunch set is available from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

To read the full entry, visit Kobe Beef Steak Land (Suteki-rando)

Up next, outlet store in Kobe! 

You can view the 3-part Kyoto adventure here, here and here. To view where we stayed during our 8-day stint in Japan, visit here. Interested where we dine on our first night in Osaka? Then read here. Intrigued about the ultimate camera I bought from Canon? View from this link. My Shinkansen (Japan Bullet Train) experience here. Must visit place,  Weathercock Mansion here. Hungry in Kobe? Eat at Steak Land for authentic Kobe Beef. Or visit Mitsui Outlet Park in Marine Pia Kobe for some outlet shopping.

Discover a town called Kinosaki and its 7 onsen.

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Discover Kobe: Weathercock House (Kazamidori-no-Yakata)

Day 3

December 30, 2012

Weathercock House (Kazamidori-no-Yakata)
3-13-3 Kitano-cho, Chuoh-ku,
Kobe
08-2423223

Operating Hours: 9 am to 6 pm

Close: first Tuesday of February and June

Entrance Fee: JPY 500 450 (PhP 225)*

*Kobe Welcome Coupon - given at the Information Center in Shin-Kobe Station

Aside from Kobe Beef, one of the main tourist attractions of Shin-Kobe is its city district, Kitano-cho. Visiting the area was a part of our itinerary, hmm, the only one that DH and I were able to do. We decided not to do the rest as planned due to the rainy weather ; (

Weathercock House was built in 1909

When we got off the station, we asked the girl at the Information which among the numerous foreign or western style residences known as Ijinkan is worth looking into. She suggested Kazamidori-no-Yakata also known as Weathercock House.

The Former Thomas Residence

Designated a National Important Cultural Asset on January 21, 1978

This residence, known as Kazamidori-no-Yakata (The Weathercock Mansion) was built in 1909 by Mr. Godfried  Thomas, a German trader, as his personal residence.

The house's brick exterior makes it unique amongst the remaining Ijinkan residences in the Kitano-Yamate district. With its vivid brick color and the front porch's stone masonry, the house exudes a stately atmosphere.

The metal rooster does more than indicate the wind direction, it also ward off evil spirits, and promotes Christian doctrine with its advocacy of caution and respect of nature. 

The interior design is an attractive fusion of the traditional German style and Art Nouveau of the late 19th to early 20th century. 

For the rest of the Ijinkan, she told us that taking photos of the facade is allowed and that's what we did ; p Although there are packages available---> visit 9 houses for JPY 3,500 (PhP1,750), we can't go inside all the houses because it's time-consuming. Plus, I don't want to bore you with too much architecture ; p

Curious what's inside the house? Then read after the break....

Discover Kobe: Shinkansen (Bullet Train) to Shin-Kobe

Day 3

December 30, 2012

Kobe (DIY Tour)

Japan Railways (JR)-West Rail Kansai Wide Wide Area Pass is the best way to get around Japan. With our passes, we were able to board Japan's Bullet Train called Shinkansen to Shin-Kobe. Passes are sold for only JPY 7,000 (PhP3,500) per person and is good for four days. You can reserve your pass here.

 Shinkansen and I

Running at speed of up to 300 km/h, the Shinkansen is known for punctuality (departs on time to the second), comfort (silent cars with spacious, always forward facing seats), safety (no fatal accidents in its history) and efficiency - SOURCE

I have listed a lot of Things-To-Do but unfortunately, it was raining that day in Kobe. We were not able to visit Kobe Harborland. We were not able to ride Shin Kobe Ropeway or even take Fantasy Kobe Sea Bus (cruise). 

Anyway, let me take you to the Shinkansen Station first, read more about it after the break...