Moto-machi元町

A cluster of Asian shops and restaurants. Awaji-shima Island can be viewed from the Port Tower.

Moto-machi is a lively town perfect for shopping, gourmet food and night spots in the center of Kobe. Under Kobe Station is a maze of shopping streets and above ground, a big shopping arcade. The unique event is the Shunsetsu-matsuri Festival at Nankin-machi, that celebrates the Chinese New Year at the end of January or in early February. Nankin-machi has many Asian shops and Asian restaurants.

On the sea-side of Moto-machi is Kobe-ko Chuo Tsutsumi, or the Central Dike, on which many landmarks of Kobe are built, for example, Kobe Port Tower. Kobe Kakyo Rekishi Hakubutsu-kan Museum exhibits the history of overseas Chinese who had immigrated from the continent, and the exterior of Kobe Kaiyo Hakubutsu-kan Museum was inspired by an image of sailboat and sea. Kobe Port Tower, 108 meters high, has a revolving glass observation room, and on a clear day, Kansai International Airport and Awaji-shima Island may be seen. Many people come to enjoy the wonderful night view of Kobe. The sightseeing cruise boat starts from the Chuo-Tsutsumi Ryokaku Terminal at the Port Tower.