After a quick subway ride from Shin-Kobe to Sannomiya station I was in the bustling centre of Kobe.
HOPSTAND is only around 100m from the western end of Sannomiya subway station, but it felt like 1km as I trudged up and down the small streets as my GPS tried to get a fix. But get a fix I eventually did and was soon seated in the small bar called HOPSTAND.
After arriving in Kobe a little earlier I wanted to head out to look around the hotel. A very short walk away is the bottom station of the Nunobiki Herb Garden Ropeway.
The Veranda at Kobe, Kobe, Japan
I’d gotten to the shinkansen platform at Himeji station early for my train to Shin-Kobe so I settled down for a bit of a snack. As I was early I’d planned on jumping on an earlier train. A quick look at Hyperdia told me one would be arriving soon… it did, and for some reason I just sat there, I was probably snacking away – sigh. Anyway, another train arrived soon and I was on my way for the 26 minute train ride to Shin-Kobe.
The Crowne Plaza ANA Kobe is right next door to Shin-Kobe shinkansen station, probably an 8 minute walk if you dawdle. The hotel is also right on top of the Shin-Kobe subway station. I would find out later on that evening that there’s actually an entrance into the hotel from the underground station.
Crowne Plaza ANA Kobe, Kobe, Japan
Toyoko Inn is very much a Japanese salaryman’s hotel. No bells or whistles with simple but functional rooms.
I’d arrived from Kyoto around 2pm but was told I couldn’t check-in until 3 so left my bags and headed out to find a late lunch.
Toyoko INN Himeji Station, Himeji, Japan
Back from Okayama and a couple of sakes at Kokoromi I was looking for a good final meal in Himeji before heading off to Kobe in the morning.
As I was walking to Public House Hosanna the previous evening I noticed a good number of restaurants to the south of the station area.
Danshuu, Himeji, Japan