世界には親心しかない in KOBE

On a day off, I took my child to Rokko-san Pasture. My child mentioned there was a “heart-shaped stone,” and when we looked, there indeed was a stone shaped like a heart. Here's the photo. I've never heard any rumors that finding a heart-shaped stone would ensure romantic success or anything like that, but it made me happy somehow. I debated whether to disclose the location, but considering the vast expanse of Rokko-san Pasture and that finding it solely based on this photo would be nearly impossible, I thought I might as well mention it. Unfortunately, I don't clearly remember the exact spot. I do remember that we went home shortly after taking this photo, so it was probably near the South Parking Lot.

Kobe's cityscape is incredibly close to Mount Rokko, offering stunning views that can be experienced in everyday life. For those who were born and raised in Kobe, this might seem too ordinary to appreciate, but for someone like me who moved here as an adult, it feels fresh and exciting. There are several breathtaking spots in Kobe that are not typically listed in guidebooks or on tourism websites. One of these hidden gems is rooftop parking lots. In Kobe, elevated highways and railway tracks can sometimes obstruct the view of Mount Rokko. However, from a rooftop parking lot, there are no such obstructions, providing a clear and magnificent view. For example, the photo below was taken from the rooftop parking lot of Nitori in Mikage. My photography skills might not do justice to the beauty, but the actual view is incredibly beautiful. This isn't limited to just this location; you can enjoy the beauty of Mount Rokko from the rooftop parking lots of various buildings. When you vis...

I boarded a JR train for an errand and found myself surrounded by kindergarten children. As I absentmindedly thought about how hard the teachers must have it, I noticed many of the children coughing and wearing masks. Worried about the spread of some virus, I decided to get off at the next station. The station was JR Maya. Although I knew of its existence, it was my first time on the platform. Hoping I hadn’t been exposed to the virus, I sat on a bench on the platform. In the past, benches at train stations faced the tracks, but recently they are often aligned parallel to the tracks, supposedly to prevent drunk people from falling onto the tracks when they stand up. I'm not sure if that's true. Anyway, I sat on the bench and checked my phone. It turns out that Mycoplasma infections are currently spreading in Kobe. This risk is inevitable when traveling by train. However, driving would mean paying for parking, which is quite expensive, especially in areas like Sannomiya and Moto...

Even for those visiting Kobe for the first time, it’s rare to get lost in the city. This is because you can determine directions without relying on map apps like Google Maps. To the north of Kobe lies Mount Rokko. Therefore, the direction where you can see Mount Rokko is north. The Kobe plain is narrow, and you can see Mount Rokko from most places. Kobe has mountains to the north and the sea to the south, with many areas gently sloping. Since going uphill means heading north and downhill means heading south, you can generally figure out directions even if you can’t see Mount Rokko. Because of this, people born and raised in Kobe often get lost when they go to other cities. This is because they lose their sense of direction.