Key Railways in Kobe
There are three main railways in Kobe: Hankyu Railway, JR, and Hanshin Railway. JR, formerly the national railway, is highly convenient. For example, if you are going to Osaka or Kyoto, JR is the fastest. I was surprised when I came to Kobe because there were no JR lines near my hometown. Seeing regular freight trains running was astonishing. It's only natural when you think about it; JR handles logistics across Japan, delivering goods from Osaka through the Chugoku region to Kyushu. People also travel on the same lines. When waiting on the platform for a train during the usual commute or a casual outing, a long freight train passes by. For someone like me, used to only local private railways and subways, this sight was quite surprising. JR is perceived as a railway for long-distance travel. It's somewhat inconvenient for short-distance travel, but the fare is slightly cheaper for nearby trips. When going to Sannomiya, if JR is an option, it's preferable. Hankyu and Hanshin...