Since our winter vacation is incredibly long, a week after our trip to Nagano it was time for another mini-vacation, this time to Kobe. We loved Kobe when we visited over the summer, and so were eager to get to know the city a bit better. The day we arrived was a true winter day, cold but clear. We met up with Matt's Japanese teacher (whom we met on our last trip to the city), and after a lunch of negitoro donburi (raw tuna and scallions over rice with miso), we went for a long stroll around the canals of Kobe. It took us a long time to find the canal promenade as we wandered around the industrial ports, but eventually we came upon a scenic park and walkway that followed the canals. There were even canal cats wandering around, chasing seagulls.
On the way to the canal district we passed many shrines and temples. The area seemed particularly dedicated to Inari, the fox god whose main shrine is in Kyoto. Matt's teacher pointed out a shrine on top of a building, which you can see in the photo to the right.
We also ran into a small monument to Taira no Kiyomori, who is featured prominently in The Tale of the Heike. The story tells how Kiyomori, the head of the most powerful clan, was brought down by the Genji clan. The book apparently describes him as ruthless and evil, so much so that even in death his body does not cool. He didn't lack ambition: he created the first samurai government and even orchestrated the abdication of the throne, installing his grandson as head. However, he did commission Itsukushima shrine.
When we returned to downtown Kobe, we walked around the Harborland. We ran into a Lion Dance, traditionally done for New Year's celebrations. After the dance, people lined up for the lion to clap his teeth by their heads, for luck.
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