This is the famous Kobe Harborland wheel. It's a colorful, giant wheel that one rides to get a good view of the harbor and the hills of Kobe. Sadly, I see only a few people taking this ride. One day, I'll try this with friends. This wheel is lit up at night and changes colors every few seconds or so. Spectacular sight at night, I say.
Across from the Harborland wheel is another famous landmark - the Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. Does this look like a ship? I've been to this place many times, no, not for a night's stay but to have lunch with a lady friend from church. She often takes me here whenever we have time to sample its gorgeous buffet lunch spread.
See the cross ? This looks like a church, right? Sorry, it isn't. It's a wedding chapel in Kobe Harborland. It's practically empty when there are no wedding events. Many Japanese like to have a taste of Christian weddings. Not so much because they want their married lives blessed by the God of Christians but more because it's the "in" thing to do. They get "a pastor" to officiate their weddings in English - just about any blonde-haired, blue-eyed dude will do (a lucrative sideline for male foreigners here , I heard).
Now, this is the real deal. A Protestant church in the middle of the city. Been here once to attend a concert. This has a bellfry , brick tiles and wooden pews inside.
Kobe Port Tower. You need to take a photo of it to show that you've been to Kobe. Went up to its top with a lady student of mine many years back. We went up by elevator. It has a revolving restaurant where diners will have a good view of the city while enjoying their food. It also has a mini display of mounted photos of all towers in Japan. (The Japanese have this thing about towers and tall buildings.)
Next to the Tower is a skyscraper with offices, hotels and residences. That's a small, prettily-decked bay cruise boat for tourists that you see in the foreground.
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Here's the Kobe Port Tower at dusk.
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