Kobe-International Port City

Kobe has always been a cosmopolitan city, a great port welcoming foreign cultures, trade and ideas. Boasting both 19th century western mansions and a lively Chinatown, this center of international fashion, in confectionery and furniture as well as fine shoes and clothing, is also home to local industries like pearls and sake. The now complete reconstruction after the 1995 earthquake also revived many traditional crafts.

Dueling Robots

Amateur hobbyists are helping to push the limits of humanoid robot technology, and one way they test the effectiveness of new developments is to enter their designs for ROBO-ONE, a tournament where robots battle for victory using a wide range of realistic humanoid fighting techniques. As well as testing the technology, this exciting tournament is great fun for all involved.

Masters of Fake Food

Many people have now seen the fake food display samples that Japanese restaurants use to advertise their menus. But did you know that this is a craft with an 80 year history, and all models are still individually hand made by master artisans? The idea originated in a small mountain town in Gifu, and you can still visit a traditional workshop there.

Showman Village

The tiny village of Shiramine in Ishikawa has a novel way of brightening up the dark winters. Turning the region's plentiful snowfall to advantage, they fill the village with snowmen -over 3,000 of them, in all shapes and sizes. This charming snowman festival, lit by candles after dark now brings many visitors to the snowy village.