Beautiful weather today just in time for our day trip to Kobe! Kobe is a wonderful port town that surprises me with its European feel: tiny but cozy town square, cobblestone roads, souvenir shops and winding streets…

Sun-lit streets create the atmosphere of a long, laid-back holiday…

View of Kobe from the temple’s highground

Got attracted to this sign’s corkiness… and was surprised to see a QR code in the corner! Kudos to the progressive Kitano Museum and Cafe

Kobe streets felt very European…

…and at times American

Delightedly happy teenagers…

On our way to have some Kobe beef for lunch… Anticipation is killing me!

Here it is with its famous marbled texture… A decadent serving of meat that melts in my mouth and is worth every (expensive) penny (or should I say yen?)…

The chef prepares the meat in front of us, handling the precious cuts with utmost care and delicacy…

After the hearty lunch we head to Osaka for a healthy dose of ancient temples, cosmopolitan skylines, plum gardens by the river, shopping, and ramen for dinner…

The Osaka Castle (Osakajo) is the symbol of the city…

It stands majestic atop a hill with 360-degree views of Osaka…

The castle grounds are worth exploring as well…

…for a chance to stumble upon a beautiful plum garden by the river for an evening stroll alongside Osaka citizens

Ume (plum) blossom in the glow of the dusk…

When with the first month comes the spring,
Thus breaking sprays of plum-blossoms,
We’ll taste pleasure to the full.

Manyoshu V:  815

Couldn’t agree more.