ABSTRACT

Kobe city is situated in the Kansai area, close to Osaka and Kyoto. It is the prefectural capital of Hyogo Prefecture (population: 5.5 million) and with a population of 1.5 million, is ranked as the sixth largest city in Japan. Kobe city was one of two ports opened for foreigners after the Meiji Revolution which took place about 130 years ago, and was subsequently developed as a major port in western Japan. Because of this historical background, the city is famous for active international relations. Several heavy industries, including ship building, are located in the city. The city is served by Shinkansen, national railways, several private transport lines, and access to the airports is easy. Kobe and its surrounding cities host a number of prestigious national and private universities and colleges. Kobe University is the major academic institution in the area, with 11 schools and several research centres. The International Centre for Medical Research (ICMR) was established in 1979 at Kobe University School of Medicine to promote collaboration in medical sciences with southeast Asian countries, and the WHO Kobe Centre was established in 1996. In short, Kobe city is one of the most attractive cities in Japan and rated as the most desirable city to live in. It is also the favourite place for domestic tourism, particularly among young women, due to its international flavour and its modern shopping arcades.