10. The Cascade Bakery in the Gakuentoshi subway station--fine bread and pastry in a convenient place. As we waited for a train the aroma from the bakery would waft through the station..... The number of fine bakeries and dessert houses in Kobe is amazing.
9. Vending Machines. Yes,they are expensive and unattractive. But it's reassuring to know that when you are thirsty on a hot summer day, you can find a cold drink just about anywhere. And for a runner, they are a godsend. At home I have to plan my long runs around either park waterfountains or convenience stores--and you can guess how happy they are to see a dripping wet runner come in...
8. Riceballs. Small cellophane wrapped triangular rice balls, with the nori kept crisp inside the cellophane. Ingenious, cheap and delicious.
7. Service. The service in Japan in hotels, restaurants, and other service businesses is uniformly excellent. They aim to please and are paid enough that tips are not necessary.
6. Public Transportation. It is expensive, and there are some indications that the privatized lines (including JR and the Sanyo Shinkansen lines) are cutting corners on maintenance or putting too much stress on their employees. But it is reliable and efficient. I will miss the Kobe subway and wandering around Sannomiya station....
5. Magome. We had several delightful short trips around eastern Japan, including Kinosaki onsen, Shikoku and Kyushu. But I enjoyed our stay in Magome and walk along the old Nakasendo toll road the most. It is a charming place.
4 Kyoto. Still one of the world's great cities. It's not just the profusion of temples, shrines and gardens--it is a living city with a character all its own. Kobe comes in a close second thanks to its delightful location, vibrant downtown and many activities.
3. Food. A traditional Japanese meal at a banquet or ryokan is a mystery and adventure. There were a couple of things I couldn't stomach--mainly goya and uni--but everything else was delicious.
2. Onsen. There are other countries in the world with a spa tradition, including Germany and Turkey. But none have made it such an important part of day-to-day life.
1. Students, Faculty, Staff and Friends. During our stay I was able to visit old friends up in Chiba and make many new ones here in Kobe. And working with my dedicated students was very rewarding. The faculty, staff, and our neighbors here in the juutaku made us feel very welcome and helped me resolve the few problems we ran into.
Honorable mention: tatami rooms, futon, Kobe Grocers, Amazon.com.jp.
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