I recently took a trip to Kobe, a beautiful port city in western Japan.
Kobe is known for its historic streets, beautiful waterfront, Chinatown, and of course, its food. One of the highlights of my trip was visiting Grill Ippei Motomachi, a long-established Western-style restaurant famous for its beef cutlets and omelet rice.
After dinner, I walked through Nankinmachi and continued toward Meriken Park to enjoy Kobe’s night views. I also explored the historic Former Foreign Settlement area and took a look at familiar, one of Kobe’s best-known brands.
In this article, I’ll share some of the food, scenery, and places I enjoyed during my Kobe trip.
Beef Cutlet at Grill Ippei Motomachi
If you enjoy Japanese-style Western food, Grill Ippei is a restaurant worth visiting in Kobe.
Grill Ippei is a long-established Western-style restaurant with a history in Kobe. I visited the Motomachi location, which has a classic atmosphere that feels very different from a modern restaurant.
For my main dish, I ordered the restaurant’s recommended Fillet Beef Cutlet.
Fillet Beef Cutlet
The beef cutlet arrived with a beautifully browned, crispy coating and a generous amount of sauce.
When I cut into it, the beef inside was tender and easy to eat. The fillet was particularly soft, while the crispy coating added a nice contrast.
The cutlet is served with a rich sauce that goes very well with the beef.
Although a beef cutlet can sometimes feel like a heavy dish, I found this one surprisingly easy to eat. The combination of tender beef, crispy coating, and the sauce made it a very satisfying meal.
If you are looking for a classic Western-style dish in Kobe, I would definitely recommend trying the beef cutlet at Grill Ippei.
Fillet Beef Cutlet vs. Old-Style Beef Cutlet
My dining companion ordered the Old-Style Beef Cutlet, so we were able to compare the two dishes.
Although both are beef cutlets, they have a somewhat different character.
The Fillet Beef Cutlet I ordered was especially tender, with the quality and softness of the fillet standing out.
The Old-Style Beef Cutlet, on the other hand, had more of that traditional, old-fashioned Western-style restaurant character.
Having two different dishes made it fun to compare them.
If you visit Grill Ippei with someone else, ordering different dishes and sharing them is a good way to experience more of the restaurant’s menu.
Grill Ippei’s Famous Omelet Rice
We also ordered omelet rice, another representative dish at Grill Ippei, and shared it between the two of us.
Omelet rice is a classic Japanese Western-style dish, and the version at Grill Ippei has that nostalgic appeal you would expect from a long-established restaurant.
The simple combination of rice, egg, and sauce works surprisingly well alongside the beef cutlet.
If it is your first visit to Grill Ippei, I think trying both the beef cutlet and omelet rice is a great way to experience some of the restaurant’s signature dishes.
A Night Walk Through Nankinmachi
After dinner, we headed out to explore Kobe at night.
Our first stop was Nankinmachi, Kobe’s famous Chinatown.
During the day, Nankinmachi is a lively area filled with restaurants, food stalls, and tourists. At night, however, it has a different atmosphere.
The colorful lights and decorations create an enjoyable evening atmosphere, making it a nice place to walk around after dinner.
I took several photos during our walk, and the nighttime atmosphere was quite different from what you see during the daytime.
Nankinmachi is famous for its food, but simply walking through the area at night can also be a fun part of a Kobe trip.
Kobe Night Views at Meriken Park
From Nankinmachi, we continued toward Meriken Park.
Kobe is a port city, so the waterfront is an important part of the city’s character. Meriken Park is one of the places where you can really appreciate that atmosphere.
At night, the lights from the buildings and waterfront create a beautiful cityscape.
Walking along the waterfront and looking at the lights gave me a strong sense that I was in Kobe.
The combination of the sea, city lights, and open space makes Meriken Park a great place to enjoy Kobe’s nighttime scenery.
I also took some photos during the walk, which capture some of the atmosphere of Kobe at night.
Walking Through Kobe’s Former Foreign Settlement
During my Kobe trip, I also spent some time walking around the Former Foreign Settlement.
The area is known for its historic Western-style architecture and wide streets. Today, historic buildings stand alongside modern shops, cafes, and fashion brands.
Walking through the area gives you a different perspective on Kobe.
It feels quite different from many other parts of Japan, and the architecture reflects Kobe’s long history as an international port.
I didn’t spend a huge amount of time here, but it was a pleasant area to explore on foot, and I took some photos along the way.
If you have extra time during your Kobe trip, I recommend simply walking around the Former Foreign Settlement and enjoying the atmosphere.
Familiar, a Kobe-Born Brand
Another thing I wanted to see during my trip was familiar, a well-known Japanese brand that originated in Kobe.
Familiar is best known for its baby and children’s clothing and products, and it has been loved by many people for generations.
The brand is closely associated with Kobe, so learning a little about familiar is another way to experience the city’s local culture.
For me, travel is not only about visiting famous tourist attractions. Discovering local brands and learning about the culture that developed in a particular city can also make a trip more interesting.
Enjoying Kobe Through Food, Streets, and Night Views
My Kobe trip was a combination of good food, evening walks, and exploring the city’s unique atmosphere.
At Grill Ippei, I enjoyed the tender Fillet Beef Cutlet, compared it with the Old-Style Beef Cutlet, and shared the restaurant’s famous omelet rice.
After dinner, I walked through Nankinmachi and continued to Meriken Park to enjoy the Kobe night views.
I also explored the Former Foreign Settlement and learned more about familiar, a brand that represents Kobe in its own way.
Kobe is a city where you can enjoy much more than just individual tourist attractions. Walking through its streets, eating local food, looking out over the waterfront, and discovering the city’s history and culture all come together to create the experience.
For me, that combination is what makes Kobe such an enjoyable city to visit.
