A part of the Hyogo Prefecture and one of the largest cities in Japan, Kobe is blessed with the sea and the mountains, and is therefore an extremely beautiful destination. Essentially a port city, Kobe was completely destroyed by the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake of 1995, and has been rebuilt from scratch to look like the modern giant that it does today. One of the most popular and incredibly tender variants of beef in the world is named after this place, and the many Teppanyaki eateries lining the city serve copious amounts of this flavourful steak. In terms of sightseeing, Kobe is also home to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which is the longest suspension bridge on this planet. Moreover, the Earthquake Museum documents the city’s battle with the ravaging natural disaster, and the Shin-Kobe Ropeway offers some arresting views of its port and skyline. For nature lovers, the Sorakuen Garden is the perfect pit-stop, and the Kobe Harborland is a great place to shop till you drop.

Kobe is around 30 km from the city of Osaka, and you could take the 20 minute long JR Special Rapid train from Osaka Station to its Sannomiya Station. The journey should cost you anything around 400 Yen if in case you do not have a Japan Rail Pass. Hankyu and Hanshin Railways also operate direct trains from Osaka to Kobe.