Kobe is a truly international city. After Japan opened up its ports to general foreign trade in the second half of the 19th century, many foreign merchants took up residence in the capital of today's Hyogo prefecture. Although the houses of western diplomats can be visited in the Kitano-cho district, I feel that nowhere is Kobe's international flair as evident as in the city's beautiful harbor.
These pictures were taken on an evening stroll through the harbor area in the summer of 2015.