Kobe HarborlandUmie 神戸ハーバーランドウミエ

Published on : 30/04/2019
by : S.V.

Much more than shopping...

Passing through the port city of Kobe, you are seized by the irremediable desire to do some shopping? Don't panic; we have the address for you: KobeHarborland Umie! The 235 shops in this huge shopping complex will satisfy all your shopping desires!

Harborland, a neighborhood born to entertain

Reached in just 5 minutes on foot from JR Kobe Station, Kobe Harborland Umie is conveniently located in the Harborland district , an area dedicated to commerce and entertainment. This district is the result of a policy of commercial development and urban planning carried out by the municipal authorities of Kobe in the 1980s.

In 1982, when the activities of the Minatogawa Kamotsu freight station of the national railway company, which then occupied the entire area, ceased operations, the municipality bought the land and dismantled the old railway installations. She wants to make this part of the seafront accessible to everyone ; hitherto reserved for freight activities.

Within 10 years, Kobe will have a new district, Harborland, equipped with major facilities , including the New Otani hotel, the Seibu and Hankyu department stores, the Mosaic shopping center, the mini-park of Mosaic Garden attractions. In April 2013, the department stores gave way to the vast Umie shopping center as part of a program to redevelop and revitalize the area . The Mosaic Garden park is also disappearing in favor of a new place dedicated to family outings, the Anpanman Museum .

Umie, the temple of shopping

Behind the huge glass facade of the Umie complex are no less than 235 shops and restaurants . This facade and the large glass roof that overlooks the central aisle also give Umie a false air of a cathedral. What could be more normal after all for a temple of shopping!

Kobe Hrborland Umie is made up of three interconnected spaces : the South Mall, the North Mall and Mosaic . The latter, located along the seafront, replicates European streets with its open-air alleys, colorful facades, pointed windows, small balconies and terraces covered with latticework. Mosaic is also topped with a historic remnant of Kobe Port: a 1914 watchtower that was used to observe cargo ships entering the port.

For shopping, the very many brands in the three areas have something to delight fashion fans and lovers of Japanese pop culture.

Gourmets are also at the party. All you have to do is choose from restaurants offering Japanese cuisine, international cuisine or fast food.

Romantic Kobe

But the shops, restaurants and cinemas are not the only attractions of Kobe Harborland Umie. The resort enjoys a somewhat surprising reputation for being a particularly romantic place .

Indeed, the area of the quays on the edge of the Mosaic center is the ideal place to spend a romantic evening .

For a two-to-one dinner, choose one of Mosaic's restaurants with a panoramic view of Meriken Park , the Kobe Maritime Museum and the Kobe Port Tower, which takes on a flamboyant color at night. fallen.

Discover: 5 restaurants where you can eat Kobe beef

800px-Kobe_Mosaic19s3072 — Romantic walk on the Takahama wharf
S.V.

mosaic-kobe-roue — Mosaic and the ferris wheel at night
Cesar I. Martins

There's nothing nicer than continuing the evening with a stroll on the Takahama wharf . Strolling on this promenade admiring the lights of the city and their reflections in the waters of the port is simply magical! This quay is also an iconic place for couples . The very many marriage proposals that are made there each year are undeniable proof of this.

On the way, do not miss the mailbox of love ! Dressed in pink, it collects love letters or simple souvenir letters ready to be sent since its installation in 2007. Finally, at the end of the quay, the Ferris wheel offers you a romantic flight. Once in the air, take advantage of this timeless moment to declare your love to your dear and tender…