Many an early foreign settler to Kobe took up residence in Kitano upon the opening of Kobe Port. The Shin-Kobe Ropeway nearaby takes you to Nunobiki Herb Garden and Nonobiki Falls. This man-made island is home to the Port Terminal for cruise boats, the Kobe Science Museum, an amusement park and a sports center, as well as the Kobe International Conference Center and other convention facilities. Popular attractions are a pasture land and a botanical garden. The area is dotted with museums and memorial halls, depicting the art of sake brewing in days gone by.
Visitors can also enjoy sake tasting, as well as shopping and dining.
Popular attractions include the Suma Aqualife Park and Sumadera Temple, which is steeped in the history related to the battle between the Genji and Heike clans in the late 12th century. The home of the brilliant girls-only Takarazuka Musical Troupe, so well known overseas. A memorial hall dedicated to the famous cartoonist Osamu Tezuka is also located here. It is listed in the World Heritage registry. In the Arima Hot Spring area, visitors can find lots of Japanese-style inns or ryokan.