【Aikido × Travel】Three Days and Two Nights in Kobe! My First Visit to Seibukan (Day 1–Part 2)
I managed to board the Shinkansen bound for Shin-Kobe without any trouble, more and more passengers got on at each stop, and before long every row in the car was completely full. There was no denying that we were right in the middle of a long holiday weekend.
I enjoyed a light lunch I had brought with me while watching the scenery pass by outside the window.
Whenever Mount Fuji comes into view, my spirits naturally lift. Its dignified presence always fills me with a quiet sense of pride.
We arrived at Shin-Kobe Station around 3:30 p.m., and from there I planned to head to Shinkaichi Station, the closest stop to my hotel.
Before that, though, the crowded train ride made me suddenly worry about my return ticket. Since I boarded at the starting station on the way here, a non-reserved seat had been fine. But Shin-Kobe is a mid-route station, and if I wanted to sit comfortably on the way back, a reserved seat seemed much safer.
I had casually assumed I could buy a ticket on the day of departure, but three days later would be the final day of the long weekend. Just to be safe, I went to the ticket counter.
The availability board showed a long line of △ and × symbols. The train my friends had already booked was marked ×.
I was truly glad I checked today.
I asked about the fully booked train just in case, but of course it was full. When I inquired about an earlier train marked △, the staff found two seats together, so I purchased them on the spot.
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With my return ticket secured, I headed toward Shinkaichi Station.
From Shin-Kobe, I took the Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin–Yamate Line to Minatogawa-kōen Station. From there, I transferred to Minatogawa Station and boarded the Kobe Kosoku Line toward Shinkaichi.
Shin-Kobe Station is quite large, so I relied on the signs to find the Yamate Line platform.
Transferring at an unfamiliar station always makes me a little nervous. Japan’s public transportation is wonderfully convenient, but the network is undeniably complex. I was reminded of how my overseas friends once told me, “It’s difficult,” and I couldn’t help but agree.
Still, thanks to route navigation apps, things are much easier than they used to be. I boarded the Yamate Line without issue and arrived at Minatogawa-kōen. Following the signs to Minatogawa Station, I found retro-style chairs lined up on the platform, and the train itself was cream-colored with red accents—charmingly nostalgic.
The atmosphere felt like stepping back into the Showa era, and I couldn’t help but smile. Even the short train ride felt pleasant.
When we arrived at Shinkaichi Station, the many exits made things a bit confusing. I headed toward the nearest one and stumbled upon a supermarket called Shintetsu Shokusai-kan Shinkaichi. Finding a supermarket while traveling is always a big plus for us, so this was a lucky discovery. We bought breakfast and drinks for the next morning, then took the escalator up to street level. From there, it was only a few minutes’ walk to our hotel, Hotel Sunroute Plaza Kobe Anessa, where we would stay for two nights.
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It was a little past 4 p.m.
The reception area was crowded with a student group, and it seemed the hotel was quite busy. My friends from New Zealand, who had traveled via Kyoto, had already checked in.
When I finished checking in and entered my room, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.
The room was much smaller than I expected, especially considering the price. I knew rates would be higher during a long weekend in the Expo period, but still—the space beside the double bed was just enough to open one suitcase.
On the other hand, the bathroom, toilet, and sink area were surprisingly spacious and very clean, so I had no complaints there. My larger-framed friends were staying in a twin room.
“We were surprised by how small the room is.”
“I was going to invite you for tea before practice, but there’s no space for that!”
We exchanged messages and laughed about it.
Still, the hotel was close to both the station and the dojo, and compared to other options, the price was reasonable. I decided to let go of the complaints and enjoy my stay.
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Practice was scheduled to begin at 6 p.m.
Before that, I had been told to arrive about 30 minutes early for the children’s class taught by I-san, who had also participated in the New Zealand seminar.
My friends, however, were eager to head out early. I explained that arriving too soon might cause inconvenience, so we agreed to meet at the hotel lobby a little after 5 p.m.
Walking would take about 25 minutes, but the train ride was under 15 minutes, so we took the Hankyu Kobe Kosoku Line from Shinkaichi Station.
After passing through the ticket gate, we couldn’t immediately figure out which platform to use. Meanwhile, my New Zealand friends M and G simply stood there watching.
“Help me look!”
“In situations like this, it’s best to rely on the locals.”
But… I’m not a local either.
I found a station staff member and asked for directions.
We got off at Hanakuma Station, just two stops away, and followed Google Maps for about seven minutes until we arrived at Seibukan.
Seibukan Official Website: https://seibukan-kobe.org/
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Next time: “【Aikido × Travel】Three Days and Two Nights in Kobe! First Training at Seibukan (Day 1–Part 3)”