I explored the city of Kobe, which served as the setting for the 1980s Japanese adventure game The Portopia Serial Murder Case. It’s a city where you can visit locations that actually appeared in the game, enjoy Kobe’s beautiful night views, and experience attractions like Chinatown and the Kitano Ijinkan (foreign residences).

Access

From Tokyo, take the Tokaido–Sanyo Shinkansen and get off at Shin-Kobe Station. Shin-Kobe Station is built between the Rokko Mountains, so both sides of the station are surrounded by tunnels. The municipal subway connects directly to Shin-Kobe Station, allowing easy access to Sannomiya and Motomachi.

Kobe Port Tower Is Highly Recommended for Night Views

Kobe is famous for its beautiful night scenery. One of the best places to enjoy it is Kobe Port Tower, located in Kobe Harbor. The tower is open until 11:00 p.m., giving you plenty of time to fully enjoy the night view. The tower itself is also beautifully illuminated, making it a sight worth seeing.

Visiting the “Sacred Sites” of The Portopia Serial Murder Case

In Japan, visiting real-world locations that appear in anime or games is often called a “pilgrimage to sacred sites.” In Kobe, you can visit places that appeared in the adventure game The Portopia Serial Murder Case, such as Shinkaichi, Hanakuma, and the port area.

Since it’s an old game, the graphic quality wasn’t very advanced, so the locations are not reproduced exactly as they were in the game. Still, you can get a strong sense of the atmosphere. The port area is called Nakatottei, where Kobe Port Tower is located, so you can easily visit both together.

Chinatown and Kitano Ijinkan

Like Yokohama, Kobe developed as a port city and once had foreign residential areas. Kitano Ijinkan is known for its historic foreign residences, and you can also enjoy eating your way through Chinatown with its delicious Chinese food. However, Chinatown can be very crowded, so if you’re not fond of large crowds, you might want to avoid it. Kitano Ijinkan is also popular with tourists and can get busy.

Kobe Beef Is World-Famous

Kobe is famous for its beef. Kobe beef is widely recognized in Japan as some of the finest meat available. If you visit Kobe, be sure to dine at a restaurant that serves Kobe beef. It’s absolutely exceptional. I ate at a restaurant called “Merican”.