Nankin-machi
Along with Yokohama Chinatown and Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown, Nankin-machi in Kobe is another must-visit Chinatown in Japan. The word “Nankin” stands for the city Nanjing in China. Chinese merchants came and made a living in Kobe in the year of 1868. Later more Chinese from Nanjing settled here, thus the place got the name of “Nankin-machi”.Outside Nankin-machi, three Chinese style archways called Choan-mon Gate, Seian-mon Gate and Kaiei-mon Gate are standing to welcome visitors. Nankin-machi is 110 m (360 ft.) from north to south and 200 m (656 ft.) from east to west. Decorated with red lanterns, this Chinatown shows Chinese elements everywhere, such as traditional Chinese architecture, 12 Chinese zodiac symbols, panda statues and stone lions. Along the streets are about 100 different restaurants with dazzling signs and stalls that serve Chinese and Japanese foods.
Nankin-machi
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Must-Try Nankin-machi Street Foods
1. Chinese Steamed Pork Bun
There is always a long queue of diners in front of Roshoki, an old restaurant opened in 1915, just to take a bite of its specialty - Chinese steamed pork bun. The soft bun skin and juicy pork inside are a perfect combination of taste and texture. A small portion of the buns is 600 yen (4.24 dollars) for 6 and a large portion is 1,000 yen (7 dollars) for 10.2. Pan Fried Xiao Long Bao
Xiao long bao is another kind of steamed bun in China, but small in size. Different from the steamed one, pan fried xiao long bao has crispy skin and more broth in it. The restaurant YUNYUN is worth a try, which serves Cantonese cuisine as well. The budget can be 400-1,500 yen (3-10 dollars) per person.
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3. Peking Duck
The popularity of Peking duck is needless to say since you could find it in almost every Chinatown. More than one restaurant sells Peking duck in Nankin-machi. The duck is sliced and wrapped in a small pancake. The skin of the duck is crispy and full of meaty aroma. One Peking duck wrap is about 350 yen (2.47 dollars) in Nankin-machi.4. Chinese Tea or Milk Tea
Tenfu’s Tea is a popular tea shop in Nankin-machi. It sells Chinese traditional tea products as well as tea sets. If you are interested in Chinese tea culture, you can buy some tea like green tea, black tea and oolong tea. It’s a good choice to spend your teatime sipping Chinese tea, drinking milk tea and tasting some dim sum on the second floor while enjoying the street view.5. Kobe Beef
The world-famous Kobe beef is a food card of Japan. The cattle in Kobe are raised in a unique way so the beef has tender taste. A lot of restaurants in Nankin-machi serve Kobe beef dishes like Kobe steak, sukiyaki and teppanyaki, and Kobe beef burger with a fusion of Japanese and Western flavor is recommended as well.
Nankin-machi
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Traditional Festivals to Experience Chinese Culture in Nankin-machi
1. Shunsetsu Festival
“Shunsetsu” means the Spring Festival in Chinese, which is the Chinese New Year. The liveliest and busiest time of a year in Nankin-machi is definitely Chinese New Year, usually falling in January or February, when red lights and decorations hung everywhere and you can indulge yourself in the wonderful lion dances, acrobatics, martial arts and Chinese operas.2. Mid-Autumn Festival
Another busy time for Nankin-machi is in September or October, which in Chinese lunar calendar is August 15th, when the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated. On this special day the moon will be the roundest and brightest in a year. In Chinese culture, full moon is a symbol of family reunion. During the festival, various flavors of moon cakes are sold in Nankin-machi. So how about having a taste of a moon cake and joining the local Chinese to admire the moon?How to Get to Nankin-machi
Take a train on JR or Hanshin line to Motomachi Station, walk west for about 2 minutes and then walk south for about 3 minutes.
Opening Hours: Most restaurants and shops close before 8 pm.
Ticket Fare: Free
Nearby Attractions
Ikuta Jinja: A Shrine to Pray for Health & Love. You may walk northeast for about 12 minutes to reach it.Meriken Park: A beautiful seaside park by Port of Kobe housing many landmarks like Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum and the “BE KOBE” sign. You may walk south for about 7 minutes to reach it.