Kobe is a city blessed by both the sea and the mountains. One of its most defining features is Mount Ichizan, part of the Rokko mountain range. Long known as the birthplace of modern mountaineering in Japan, this area is home to a variety of distinctive peaks. Nestled within one of them, in Kobe’s Chuo Ward, lies Juzenji Temple, a Zen temple with a history spanning over 950 years. (News On Japan)

Cherry blossoms have begun to bloom in Wakkanai and Kushiro, marking the near completion of Japan's cherry blossom front for 2025. (News On Japan)