Naturally, visitors to Kobe can enjoy a wide variety of homegrown attractions that provide an authentic sampling of Japan's traditions. Moreover, because Kobe is a cosmopolitan city whose residents hail from more than a hundred different countries, it is a great place for enjoying forms of entertainment that have a rich international flavor, including samba and jazz.
* For details, please inquire with the Kobe Convention & Visitors Association.
| Kobe City Mixed Chorus | This professional chorus group is a local organization, first formed to celebrate Kobe's 100th anniversary as a municipality. |
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| Kobe Chamber Ensemble | This string ensemble was originally established as a public organization by Kobe City. |
| Kobe Urban Opera House | This Opera House was built so that local musicians and citizens could perform their talents within a dedicated, state-of-the-art, facility. |
| Kobe City Fire Station Music Band | As well as for fire station functions, this band has given over 250 performances at local city events. |
| Hand Bells | These bells, each one with its own special pitch, combine to produce a magical harmony of sound. |
| Samba Dance | Kobe's Spring Festival is famous for its cheerful and rhythmical group of samba performers. |
| Japanese Dance | There are various styles of traditional Japanese dance, many of which can be enjoyed in Kobe. |
| Shrine Maidens Dance | Maidens from Kobe's Ikuta Shrine dance to the sounds of traditional Imperial Court Music. |
| Wa-Daiko Japanese Drums | Majestic drums from various areas around Kobe - Kobe-daiko, Arima Mansuke-daiko and Ebisu-daiko – are a perennial favorite. |
| Onna-Ken-Gei Swords | Performed mainly by women players, this female sword play combines the theatrical styles of period dramas and kabuki. |
| Gagaku Imperial Court Music | Traditional Japanese dance and music, said to be the oldest form of ensemble music still in existence today. |
| Koto Japanese Harp | This quintessentially Japanese harp sound is performed according to the styles of the Ikuta School. |
| Chinese Lion & Dragon Dance | Traditional Chinese dance passed down the generations by Kobe's Chinese merchants. |
| Nada's Sake-Making Songs | A rendition of songs as originally sung by Nada's master sake brewers while making Japanese wine. |
| Chindon-Ya Strolling Musicians | Dressed in colorful and fun costumes, these friendly entertainers and walking billboards engage in lively banter as well as music. |
| Awa-Odori Dance | This folk dance, immensely popular all around Kansai, is a signature dance for Tokushima Prefecture (Shikoku Island). |
| Hyogo Timber Songs | The music for this song and dance performance includes drums, a Japanese flute and 'shamisen' (strings). The songs were sung by timber workers building Shichinomiya Shrine. |
| Mikuma Dance | A dance of celebration from Awaji Island created to share the good fortune of an ancient shogun Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 3 parts: Awa dance, 'ningyo joruri' (puppetry) and 'Yakko' dance. |
| Awa Ningyo-Joruri Puppetry | This is a traditional theater of doll puppets, 'ningyo-joruri' being an older name for 'bunraku'. This kind of puppetry is one of Awaji Island's important cultural assets and is performed with flute and drum interludes. |
| Kobe Jazz Bands | Kobe is the birth place of jazz in Japan. The city is home to an enthusiastic fan base with many house bands. |
Kobe Convention & Visitors Association
6-9-1 Minatojima-nakamachi,
Chuo-ku,Kobe 650-0046, Japan
Tel:+81-78-303-0090
Copyright 2007 Kobe Convention & Visitors Bureau,All Rights Reserved.
