THE STAY AT APA HOTEL KOBE-SANNOMIYA

APA Hotel Kobe-Sannomiya was the accommodation during my stay from 18th - 24th July 2024.

First of all, only one person was allowed in the room, and it was called a business hotel if I am not mistaken.

The room was really small. There was no space for me to move around. From the entrance to the window, there was only one small space for one person to pass. Perhaps the Japanese were trying to maximize the use of space so that they could have more rooms in the building.

Despite the size, the room was well equipped with all the necessary facilities for a traveler.

Even the lobby occupied a small space on the ground floor.

the view from the window: daytime

I realized, at night, when I looked out of the window, I could spot a sail boat and the word KOBE in the air (which were on the hill/mountain).

One reason I would stay at this hotel would be of its strategic location which was near to Sannomiya Station. The staff there were also quite helpful and they could converse and communicate in basic English.

[MY KOBE TRIP MAIN PAGE]

BIDDING FAREWELL TO JAPAN FROM KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

   24th JULY 2024    ~ As I arrived quite early at Kansai International Airport, I had some time to explore the place. However, I found the airport looked different in many ways, not like the way it was back in 2017 [READ HERE]. Or perhaps, I could remember well about the place.

I was actually looking for a halal food store and managed to find one in the food court area. [READ ABOUT IT HERE LATER]

Japan should be a smoker friendly country.

There were still many vending machines found in the airport. One thing worth mentioning, the prices of the bottled drinks were the same with the ones you bought from the vending machines in the streets. They did not raise the prices even though the machines were located in the airport and this was consideration at another level.

I left Japan as scheduled that morning hoping that I would make a comeback, perhaps to other cities, in the future.

Farewell Kobe, Farewell Japan.

[MY KOBE TRIP MAIN PAGE]

FINALLY LEAVING KOBE FOR KANSAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

   24TH JULY 2024    ~ After all the drama of flight cancellation and rescheduling, I was finally leaving Kobe for Osaka to head home. I had to wake as early as 4:00 a.m. so I could catch the first Airport Bus from Sannomia Station to Kansai International Airport.

Luckily, the bus station was within a walking distance from the hotel so I did not have to worry about how to get there in the wee hour of the morning. As I was walking to the station, I saw Sannomiya from a different perspective - the roads were empty and there was no one on the streets.

going to miss the vending machine

the bag tag for the bus

There were already people at the bus stop who wanted to get to Osaka International Airport like me. In fact, the bus was almost full.

Osaka sky: the break of dawn

It was time to bid Kobe farewell, after five days. There would be a slim chance I would be returning to the city one more time, but the future is always uncertain. Besides, I am full of surprises all the time.

[MY KOBE TRIP MAIN PAGE]