Kobe Chinatown

I got my hair done on Saturday.  Not that that has anything to do with today's post, only that it took the better part of the morning.  I found myself wandering around Umeda around 2:00, texting Bryn.  I knew I wanted to take pictures, but with the sun setting earlier and earlier everyday I knew I didn't have time to go too far.  Bryn suggested China Town in Kobe.  It sounded like a good idea, but part of me couldn't be bothered, so I told him I would just go home. (I mean, I spent 20 minutes wandering around H&M and couldn't find anything to buy...I can always find something I need in H&M! It was a sign that I should go home and chill.)  So I started walking towards Hankyu station to catch a train home.  And kept walking to JR, and before I knew it I was on a Kobe bound train :) (What's life without a random decision every now and again?!)

 
Welcome to China Town!

Some details from the main gate...

 

It isn't huge by any means, but it is packed with restaurants, shops and food stands selling steamed buns, dumplings, spring rolls and loads of other Chinese goodies. 

Very cute steamed buns!

I started with Peking Duck.  It was my first time, and I was not let down!  I'm not a skin person, but even the crispy duck skin was pretty yummy.  After licking my sticky fingers, I looked down to discover the sauce had dripped all down my shirt!!  Luckily I had a scarf in my bag, so I could wrap up to hide my mess!

Always greet your food if possible... :-/

I followed up the messy Peking Duck with a spring roll (eh, ok) and some age (pronounced ah-gay...it means fried) mochi.  Unfortunately I didn't have any luck getting pictures of them, but the age mochi was SO GOOD!  Definitely my favorite food of the day!  For dessert I got a sesame dango.  It's a ball of sweet bean filled mochi rolled in sesame seeds.  I've had really nice ones, but this one was a bit dry.

There was live music in the little square half-way down the street.  Bryn found a live webcam and had me waving and scratching my head so that he could find me!

Before leaving I picked up some omiyage for the road - Chinese tea! Jasmine, oolong and some flowering jasmine tea (just for fun!).

No, not that stuff...I'm a tea bag kinda girl.