Kobe, Sake & Wagu, June 18

I met some fellow travelers from Florida during my recent journey, and after engaging in conversation for a while, it turned out that we both share the unique experience of living in Margaritaville! It’s quite fascinating to think that there are fewer than 200 passengers on the ship from the USA, and here we are, connecting in such an unexpected way! It truly is a small world. To be truthful, I had some prior knowledge that they were going to be on this cruise, but even so, it was a delightful surprise to encounter them in such a vast setting.

We decided to book a tour together that promised to be an exciting adventure, taking us first to a sake brewery, then into the majestic mountains of Koru, and finally back to the ship. The itinerary was packed with experiences that I was eagerly anticipating.

The sake factory we visited was significantly larger than the first one I had the pleasure of exploring on an earlier trip. This particular facility offered a programmed tour, reminiscent of the organized experiences you might find at a theme park like Disney. Interestingly, to exit the brewery, you had to pass through the gift shop, which seemed like a clever marketing strategy to ensure that visitors left with a piece of their experience. However, the tasting experience itself left much to be desired. They had set up jugs with push spouts that dispensed three different types of sake: one that was sweet, another that was dry, and a final option that resembled limoncello in flavor. Each tasting was limited to a mere thimble’s worth, which felt quite restrictive. Unlike my previous sake tasting experience, this one lacked any detailed explanations about the brewing process, no delightful cheese pairings to enhance the flavors, and certainly no opportunity for seconds (or thirds) to savor the different varieties. It felt more like a quick stop to get your squirt of sake and then move on to the shop, which was a bit disappointing.

Despite the somewhat lackluster tasting experience, I still found the visit to be enjoyable and educational. I made sure to purchase my share of sake-related souvenirs, which would serve as mementos of the day. Afterward, we boarded the bus for the next leg of our adventure. The ride took us up a winding mountainside, which offered stunning views as we ascended. Once we reached a certain point, we boarded a cable train that pulled us up the final 3 kilometers to our destination. The sight from the train was breathtaking, as we looked down into the sprawling city below, with its vibrant colors and bustling streets.

After our mountain excursion, we returned to the bus, and my new friends and I decided to indulge ourselves a little by going for the Kobe beef dinner that I had already planned and eagerly anticipated. We made our way into the city and found the restaurant that specialized in this exquisite delicacy. The dining experience was set up in a teppanyaki style, featuring a flat-top grill where a skilled chef would prepare our meals right before our eyes. As we perused the menu, we had the delightful option to select from various cuts of beef, including sirloin, chateaubriand, and filet. I opted for the filet, which I had heard was the best choice. The presentation of the food was nothing short of spectacular, and the chef was incredibly entertaining, adding a lively atmosphere to our meal. The flavors were beyond description, and the texture of the meat was exquisite—tender, juicy, and bursting with flavor. It was truly the best beef I had ever tasted. While I’m not sure I would spend $300 on a dinner like this regularly, I couldn’t help but think about how rare it is to find myself in Kobe again. So, I savored every bite and captured the moment with pictures to remember this exceptional dining experience.