KOBE - Where is the best part of Kobe for a family?

Hi,
Is there anyone here who has lived in Kobe and can suggest a good suburb to buy a house? Somewhere nice but a bit interesting perhaps? Does anyone have any ideas to help narrow down the search?
My wife's family live in Osaka, which is why we are planning to buy a house in Kobe. We will probably live in for a year or two sometime down the track. The main reason for living in Japan would be for my kids (daughter 2yo, one on the way) to go to school there in 3-5 years time.
Our budget's pretty reasonable, as we live in London where a one bedroom flat costs 50,000,000. So, without going overboard we should be able to buy something reasonable.
Any comments or ideas appreciated

I think that between Kobe and Osaka is a nice area, however it is pretty expensive, but the connections are great 20minutes in Kobe, 20min in Osaka.

I am getting a house in the Rokko area this June, but the price of that is ... well cheap because my girl applied for a special house from the government. Have a look on my website, you won't find much there about area's, but there is a lot of info about the city and links to other pages: www.kobecityinfo.com

if you have any questions, please ask me.

Life in Kobe

First i have some questions for you.

Will your children go to an international school or a public japanese school?

Where will your work place be?

Which train station do your in-laws live near in Osaka? (we have 3 different train companies operating between Kobe and Osaka)

What are important facilities for you to have nearby? (you wrote "nice" but what does that mean to you? Also you wrote "a bit interesting perhaps" but what are your interests?)

House with garden or flat with shared facilities?

If you will only be here for a year or 2 why not just rent and then if you find a better neighbourhood it will be easier to move?
****************
One suggestion:
Rokko Island is very popular with families with young children (both Japanese and foreigners).
http://www.price-club.co.jp/e/community/rokko.html

Lot's of international schools in Nishinomiya!!

h-kay

Thanks for the Rokko island suggestion, I'll check it out.

Here are some answers to your questions.

1. International or public school. We'd like them to go to a public school, if its a good one, as this would be one of the main reasons for living in Japan. But it would be good to have the option of an international school.

2. I would be either not working or working from home and traveling, I am an investment analyst by trade.

3. The inlaws live on the other side of Osaka.

4. 'Nice' means not in a busy concrete jungle, something like trees, parks, a view, fresh air. 'a bit interesting' means a bit of variety in terms of people and places, a shopping area with small shops restaurants rather than a shopping centre, a swimming pool and a yoga centre would be good. Ideally live somewhere quiet but be able to walk a couple of blocks to somewhere with some activity, plus be able to get to the city centre and KIX occasionally without killing myself.

5. A house with some outdoor area I suspect.

6. Yeah, renting would be the usual option for me, but there are a few reasons why I would like to buy. Firstly, Japanese property appears to be relatively affordable at the moment (my research indicates that the UK vs Japan relativity of prices and exchange rate is as good as any time in the past 20-30 years), this might not be the case in three years time when we decide to move there. And secondly, my wife and her family would like the idea of some commitment to Japan and it would give my wife something to manage, giving her more independence.

Budget is around 50-60 million yen.

Cheers

Raven

mmm did you even read my post...

Dutch Baka said:

mmm did you even read my post...

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Sure did Dutch Baka, thanks.

Just spoke with my wife and she was in strong agreement with both Nishinomiya and Rokko. Apparently an important member of the local 'mafia' lives in Rokko and dominates the place (don't play your music too loud!??)

What do you reckon are the pros and cons of both these places? Notice you've chosen Rokko?


When you say there are international schools in Nishinomiya what do you mean? Is it that there are lots of international kids in the local schools? Can you suggest some of the better schools?

Cheers

Raven111

Good pictures on your web site by the way. It's been difficult to find pictures of Kobe that show you what it's really like.

Is it always that smoggy??

No it is not always that smoggy, just a bad day it was

I think you might like some places in Suma ku. However the place to be in your line of work is really Tokyo, you are a better judge of that than me but 99% of finance jobs for foreigners are in Kanto not Kansai. There are so many variables I think you need to visit to even scratch the surface. The school issue is big, from your comments I'm not sure you understand the difference in philosophy and cost between Japanese public school and private schools like Canadian Academy and Marist brothers it is a really huge difference and a big decision for any international family even if money is not an issue.

Anyway back to good areas, Rokko is in Higashi Nada ku which is great and the prices have gone down but I don't think it is cheap. I think in Nada ku and out west Suma ku and Tarumi and Maiko there are some good deals with the features you wanted. Since her folks live in Osaka what is wrong with Osaka? I live in Kobe and love Kobe but the edges of Osaka are good. Look into Mino and Kita Senri in the north of Osaka for more leafy suburbs and good schools. Also the southern part of Osaka seems to be developing fast, I don't know that area well but there are likely some good deals.

I almost forgot Kurakuen which is technically in Nishinomiya but borders on Kobe is a nice area but I think it is pretty pricey but it has what you seem to be looking for. If you haven't been to Japan be much be prepared to be disappointed with what you get for your money in regards to housing.

Thanks mangaman

Yes, I have some idea of the size and construction quality issues in Japan, but have yet to get my head around what that means when buying a place?

The main reason for living in Japan for a while will be for our kids to learn to write in Japanese and to spend some time with their Japanese relatives. I just want somewhere pleasant with plenty of variety and my wife suggested Kobe as a good option. More intimate and manageable than Osaka, with a higher English speaking contingent. Not that I want to become the multi-national company expat type, but it will probably be good to the diversity of a lot of people from different backgrounds (one of the good things about London by the way)

And somewhere that will make a reasonable investment. (I know that no one has made any money for over a decade from owning residential property in Japan. But heck there's got to be a time!?)

Thanks for those suggestions, Nishinomiya, Kurakuen and Rokko in the east and Nadu ku, Suma ku and Maiko in the west. Which of these are the more conservative stable areas and which are the up and comers?

Cheers

Raven



What do you like about Kobe? And where do you choose to live?

Kobe area

In general the Kobe area is great. Lots of nice areas and things to do and services but less crowded than Osaka or other big cities and near the hills and the sea however I don't feel as near the sea as I thought I would because in Sannomiya and towards Osaka it is completely industrial so I don't often go to the sea. If you are coming and you are not worried about work then definately the Kobe/Hanshin area is the best place to bring a family.

Kobe has good Japanese and International schools for kids. Tons of services and great transportation so any thing you can't get you can just pop over to Osaka or even Kyoto.

I have an ex co worker who just returned from the states who just bought a house somewhere in the Rokko area, I'll try to track him down to see if he has any advice. Good luck.

I have found this nice article today about kobe

KOBE, Japan In Kansai, Japan's second largest economic region, there is a saying: Choosy people study in Kyoto, home to dozens of universities, and do business in Osaka - but they live in Kobe.

Kobe and its neighbors, Ashiya and Nishinomiya, make up the most exclusive residential area in Kansai, especially for expatriates who want relatively larger apartments with modern facilities and design features.

"You don't find them in Osaka," said Andy Muller,

Read all

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Thanks guys, all very interesting. Certainly looks like a good place for us.

Next task is to find a decent place to buy. My wife is in Osaka/Kobe at the moment sifting through some ideas.

Any ideas about good agents or good properties would appreciated.

Cheers

Raven