Help in finding a hospital in Kobe

[Tony Galiani]

TBH I will not be likely to do a ton of shopping after Osaka since I am trying keep my focus with what I purchase for modeling.  I definitely plan to get to Maruzen for books though.  And likely Popondetta as well.

[Kingmeow]

If you will be in Osaka, just go to Super Kids Land and call it a day.  That's what I did last year September.  It's really a one stop shopping.  They discount, have good prices and selection and they are Duty Free.  If you have a VISA credit card, that's another 5% off.  That was last time but I've heard that VISA 5% is a "forever" promo.

Edited October 8 by Kingmeow

[katoftw]

I did that 3 week ago. It's a massive store. Loved it.

 

10% gst waived showing passport. 5% waived for using my visa card.

[kuro68000]

11 hours ago, katoftw said:

10% gst waived showing passport. 5% waived for using my visa card.

 

That's very interesting. It used to be that a lot of places would charge you 5% extra for using a card. Some years ago I noticed that some of the big stores were offering a discount for using Chinese payment systems, but I thought it was just them trying to get established and boost tourism trade.

 

I wonder if Mastercard are doing something similar? I have Visa cards but they are all debit, not credit, and charge fees for foreign currency transactions. My Mastercard is 0% fee and a reasonable exchange rate.

[Kingmeow]

14 hours ago, katoftw said:

I did that 3 week ago. It's a massive store. Loved it.

 

10% gst waived showing passport. 5% waived for using my visa card.

 

Thanks for the confirmation that the VISA 5% off is still active!  I have read that it's a "never ending" promo.  So definitely Super Kids Land in Nagoya for me (not going to Osaka this time.)

 

3 hours ago, kuro68000 said:

That's very interesting. It used to be that a lot of places would charge you 5% extra for using a card. Some years ago I noticed that some of the big stores were offering a discount for using Chinese payment systems, but I thought it was just them trying to get established and boost tourism trade.

 

I wonder if Mastercard are doing something similar? I have Visa cards but they are all debit, not credit, and charge fees for foreign currency transactions. My Mastercard is 0% fee and a reasonable exchange rate.

 

It's the US that charges extra for using a credit card.  🤣  I remember the first time the cashier at Super Kids Land Osaka told me that I'm getting a 5% discount for using VISA I was quite perplexed.  I thought maybe he signed me up for their points program or something.  Then he pointed to a sign in Japanese which, of course, I couldn't read.  But hey, I'll take any discounts available.

 

In my two weeks there last September, I did not see any similar program with Mastercard.  Not just hobby stores but any stores.  We always try to use credit cards as the exchange rate by the CC companies are the best.  I'll let you know if I see any MC promos the next three weeks I'll be there.

[cteno4]

Make sure to check your credit card that they still do not have an international transaction fee (like 1-3%). Some cards over the years have added it back in and buried this in the annual policy updates! Luckily I checked before one trip and the card had recently added the fee back in. Not much % but if you end up charging most of the trip it could add up to some nice train stuff worth!

 

jeff

[Kingmeow]

Great suggestion Jeff!!!!!  I know how these rascal companies sneak things in without the consumer knowing about.  Last thing you want to ruin a great vacation is expectations that are unexpected!  😠

 

My VISA card is Amazon Prime which has no Foreign Transaction Fees BUT I double checked anyway!  I'm good to spend away!  🤣

 

Quote

Pay no foreign transaction fees when you use your card on purchases made outside the United States. For example, if you spend $5,000 internationally, you would avoid $150 in foreign transaction fees.

 

Edited October 9 by Kingmeow

[kuro68000]

4 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

I remember the first time the cashier at Super Kids Land Osaka told me that I'm getting a 5% discount for using VISA I was quite perplexed.  I thought maybe he signed me up for their points program or something.  Then he pointed to a sign in Japanese which, of course, I couldn't read.  But hey, I'll take any discounts available.

 

I had a similar thing at Hard Off some years ago when they had 21% off for New Year. Maybe it was 2021, hence the 21% off. Fortunately I knew the kanji for year and could read the 21% bit, so was able to put two and two together.

[Tony Galiani]

Such a deal.  A 5% discount and, for my card, frequent flier miles.  I have my shopping list for Super Kids (almost) all set.  I really do not need a lot at this point but who knows - I may give in to temptation once I am there.

 

Tony

[Kingmeow]

Tony, oh I think you will give in!  I'll bet you Ramen noodles.  🤣  Don't take the bet as you will lose because this is the first thing your eyes will set sight on once you get off the escalator on the 5th floor of Super Kids Land in Osaka.  When I was there I had to go back the next day to buy more!

 

[Tony Galiani]

Oy!  Deep breath Tony.  Stay calm .....

[chadbag]

On 10/8/2024 at 9:45 AM, Kingmeow said:

If you will be in Osaka, just go to Super Kids Land and call it a day.  That's what I did last year September.  It's really a one stop shopping.  They discount, have good prices and selection and they are Duty Free.  If you have a VISA credit card, that's another 5% off.  That was last time but I've heard that VISA 5% is a "forever" promo.

 

Every time I've been there (spanning years) they've had the Visa deal.

 

[chadbag]

Actually Yodobashi used to have the Visa deal for foreigners as well but the last time I was there I don't think they had it.

 

[chadbag]

On 10/8/2024 at 9:45 AM, Kingmeow said:

If you will be in Osaka, just go to Super Kids Land and call it a day.  That's what I did last year September.  It's really a one stop shopping.  They discount, have good prices and selection and they are Duty Free.  If you have a VISA credit card, that's another 5% off.  That was last time but I've heard that VISA 5% is a "forever" promo.

 

yeah I do my big purchases there including unplanned ones (from browsing).  I also try and spread the love if I get to Kobe (RG Rokko) and Osaka and Akihabara Yodobashi have pretty good model train sections and they often have things I don't see elsewhere.

RG Rokko (Kobe) often has interesting things that aren't elsewhere.  They don't do tax free or anything when shopping locally but I like to stop buy and get some stuff and chat.  They're one of the go to for ordering when I am not in Japan.

 

[Kingmeow]

21 hours ago, chadbag said:

Actually Yodobashi used to have the Visa deal for foreigners as well but the last time I was there I don't think they had it.

 

 

When was last time?

 

Just trying to add more data to my soon to be shopping spree.  😄  I know they have Duty Free but an extra 5% from VISA would be icing on the cake!

 

Edited October 12 by Kingmeow

[Kingmeow]

(This is going to be a lengthy post so grab a cup of your favorite beverage.  🙂)

 

My apologies for taking so long to update all of you after returning from a FABULOUS three week journey throughout Japan.  It took a while to get over jet lag and then catching up on all the neglected things lingering at home from being away for so long.

 

My sincere thanks to @Socimi and @railsquid and all that have contributed to this thread.  I actually printed out this thread and took it with me.  To say it was an overwhelming emotional experience would be a HUGE understatement.

 

To back up a little, I didn't know my brother and his family were going to be in Japan around the same time we were.  It's not that we don't talk to each other, we do, but we just don't find out about each other's vacations until after the fact with pictures or text messages.

 

About two weeks before we were to depart we both found out about each other's plans and he did a scramble to slightly rearrange his itinerary so we can have a few days (three) of overlap in Kobe.  His target was the Hokkaido region so he flew into Tokyo and started south before leaving Kobe to head north.

 

He and his family arrived at Kobe a day earlier than us and we left a day later than him.  We were coming from Nagoya.  Due to operating hours of the Kobe City Museum, he went there first on the day before we arrive.  I never got to go.  The plan was to hit the City Museum and then City Hall to talk to as many people as possible to find out where the location was.

 

Afterwards, my brother told me that the Museum was not much help since there really was no historian on staff and all the employees were young women with not much knowledge on the history of the city.  They were there just to look after the place.  No fault there.  The next day we met up and went to City Hall.  Unlike most city government in the US you can just walk right in with no appointment, no metal detectors, no bag searches.  We were amazed (especially since we grew up in NYC!).

 

We went to Chuo Ward offices and told them our story and what we were trying to do.  The story itself, trying to locate the spot where our father was born almost 100 years ago, really interested them and they were bending over backwards to try and help.

 

 

Even though the two ladies we spoke to were older (50's) they weren't sure about the address.  They had a hunch but something about that exact address bewildered them.  Not wanting to steer us wrong, they asked us to go up to the 6th floor and inquire there.

 

We went to the 6th floor and nobody spoke English, at least enough to communicate, except this young girl who seems to have recently graduated from college.  We told her the story and she took all our documents (I preprinted all the maps, etc.) and took them to her boss who was waaaay back in the large open room in the corner.  He was an elderly gentlemen.  We could see they were chatting back and forth.

 

After about 10 minutes she came back and told us that our research (and thus everyone on this thread!!!!!  🙂) were spot on.  Bingo!  We were going to walk to the spot but on the way out we noticed that there was an Observation Deck on the 24th floor of the building.  It was free and since we were there already, we decided to go up.

 

We were the only ones there as it was around 10:30am on a weekday.  It was an indoor walk around setup so you can get a 360.  When we finally did a full circle there was this elderly lady standing at the Information desk.  She struck up a conversation with us as there was no one else there and her English was very good.

 

We told here our story and our mission and she was touched.  She told me that where our father was born was her old neighborhood growing up!!!!!!  She actually brought us to one of the windows and pointed out where it is.

 

 

Since she really knew the history, she told us the background and we listened intently like we were in school!

 

Apparently my father probably spelled it wrong.  It really was Ikuta (Ward) as pointed out by railsquid.  Ikuta ward existed until 1980 (I believe) when it was merged with its larger neighbor, Chuo Ward.  She suspects that was the reason why Google Maps had a little bit of trouble since "Ikuta" was in the address.  She also told us that it is almost certain that the building would not be there due to three major events that most likely wiped it out.  The great flood of 1938, the WWII allied bombing and the great Kobe earthquake of 1995.  This lady was such a historian!

 

We told her we weren't expecting the actual building after almost 100 years later.  What a godsend that we bumped into her.  We almost didn't go up to the Observation Deck!

 

We thought, based on Goggle Maps, that it would be walkable but the lady advised us that it would be a good walk and might take some time.  Instead we opted for a taxi as we were excited to get there and I've never been in a taxi before in Japan. 🙂

 

In a few minutes we were there.  The location is now a library and also the Hyogo Prefecture Labor offices.  The street that we were standing on was small and didn't have a lot of traffic so we were able to stand afar a little and just imagined what it would have been like in 1925.  With a lump in my throat and butterflies in my stomach, the emotional feeling was incredible.  I finally found the location and I was standing right there plus/minus 100 ft.

 

 

We took pictures and videos all around.  My brother and I posed in front of the library while our wives took pictures.  To say I didn't shed a tear would be lying.  We spent about a half hour of so milling in front of the library and just reflecting where we were at.  The library patrons must have thought who are these people and what's so special about this library to them???  🤣😁

 

 

!!!!  Upper right: "6 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku"  !!!!   The correct street!

 

 

So the box was checked.  After not planning for it last year and little did we know we would be back so soon, it was most satisfying to accomplished this.  I didn't think it would get as far as this.

 

As we were walking away, we saw this!  The Kobe City Ikuta Cultural Hall.  What?  I wonder if they can provide even more information.  Unfortunately they were closed during that day.  The old neighborhood still exists in spirit! 🙂

 

 

But wait!  There's more!!!!

 

The day after my brother left for Hokkaido we had an extra day in Kobe for ourselves.  We decided to head on over to the Ikuta shrine.  As we near, it seems a lot of the surrounding infrastructure is still named after the old neighborhood.  For one, the road name!

 

 

 

 

 

As we got to the shrine, I did some reading on the internet and what ever signage they had.  Turns out it is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, shrine in all of Japan, which I did not know.  On the grounds they even have a cut down tree with over 500 rings!

 

 

While walking the grounds, we noticed that there were a lot of little kids dressed to the nine along with their parents, also fully dressed.  What's going on?  A lot of family photos were taken and they all headed into the main building.  Turns out there was some ceremony where the kids were being blessed by the priest.  My wife did some Googling and found out that this shrine is dedicated to pregnant women and little kids.  That explains what I was seeing.

 

 

 

 

That plus the 500 year old tree and it being near the place where my father was born, an epiphany just clicked in my head.  There is an extreme likelihood that I was walking on the same grounds that my grandparents (whom I have never met in person, only pictures) and my father walked on!!!  That thought alone made me froze in my tracks and the overwhelming emotions was indescribable.  We're talking about almost 100 years and older!

 

There I go.  I crossed the finish line in glory, accomplishing more than I had hoped.  Thanks  to all of you for the help and guidance.  Even if you contributed with just one sentence, your posts encouraged me to dig deeper and continued the search.  THANK YOU again!

 

Footnote:
As if that wasn't enough.  From the information of my parents I was told that my grandparents were quite well off.  Their house took up an entire block and they have household staff.  Grandpa was a business man and one of his main business was match making.  No, not that 🙂, but wooden matches that were the norm of society back then.  We are not Japanese but they were in Japan at the time to establish or start up a factory to produce matches.  That's why my father was born in Kobe.

 

Well, the day my brother went to the Kobe City Museum without me, he came upon a special exhibit that showed the industrialization of Kobe back in the early 1900's.  And one of the industries?  Matches!  Although I didn't go, he took a lot of pictures and video.  I still have yet to go through all of them but these two stood out.

 

 

 

Had I been at the museum I would have asked do they have any information where these came from and who the owners of the company would be?  THAT would be another interesting research project.  I would freak out if one of these match boxes came from my grandfather's company!

 

If you've gone to the end, thank you for reading and I apologize for the lengthy post.  I felt it wouldn't be complete without the full story.

 

THANK YOU AGAIN!  🙏

Edited Monday at 11:47 PM by Kingmeow
Typos and grammar

[chadbag]

On 10/12/2024 at 7:33 AM, Kingmeow said:

 

When was last time?

 

Just trying to add more data to my soon to be shopping spree.  😄  I know they have Duty Free but an extra 5% from VISA would be icing on the cake!

 

Last time I was there in Dec of 22 I don't think I saw it.  Previous to that in 2019 they did IIRC.

[chadbag]

Pretty inspirational story!

 

[cteno4]

Very wonderful story @Kingmeow! I remember reading one of your first posts to the forum about this and wondering if anything would come of it! So wonderful it has such a nice story now! Also fun to see your visit to the forums for the hospital search, sucked you into Japanese model trains as well! The forum did a good one-two on you!

 

jeff

[SL-san]

8 hours ago, Kingmeow said:

his is going to be a lengthy post so grab a cup of your favorite beverage.

Asahi Super Dry in hand, I was fascinated by your inspirational (and very personal) story.  I get it!  To be able to connect, in such a real and also spiritual way, with your forebears is something that is almost beyond comprehension.  Your story also illustrates the kindness and goodwill of Japanese people in helping visitors to understand some of the past of a country and culture that has experienced rapid change and cataclysmic events.

 

Thank you for sharing,

Graeme

[Kamome]

Thank you for sharing your story. Great you found it and you could tread the street where your father was born. That's the big challenge in Japan, most buildings were built to have around a 30-50 year lifespan then be knocked down and redeveloped, but you were there at the same point on Earth which it what counts. Nice that your brother also could share the experience with you.

 

The pictures of the shrine look like the were celebrating Shichi-Go-San or 7,5,3, if this was indeed taking place around mid-November. It's a kind of growth of children right of passage for girls age 7 and 3 and boys aged 5, and now seems to also be 3. Girls wear Kimono and boys wear Hakama and are blessed by a priest before then going off to a professional photo studio for the customary photographs. 

[Kingmeow]

5 hours ago, Kamome said:

The pictures of the shrine look like the were celebrating Shichi-Go-San or 7,5,3, if this was indeed taking place around mid-November. It's a kind of growth of children right of passage for girls age 7 and 3 and boys aged 5, and now seems to also be 3. Girls wear Kimono and boys wear Hakama and are blessed by a priest before then going off to a professional photo studio for the customary photographs. 

 

Thanks for the info.  I was wondering what was going on.  If it was "one day only" or a period of days. 

 

I checked the date/time stamp of those photos and it was Oct. 30th.