Readers Recommendations

Featuring your favorite restaurants and hangout spots!

“You’re going to love it,” I insisted as we navigated the confusion of streets near Himeji station. I was taking my friends to the place we affectionately had dubbed “Himeji Burger,” a location introduced to me one tired evening by Himeji ALT Ryan Parker, and thereafter shared with every foreigner I could hook with “Do you want a good burger?”

Recently, I thought, places like that, the good places, they ought to be shared. Deliciousness should be rewarded with more business, other ALTs should be allowed to know about those around-the-corner alleyway locations and their charms.

Presenting: Readers’ Recommendations, a new Hyogo Times feature. Send us notes about your favorite places to eat, drink, be merry, shop, read a book, go for a stroll, or any other gem you think deserves sharing. Think of it as the kind of advice you’d give someone who e-mailed you to say, “I’m going to be in your city next weekend, what’s good?”

Write us a few lines about the place, why you like it, what you recommend there, attach a picture if possible, categorize it, and give us the location.

We’re also creating a Hyogo Times Map (http://g.co/maps/me7jn) of these places, to give information in another way! We want you guys to adjust the map to reflect what’s good today.

(To see another example, check out the Shiso Map attached to the Harima Happenings column for this month)!

By way of an example, your editors will provide a few recommendations of their own:

• n.b. café

Restaurant/café

Himeji, Hyogo Prefecture 〒670-0935, Hyōgo-ken, Himeji, Hojoguchi  １丁目-２０   079-281-5537

The aforementioned “Himeji Burger” (though they serve more than just burgers). Great view of the tracks so you can watch the trains whiz by. Recommend the burger, but the other stuff is also good!

• Bakery Lamp and Café

Restaurant/Cafe

〒670-0012 Hyōgo-ken, Himeji, Honmachi, ６８ 平和不動産ビル1階西             079-284-9775

Burgers here are awesome, and they actually have root beer and Dr. Pepper among the drinks! Bakery Lamp is counter service only, but the newly opened café section around the corner offers comfy seating and good atmosphere.

• Cafe Comfort (カフェ コンフォート 神戸市庁舎店)

Restaurant/café

Kobe Chuo Ward, Hyogo Prefecture 650-0001, ６丁目-５−１ Kanocho                078-392-1185

An inexpensive coffee shop on the 24th floor of Kobe City Hall. Great views and the place doesn’t get too crowded. And they make fresh waffles!

• Kobe Central Library

library

〒650-0017 Hyogo, Kobe, Chuo ward, Kusunoki-cho  (兵庫県神戸市中央区楠町)７丁目２−１              078-371-3351

A great place to study or do work, and they’re open relatively late (to 8 PM). There’s a big room for studying and a smaller one specifically for laptop use, with free wifi.