Nishimura Coffee Shop 

Nishimura Coffee Shop, a symbol of Kobe’s coffee culture, is loved by many who say, "Drinking this coffee makes me feel like I’m truly in Kobe." Founded in 1948 shortly after World War II, Nishimura Coffee began by responding to the desire for high-quality coffee. Their signature offering uses "Miyamizu," the renowned water traditionally used in Nada sake brewing. Uncommon in Japan for its higher mineral content, this water is heated and carefully brewed using a cloth filter (nel drip). The shop’s flagship Nakayamate branch suffered severe damage during the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995 but reopened just six months later in June. Its once-members-only Kitanozaka branch also opened its doors to the public after the disaster. To this day, fresh Miyamizu, certified by sake brewing associations, is delivered daily to each Nishimura Coffee location, bringing life to their coffee beans.