[ozkai]

I echo MMM's Nara recommendation.. I spent most of my time working in all parts of Nara.

I only really ventured into the nightlife parts of Osaka so cannot really vouch either way.

Never went to Kobe either, although used to buy a hell of a lot of groceries from a foreign buyers Kobe based online supermamarket.. I believe Rokko Island is an interesting foreign orientated sort of place..

Have a good time which ever direction you head..