I'm late and you might have already left for Kobe but anyway, Happy New Year and a great year ahead for you. Kyonen wa osewa ni narimashita. Mata kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegai shimasu.

Oh and about your gifts, how about buying food like specialities of the destinations that you're visiting? It'd always be a neat gift to give. And don't worry about whether your gift is lame or what, it's not about that you must give practical gifts; it's more like a polite gesture that you wanna build a good relationship there. :)