When 14-year old Kino Makoto moved to Minato-ku, it wasn't just a whim of the moment. It was her destiny that brought her to that place, to be united with the rest of the sailor senshi. Of course, it didn't seem so during that time. She ended up in someplace else because she was running away from something, trying to forget the pain she experienced from unrequited love. Later on, she admitted that her attempt at disregarding painful memories wasn't the only drive that made her come to Minato-ku. There was something else--a voice, her subconscious, or whatever you'd like to call it--that told her it was important to move away. She said this so herself. And the day she discovered she was Sailorjupiter, she realized that it was truly fate.
One of the essential details in the manga points out that she lost both of her parents in an airplane crash (this is why every time she hears the sound of one, she practically goes running for cover. She's had a phobia on planes ever since then). This explains a lot of things about her character. She is independent; she lives all alone in her apartment, cooking, cleaning and fending for herself. Tending to plants and those housekeeping activities mentioned before are also her simple joys in life. That, plus making her friends--whom she consider her family now--happy and contented. She enjoys making them meals, just like she used to do for her parents. Sometimes, she gets protective over them, acting like the big sister, despite the fact that she is the youngest among them. Although tomboyish in her courage, strength and independence, she is actually one of those persons who yearns to be loved. How ironically unfortunate that she is the one without family; also the one who has been pained by a relationship with the opposite sex.