The majority of people living in city areas in Japan use the name of the closest station to refer to their neighborhood. All rights reserved. A one-day pass is available for both Kobe subway and city bus (Shi Bus Chikatetsu Kyotsu Ichinichi Johsha Ken 市バス・地下鉄共通1日乗車券) for 1,030 yen. There’s also the Kobe-Kansai Airport bay shuttle service – a high-speed ferry that links the airports. Hours: 9 am-9 pm (last admission 8.30 pm), but until 7pm (last admission 6.30 pm) December-February. The sake-brewing season runs from October through April, and that's the best time to take a tour of a kura (the Japanese word for brewery). Western-style international hotels include Hotel Sunroute Sopra Kobe, Crowne Plaza Kobe Hotel, the Hotel Isago Kobe near JR Shin-Kobe Station, the Sannomiya Terminal Hotel, a 4-star hotel attached to JR Sannomiya Station, the budget Green Hill Hotel Urban in Kitano and the APA Hotel Kobe-Sannomiya. The cheapest ticket on the Kobe subway is 210 yen. tory’s CITY GUIDES. The Kobe Club is a non-profit, private membership club serving Kansai’s international community. Hotels in Kobe - Booking.comHotels in Japan - Booking.comHostels in Kobe - Booking.comHotels in Himeji - Booking.com, Tours of Japan - Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, Nagoya A subway-only one-day card (Chikatetsu nichi Johsha Ken 地下鉄1日乗車券) costs 820 yen. This exotic and charming port city has managed to be reborn from its ashes time and time again. But hold on, Kobe has much more to offer than just juicy steaks. It is reached by the Kaigan subway line to Misaki-koen. Hours & Prices: 10am-8pm, daily (~¥200 per truffle) Goncharoff. Popular shopping and entertainment complex. The mountainside area of Kobe is host to Japan’s oldest onsen area, Arima Onsen. Kobe has a wide range of accommodation to suit all budgets. Meriken Park and Kobe Harborland are a little further south, overlooking the bay. Restaurants 10 Must-Try Restaurants in Kobe, Japan. The flights are operated by JAL, ANA and Skymark. 1000 yen). Kobe Airport has flights to Ibaraki, Ishigaki, Kagoshima, Naha (Okinawa), Nagasaki, Sapporo and Tokyo (Haneda). Kobe Misaki 'Wing' Stadium (now Noevir Stadium Kobe) more Kobe Stadium info. The area south of Sannomiya Station is the site of the old foreign settlement, and is now Kobe's commercial center. "southern barbarian") art, namely wood block prints detailing Japan's early Western visitors, both traders and missionaries. Kobe Harborland's entertainment and recreation-oriented facilities feature brick warehouses that evoke the look of Kobe as it looked in the late nineteenth century when it was one of Japan's very few international port cities. Kobe beef must be born, raised, and slaughtered in Japan's Hyogo Prefecture, of which Kobe is the capital city. The glass-covered museum, built with an exterior frame designed to sway in an earthquake with shock absorbers to withstand vertical and horizontal movement, presents a computer-generated film of the disaster, a diorama of a Kobe city street after the earthquake and real footage of the event.Tel: 078 262 5050 Access: A short walk from JR Nada and Hanshin Iwaya Stationswww.dri.ne.jp. Food & Drink The 10 Best Cafes in Kobe, Japan. Visit the Hakutsure Sake Brewery Museum year-round. Kobe in Japan is definitely less visited by tourists than the popular Cities of Japan like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hiroshima and doesn’t seem to make many travellers Japan Itinerary. Would you be interested to participate in a virtual guided tour to a tourist spot in Japan using video and a chat function? About 1km south of Shin-Kobe Station, the interconnected JR Sannomiya Station and Kobe-Sannomiya Station is the main rail hub for intercity Hankyu, Hanshin and JR trains to Osaka and Kyoto. The bus from Kansai Airport to Kobe takes just over an hour and costs ‎¥‎1,950 (around £13). These include the Kobe Tokyu Inn, the Toyoko Inn Kobe Sannomiya No.2 and the Daiwa Roynet Kobe Sannomya. Since the opening of Kobe Port in 1868, soon after the end of the isolation period of Japan, … Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities. Japan can be a really fun country to visit, but it is also a different world. Posted March 2, 2017 by Stephanie. Sign in and subscribe for the latest Japan travel news and updates. Japan Travel Guide: Kobe. Buy your tickets on the City Loop Bus when you get on at any stop. Kobe Japan Travel Guide - Things to do and eat in Kobe City including Kobe beef. Kobe has an awesome selection of nature and city activities to satisfy anyone looking for a good time. A Guide to the Best Museums in Kobe, Japan. Kobe Airport is located on an artificial island just south of Port Island and connects to Kobe-Sannomiya Station by Port Liner trains. Kobe was established as a port in 1868 as a privilege to the ships from the western countries. Showing the City Loop One-Day Pass gets you a discount at over 30 attractions along or near the route. Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kōbe (神戸) is one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. In 1995, Kobe was hit by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which killed over 5000 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. 600 yen for adults. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities. In Japan’s southern side of the main island of Honshu is Kobe, its sixth-largest city. Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries. Kobe's Chinatown (also known as "Nanking Machi") is west of Sannomiya, just south of Motomachi Station, but suffers slightly in comparison with Yokohama's more vibrant and authentic Chinatown. Tokyo Tours with VoyaginKyoto Tours with Voyagin, Japan Entertainment: bars, restaurants, clubs. We spent most of our time wandering and eating, of course. Kobe subway is useful for making the transfer from Shin-Kobe Station after arrival by shinkansen to Sannomiya. Japan's famous sightseeing locations and activities for tourists from abroad! Located on the coast to the west of Osaka, and three hours from Tokyo by bullet train, Kobe was largely rebuilt after an earthquake devastated the region in 1995. Japan Tourist Info. Introducing a wide range of information, from the greater Japan area's most talked about shops, sightseeing spots and events to the souvenirs you can find there. Flights to and from Kobe Airport run between 7am and 9pm. Kobe Airport, named "Marine Air", opened February 2006 on a reclaimed island just south of Port Island, and has flights to and from seven cities: Kagoshima, Ishigaki, Nagasaki, Naha (Okinawa), Ibaraki, Sapporo and Tokyo (Haneda). The Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, Print out a map of the Kobe City Loop Bus, Tours of Japan - Tokyo, Nikko, Hakone, Kyoto, Nagoya. Waterfront park with Kobe Tower and more. In the bay just south of the main Sannomiya center are two artificial islands: Port Island and Rokko Island. Sannomiya has the greatest concentration of hotels mainly clustered around the railway station. Offering panoramic views of Kobe and Osaka. Kobe Japan – The word Kobe is synonymous with two things in the world: A globally recognised basketball player, and the supreme melt-in-your-mouth beef that hails from a humble city in Japan. Kobe's status as one of Japan's foremost international ports and trading centers, along with Yokohama, dates back to the town's opening to foreign traders in 1868. Print out a map of the Kobe City Loop Bus (pdf). Kobe is a port city in Hyogo Prefecture, 33 km west of Osaka, and one of Japan's most pleasant cities for both residents and visitors alike, with a laid-back cosmopolitan feel. If you’re travelling from abroad, the easiest way to get to Kobe is to fly into Osaka Kansai Airport. The Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is a world-class art museum near the waterfront about 2.5 km east of Sannomiya Station. There is a direct jet-foil boat to Kansai International Airport (KIX) from the Kobe City Air Terminal (KCAT) on Port Island, with buses to Sannomiya. The city is located on a scenic harbor and also has its own mountain which offers sweeping views across the region. Kobe Destination Guide. Includes population, expat hangouts, and places of interest in Kobe. The historic Kitano-cho area is pleasant to stroll around with its many trendy cafes, museums and boutiques and Kitano is also home to Kobe's historic mosque (the first in Japan, built in 1935) and more recent Jain temple. Ropeway with great views over the city of Kobe. RECEIVE 10% OFF YOUR FIRST ORDER. Kobe is under an hour away from Kyoto and O... 1 day Japan travel itinerary guide on what to do and eat in Kobe. Kobe Maritime Museum in Meriken Park has an exciting modernist exterior and a collection of model ships and audiovisual displays. There are also ferries to Beppu in Kyushu and also to Shikoku and Awaji Island. Only 30km west of Osaka, Kobe has developed a name for itself among foodies around the world thanks to the infamous Kobe beef. We’ll be enthusiastically discussing the latter for this article! Attractively located along the waterfront in the Port of Kobe. Address: 8 Chome-1-8 Onoedōri, Chūō-ku, Kōbe-shi, Hyōgo-ken 651-8511, Japan (see map below) Metro Stop: Kobe-Sannomiya. If you have any updates, suggestions, corrections or opinions, please let us know: Copyright © 1996-2021 japan-guide.com All Rights Reserved. Today Kobe has developed into a cosmopolitan city with a wide range of attractions and lots of fun things to see and do. Store Hours. Currently located near the port of Kobe are parks such as Kobe Harborland, Kobe Port Tower, and Meriken Park. Kobe : The Gate of the Gods. The city, which is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, is one of Japan’s largest, and is located just a few kilometers from Osaka (and Kyoto for that matter). Alternatively take a JR train to Akashi and take the ferry (13 minutes). Visit the Hakutsure Sake Brewery Museum year-round. How to get to Kobe, Japan? Kobe Japan – A Complete Travel Guide To Read Before Your Trip. Among Rokko Island's attractions is the Kobe Fashion Museum, Japan's first museum dedicated to fashion (Mon-Sat 11 am-6 pm, 500 yen). Kobe is a port city in Hyogo Prefecture, 33 km west of Osaka, and one of Japan's most pleasant cities for both... History of Kobe. Mike and I took a little trip to Kobe before we stopped in Tokyo for the majority of our stay in Japan. Tourist information centers on Flower Road near Sannomiya Station (tel 078-322-0222) and inside Shin-Kobe Station. Kobe, Hyogo 650-0036. Japanese landscape garden in central Kobe. Famous for its luscious beef and crisp, pure sake, the Japanese port of Kobe is a thriving metropolitan city with an international feel. Kobe lies along the Seto Inland Sea in the center of Honshu, a little west of Osaka and several hours east of Hiroshima. It was a fun, vibrant, compact city – perfect for walking and easing into the Japanese way of life. Famous for its luscious beef and crisp, pure sake, the Japanese port of Kobe is a thriving metropolitan city with an international feel. Japan's first soccer match was held in Kobe in 1871, and the nation's first golf course was laid out here in 1903. Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries. For a longer stay, depending on your needs, the New U-Line card is available for both bus and subway. The sake-brewing season runs from October through April, and that's the best time to take a tour of a kura (the Japanese word for brewery). Kobe, a major port city in Western Japan, located close to Osaka and Kyoto, is home to a sophisticated port cityscape, boasting many stylish cafes and historical buildings. Ferries arrive and depart from Naka Pier, next to Port Tower, about 10 minutes south of Motomachi Station. It's a common misconception that Kobe is a breed of cattle when it's actually a city. Its port was among the first to be opened to foreign trade in the 19th century alongside the ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Niigata. One ride: 260 yen for adultsDay pass: 660 yen for adults. still a great place to sample a wide variety of Chinese cuisine and shop for Chinese souvenirs such as Chinese tea, lanterns, incense and all things panda-related. The Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution is a museum dedicated to the devastating Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. 078-333-6611. The Shin-Kobe Ropeway cable car leaves from the Kitano area and provides great views of Kobe and the Inland Sea (9.30 am-5.30 pm Sat-9 pm, Sun-8 pm. The New U-Line Card is simply a pre-paid card deducted from with each use. The history of the city of Kobe, whose name literally translates to Gate of the Gods, is roughly similar to that of Yokohama and Nagasaki . From prices and availability to skip-the-line options and mobile tickets, get all the information you need to make the most of your trip to Japan. Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kobe is one of Japan… If you’re interested in shopping, Umie MOSAIC is very close by as well. About Kobe. Join our list to hear about … We introduce the best things to do and see in Kobe. The Kobe Fashion Museum is Japan’s first public museum dedicated to fashion and is located in the Rokkō Island area in southeast Kobe, a short walk from Island Center Station. Thankfully, some of the old city survived; Kobe boasts Japan’s oldest mosque, built in 1935, and one of only three Jain temples in the country. Find the top-rated and best-reviewed tours and activities in Kobe for 2021. You also receive a 20 yen discount for each same-day transfer between a bus and a train. This onsen is so old that it is even recorded in the Nihon-shoki. There's more to Kobe than just its beef, famously massaged and beer-fed. Arima Onsen is a natural spa 35 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station to Arima-onsen by bus or take the Kobe Dentetsu Line (Shintetsu Arima Line) from Tanigami Station on the Hokushin Line which connects with Kobe subway. 29 Harima-cho Chuo-Ku. Kobe Port Terminal (神戸ポートターミナル) is the main cruise ship port for central Japan, located in the heart of Kobe, in Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe's main nightlife areas are Sannomiya, Kitano and Motomachi. Its port was among the first to be opened to foreign trade in the 19th century alongside the ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Niigata. The center of Kobe can easily be walked especially the central areas around Sannomiya Station, the Motomachi Shopping Arcade, the Old Settlement area near Kobe City Hill, Daimaru Department Store and Kobe City Museum and up the hill to the ijinkan in Kitano. Kobe Airport can be reached by Port Liner automated train from Sannomiya (320 yen; 16 minutes), bus, car or speed boat (30 minutes) from Kansai International Airport (service opened in 2006). Measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale, the earthquake caused over 5,500 deaths as buildings and highways collapsed and fires swept the city. The iconic red, cylindrical 108 meter-high Port Tower overlooks Meriken Park, provides fine high-rise views of the city, and has a revolving cafe. Awaji Island can easily be reached from Kobe by Express Bus from JR Shin-Kobe Station to Sumoto on Awaji (2 hours) and on to Tokushima on Shikoku. The JR Sanyo Shinkansen bullet train stops at Shin-Kobe Station. Notable presences here are Kobe City Hall (with good views of Kobe from the top), the Daimaru Department Store and Kobe City Museum, with its fine collection of nanban (lit. Age-old tradition, ideal weather conditions, and Kobe's famous spring water create a winning combination for superior sake. Kobe offers much much more than just Kobe Beef! Japan. We strive to keep Japan Guide up-to-date and accurate, and we're always looking for ways to improve.