Kobe

Kōbe (神戸) is a historic port city in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. Together with Kyoto and Osaka, it makes up the three-city agglomeration of Keihanshin (京阪神), Japan's largest after greater Tokyo.

Understand
A cosmopolitan port city with an international flavor, hemmed in by Mt. Rokko, Kōbe is often ranked as the best place for expatriates to live in Japan. The city has a population of over 1.5 million people (2019).

History
A port in what would become Kōbe was established as a concession to western powers in 1868, during the time when Japan was opening to the world. Nagasaki and Yokohama had already begun serving foreign ships nine years earlier. Today, a synagogue, Japan's first mosque, Japan's first Sikh temple, a Chinatown, and European architecture mark Kōbe as a place where foreigners and foreign culture first arrived in Japan.

Great Hanshin Earthquake
At 05:46 on January 17, 1995, the Great Hanshin Earthquake, measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale, struck near the city. The quake killed 6,433 people, made 300,000 people homeless and destroyed 10,000 buildings and large parts of the port facilities, and toppled the Hanshin Expressway, an elevated freeway. It was one of the costliest natural disasters in modern history. However, visitors will not see any of the aftermath of the quake, as the city has been restored.

Tourist information site
Feel Kobe is the city's official multilingual travel guide site.

By plane


From Kobe Airport, the Port Liner light rail to Sannomiya Station runs about every 10 minutes (18 minutes, ¥330). Sannomiya Station offers connections to the Japan Rail (JR), Hanshin, Hankyu and subway lines. From there, a small trip on the subway will link you to the Shin-Kobe bullet train station (¥200). If coming from Sannomiya to the airport, be sure to board a train marked "Kobe Airport", as some head to the Kita Futo branch line instead.

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is 70 km from Kobe and is the nearest international airport. The fastest way to get there is on the Kaijo Access high-speed ferry from Kobe Airport, which runs every 45 minutes (29 minutes, ¥1,850 or ¥1,000 for foreign visitors). However, if you are coming from or going to Sannomiya Station or Rokko Island, it's nearly as fast and less of a hassle to take the Airport Limousine bus (60–75 minutes, ¥2,000 one-way, ¥3,00 round-trip, bus stop 6). Alternatively, you can take the JR Kanku Kaisoku (関空快速) rapid to Osaka station and change there to the Shin-kaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) that runs to both Sannomiya and Kobe stations (90 minutes, ¥2,410).

Itami Airport (ITM), officially known as Osaka International Airport but catering almost entirely to domestic flights, is 30 km northeast of Kobe. Airport buses operate service to/from Sannomiya Station (40 minutes, ¥1,050). This airport is convenient for passengers arriving Tokyo-Haneda and Tokyo-Narita International Airport from overseas, with connecting flights (may offer baggage through service, depending on flights).

By train
The central business district and many attractions are near Sannomiya station, 1.7 km south of Shin-Kobe Station. . Sannomiya station has a tourist information office well-stocked with area maps. Be sure to ask for the coupon book, which offers discounts of 10% to 20% for many attractions. The Japanese characters for Sannomiya station on Japan Railways (三ノ宮) differ from the Sannomiya station on other railways (三宮).

The nearest station on Japan's high-speed shinkansen network is at. From Tokyo station, Shin-Kobe is 2 hours, 50 minutes away via Nozomi (¥14,670); 3 hours and 20 minutes via Hikari (¥14,270; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). From Shin-Kobe station, take the Seishin Yamate subway line one stop to Sannomiya (¥200).

From Osaka, there are several ways to arrive in Sannomiya:
 * Trains on the Hankyu and Hanshin private lines depart respectively from Hankyu-Umeda and Hanshin-Umeda stations. The Tokkyu (特急) express takes roughly half an hour to reach Sannomiya (¥310).
 * Hanshin trains also operate to Kobe from Namba station. Kaisoku Kyuko (快速急行) trains depart every 20 minutes, reaching Sannomiya in 45 minutes at a cost of ¥400. In some instances you may have to change trains at Amagasaki.
 * The best option via JR is to take the Shin-kaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) or Kaisoku (快速 - Rapid) service that departs from JR Osaka station, running to Sannomiya in 20 and 26 minutes, respectively (¥390, no charge with the Japan Rail Pass).

From Kyoto, Sannomiya is 50 minutes away from the main train station via Shin-kaisoku (¥1,050; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). You can also make the run to the area in 30 minutes via bullet train, but it is more expensive, and if you have the rail pass, you can only take one train every hour without changing trains (the Hikari that runs through to Okayama).

From the central area of Kyoto (near Gion and the shopping district), you can reach Sannomiya in 70 minutes via Hankyu limited express, changing once at Juso station (¥600). Hankyu trains depart from the Kawaramachi and Karasuma stations.

From Nara, direct Kintetsu trains operate to Sannomiya Station on the Hanshin line via Namba every 20 minutes (75 minutes, ¥940).

By bus
Kobe is served by highway buses from many parts of Japan, including Tokyo, Nagoya, Nagano, and the Chugoku, Shikoku and Kyushu regions. Most buses congregate at the Sannomiya Bus Terminal (三宮バスターミナル), adjacent to the Sannomiya train station. Others pick up and discharge passengers in the surrounding streets. Willer Express, for example, uses an area near the PMPT building about a kilometer west of the bus terminal.

From Tokyo
Willer Express and JR Bus are among the major operators running buses from Tokyo to Kobe. Tickets for these and several other operators can be purchased online in English. One-way advance fares typically start at ¥3500 for high-density buses with 2x2 seating, and ¥5000 for buses with better seats and more amenities. Trips take 9–10 hours, with most buses leaving from either the Yaesu Exit of Tokyo Station or the Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal (Busta Shinjuku).

Keio Bus and Shinki Bus operate the fastest overnight bus from Tokyo. The service starts at Busta Shinjuku and picks up at Shibuya Mark City on the way to Kobe, operating nonstop between Shibuya and Kobe in just 7 hours. The one-way fare is ¥8000, with advance fares available for around ¥6000-7000.

By boat
Several ferry services are available to Kobe, including routes from:


 * Takamatsu: Jumbo Ferry, +81 87-811-6688. 3½ hours; ¥1,600.
 * Kitakyushu: Hankyu Ferry, +81 78-857-1211. 12 hours; ¥6,680+.
 * Oita: Ferry Sunflower, +81 120-56-3268. 6½ hours; from ¥11,200.
 * Miyazaki Car Ferry runs an overnight ferry service from Miyazaki to Kobe. Take a bus from Miyazaki station to the ferry terminal. The ferry departs at 19:10 and arrives at Miyazaki at 07:30. A second class bunk bed costs ¥15,320.
 * Tianjin, China
 * Tianjin, China

By train
If you are planning to travel beyond city limits you might want to consider using the Kansai Thru Pass.

There are some other useful tickets:

ICOCA Card is a rechargeable card that can be used on rail, subway, and bus networks in Kansai area, Okayama, Hiroshima, Nagoya (Kintetsu) and Tokyo (JR East). These cards are available at vending machines at these rail stations, and cost ¥2,000, which includes ¥1,500 in transportation credit and a ¥500 deposit. The balance of the card (less ¥220 commission) and the ¥500 deposit will be refunded when the card is returned at any JR West Ticket Office.

The Hankyu (阪急), Hanshin (阪神) and JR lines cross Kōbe in a west-east direction, and provide the cheapest and fastest way to travel across town. Each of these three lines have their own station located around the busy central Sannomiya shopping district and each provide access to different points of interest.

For visitors with a Japan Rail Pass, JR will be of the most use. Shin-kaisoku (新快速 - Special Rapid) trains stop at both Sannomiya and Kōbe stations and provide the best way to travel west towards Akashi and Himeji or east towards Kyoto and Osaka. Boarding a Futsu (普通 - Local) from either Sannomiya or Kōbe stations will allow you to easy access to Motomachi (for Nankin-machi and Meriken-park) Nada (for the sake brewing district and museums) Rokkomichi (for buses to Mt. Rokko) and Sumiyoshi (for the Rokko Liner to Rokko Island).

The Hankyu and Hanshin lines are of less use to tourists but you may be forced to use them to visit certain sights. Koshien Stadium, home of the baseball team the Hanshin Tigers, is easily accessible from Hanshin Koshien Station and both lines provide service to Shinkaichi for transfer to the private Kobe Dentetsu line and access to the famed Arima Onsen hot-spring district.



By subway
Kōbe has two subway lines. The Kaigan Line runs along the coast, and the Seishin-Yamate Line runs toward the mountains. Both are more expensive than ordinary trains and unlikely to be of use for the traveler, except when connecting to Shin-Kōbe, the station north of the city where the Sanyo Shinkansen stops. The small jaunt between Shin-Kobe and Sannomiya costs ¥200. If you want to explore Kobe, there is a one-day-pass for both lines (1日乗車券; Ichinichi-jōshaken), costing ¥800 (children: ¥400) or subway plus bus for ¥1000 (children: ¥500).

North of Shin-Kobe station, the Yamate subway runs over the Hokushin Express Line. Trains run 7.5 km under ground and terminate at Tanigami Station, from which you can transfer to the Shintetsu Arima Line for Arima-guchi Station and Arima Onsen.



By light rail
The automated Port Liner links Sannomiya to the reclaimed port district south of the city, and continues over the Kobe Sky Bridge to Kobe Airport. Likewise, the Rokko Liner links the Rokko Island area to JR Sumiyoshi station. Both are operated by Kōbe New Transit.

By bus
Kobe has a comprehensive city bus system, which is often your best choice when travelling to areas north of the city, away from the predominately east-west running train and subway lines. Schedules and boarding locations can be obtained from the tourist information office below JR and Hankyu Sannomiya stations.

The city also operates a loop-line tourist bus called "City Loop" that travels around scenic spots and famous tourist locations in Kobe including the Kitano Ijinkan streets, Nankin-machi and Meriken Park. These distinctive old-fashioned green buses can be boarded are 15 stops between the Shin-Kobe area and Harborland and cost ¥280 for a single loop. Boarding locations are indicated by green and red signs on the side of the road. Buses run at 15-20 minute intervals and one loop takes approximately 70 minutes. In 2021, another route called "Port Loop" was started by Shinki Bus Company using modern blue tandem buses. 1/2 day passes for both Loops are available at ¥700/1,000.

By ropeway


Kobe has several ropeways that travel up Mount Rokko. One that is near a major station is the Shin-Kobe Ropeway, a 5-minute walk from Shin-Kobe station. The ropeway, reputed to have one of Kobe's best scenic views, runs up to the Nunobiki Herb Park. Adults ¥550 one-way, ¥1000 round-trip. Combination tickets are also sold which include the Nunobiki Herb Park (see below).

On foot
Kōbe is narrow in the north-south direction, but long in the west-east direction. Since much of it is built on a hill, a reasonable itinerary is to take the bus up the hill, and walk down. If you get lost, find the mountains or the harbour. The mountains are in the north, and the harbour is in the south.

See


Kobe's main attraction for the Japanese is its concentration of Western-style houses, some dating back to the days when Kobe was opened for foreign trade in 1868. Europeans who grew up in similar scenery may find them less fascinating.

Viewpoints




Sake breweries
Kōbe is a well-known center of sake production and many sake breweries are in the Nada (灘) area and have tours or museums open to the public. You can pick up a map of the sake breweries at the tourist information office in Sannomiya.





Do



 * (六甲山 Rokko-san) and its Rock Garden, the first an easy cable car trip for suitable romantic evenings, the second a light day's hiking with an excellent view. The view over the glittering expanse of Osaka Bay is canonized as one of the Three Great Night Views. The Mt. Rokko and adjacent Mount Maya cable car routes close at 17:10, or 20:50 in the summer.

Parks and gardens






Buy


Kōbe's shopping is clustered around the Sannomiya train station and the Center-Gai shopping arcade leading off from it. Many of the unassuming little cafes and specialty shops in the arcade in fact have histories tracing back well over a hundred years.

(ピアザ神戸) and (モトコータウン) are the two names of essentially one long arcade where all manner of second-hand goods are sold. These stores are underneath the JR lines, running from Sannomiya station, past Motomachi Station, to Kōbe Station. Motoko sells a variety of things such as books, clothes, shoes, accessories, knives, lighters, toys...... You can get heaps of things.



Books




Eat


Kobe has many restaurants offering international cuisine.

Kōbe is known worldwide for its Kobe beef, exquisitely marbled, very fatty and very expensive beef. Recommended for a splurge, but expect to pay close to ¥10,000 per 100 grams. At the opposite end of the culinary spectrum is sobameshi (そば飯), a concoction of fried rice and noodles mixed together, which is cheap, filling and pretty much unique to Kobe. For dessert lovers, Kobe is also famous among the Japanese for its cheesecakes.

Budget
Cheap eats can be found in Kōbe's Chinatown (Nankinmachi in Japanese), walking distance from Sannomiya station.



Bars
Kobe's specialty are tachinomiya, literally stand-and-drink bars.



Sleep
Kōbe has a wide variety of accommodation, ranging from love hotels near Shin-Kobe to luxury hotels by the waterfront. If you're looking for cheaper alternatives, ask at the tourist information office in Sannomiya station (they speak English).

If you don't find a hotel, Osaka is only 20 minutes away on the JR line for ¥390.

Budget




Go next

 * Arima Onsen is a hot-spring town just north of Kobe on the other side of Mt. Rokko.
 * Nishinomiya is between Kobe and Osaka, Mount Kabutoyama makes a nice getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city.
 * Takarazuka is famous for its all-female musical theatre troupe, the Takarazuka Revue.
 * Osaka has more shopping and nightlife and a beautiful restored castle.
 * Kyoto is the true cultural capital of Japan.
 * Awaji Island connects to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge, 10 km far to the West. (10 minutes by train.)
 * Kakogawa, 20 minutes away, is a bridge into history, culture and the outdoors.
 * Himeji is a nice city with Japan's most beautiful well-preserved castle, a 30 -inute train ride away.
 * Okayama is a beautiful city, home to one of the top three gardens in Japan and the birthplace of the famous Momotaro tale
 * Kurashiki is a charming stroll through old Japan, lined with local shops and museums
 * Takamatsu is the capital of Kagawa prefecture known as the Udon Kingdom. It has Ritsurin-park and Yashima.
 * Suma is a beach just a few minutes from Kobe on the subway. The beach is right outside Suma station and is a lively place full of DJs and restaurants.