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man in gray jacket standing near window - Photo by Sava Bobov

Experience Kobe's Sights and Sounds: A Japan Travel Blog

About Kobe, Japan

Kobe, Japan is a port city known for its scenic beauty, vibrant nightlife, and delicious cuisine. Visit Kitano-cho for a taste of the city's history and culture, or venture to Harborland for modern shopping and entertainment. With nearby attractions like Mount Rokko and Arima Onsen, Kobe is a must-see destination for any traveler to Japan.

Kobe is a beautiful and historic city located in the Hyogo Prefecture of Japan. It is a popular tourist destination due to its rich history, vibrant nightlife, and delicious cuisine.

One of the most popular attractions in Kobe is the Kobe Port Tower. This iconic tower is over 100 meters tall and offers stunning views of the city and the surrounding mountains. Visitors can take an elevator to the top of the tower and enjoy panoramic views of the area. The tower also features a café and a souvenir shop.

Another must-see attraction in Kobe is the Ikuta Shrine. This ancient shrine is over 1,800 years old and is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. It is dedicated to the Shinto god of medicine and is visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. The shrine features beautiful architecture and stunning gardens.

For those interested in history, a visit to the Kobe City Museum is a must. This museum features exhibits on the history of Kobe, including its role as a major port city and its recovery from the devastating earthquake of 1995. Visitors can learn about the city's rich cultural heritage and explore artifacts from its past.

In addition to its cultural attractions, Kobe is also famous for its delicious cuisine. The city is known for its Kobe beef, which is a type of high-quality beef that is renowned for its tenderness and flavor. Visitors can enjoy this delicious meat at one of the many restaurants throughout the city.

Overall, Kobe is a fantastic travel destination that offers something for everyone. Whether you are interested in history, culture, or cuisine, you are sure to find something to love in this vibrant and beautiful city.

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Popular Stays in Kobe, Japan

Explore some of the most affordable vacation packages and accommodation stays in Kobe, Japan

General view
Business hotelsHotels with spa

Ana Crowne Plaza Kobe

Step off the train at Shin-Kobe Station and into a haven of tranquility. Stunning panoramas transport you to new heights of inspiration. Experience a stay of sky high sophistication and relaxation. Stroll across the footbridge from Shin-Kobe rail station and into the spacious Lobby at ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe. Our friendly Guest Relations Manager will point you towards your modern room for views over Kobe, or to the hiking trail, Shin-Kobe Ropeway and Nunobiki Herb Garden that ascends behind the hotel. Celebrate at our 7 restaurants serving Italian, Chinese and local Japanese flavours, or upgrade to a Club room or Suite for access to the exclusive Club Lounge. ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe is only steps away from Shin-Kobe rail station where your shinkansen bullet train whizzes to Tokyo in 3 hours and Osaka in 15 minutes. It's also just 1 subway stop to downtown Kobe, where you can immerse yourself in the vibrant neon lights of this cosmopolitan city. Kobe Airport is 8km away. There's space for 2, 500 people at events in our chic ballroom. Energize in the hotel's bright indoor pool and Fitness Centre. Views from the Level 36 restaurant stretch to Osaka, while seafood is lovingly prepared in Akashi. Marbled cuts of prime Kobe beef create a satisfying sizzle in our intimate Kitano teppanyaki restaurant. We aim for your stay at ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe to be equally fulfilling.
General view
Business hotelsHotels with spaFamily hotels

Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel And Towers

With a stay at Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers in Kobe (Higashinada), you'll be a 4-minute walk from Kobe Fashion Museum and within a 5-minute drive of Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum. This upscale hotel is 12. 4 mi (19. 9 km) from Arima Hot Springs and 12. 3 mi (19. 8 km) from Mount Rokko. . Pamper yourself with onsite massages, body treatments, and facials. If you're looking for recreational opportunities, you'll find hot springs, a nightclub, and outdoor tennis courts. This hotel also features complimentary wireless internet access, concierge services, and gift shops/newsstands. . Make yourself at home in one of the 270 air-conditioned rooms featuring minibars. Complimentary wired and wireless internet access keeps you connected, and pay movies provides entertainment. Bathrooms feature bathtubs or showers, complimentary toiletries, and bidets. Conveniences include phones, as well as safes and desks. . Enjoy French cuisine at Kobe Grill, one of the hotel's 4 restaurants, or stay in and take advantage of the room service (during limited hours). Snacks are also available at the coffee shop/cafe. Relax with a refreshing drink at one of the 3 bars/lounges. Buffet breakfasts are available daily from 6:30 AM to 10:30 AM for a fee. . Featured amenities include complimentary wired internet access, limo/town car service, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and a meeting room.
General view

Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel

Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel is a popular choice amongst travelers in Kobe, whether exploring or just passing through. The property features a wide range of facilities to make your stay a pleasant experience. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms, taxi service, wheelchair accessible, 24-hour front desk, facilities for disabled guests are there for guest's enjoyment. Television LCD/plasma screen, air purifier, carpeting, dressing room, humidifier can be found in selected guestrooms. The hotel offers various recreational opportunities. Convenience and comfort makes Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel the perfect choice for your stay in Kobe.
General view
Business hotelsHotels with spa

Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland

Luxury Hotel in Kobe Harbarland. You can enjoy the fabulous panoramic Kobe port and night view from the bathroom.
Lobby

Hotel Monte Hermana Kobe Amalie

Hotel Monterey Amalie is designed to feel as if you are on board a luxurious sailboat, located in 7min from Sannomiya Station. Ikuta Shrine and Kobe Kitano Ijinkan are within easy reach. The 69 guest rooms include Simmons Mattress, Air purifier/ Humidifier and Wardrobes, jointly produced by GUNZE. The hotel offers a beautiful wedding chapel. Crystal lighting down the wedding aisle, a tiled mosaic floor and delicate etching adorn the walls, giving the chapel unique ambience. The green Ivy Garden, holding a congenial after-ceremony, Banquet rooms and conference rooms are available.
Restaurant
Business hotelsHotels with charm

Hotel Monterey Kobe

An exotic hotel uniquely designed based on the image of an old Romanesque castle of the Northern Italy in medieval age. Guest rooms are uniform to modern Milan.
Lobby
Business hotels

Hotel Okura Kobe

A luxury 35-foor multistory hotel located on the waterfront at Meriken Park. Our hotel is equipped with superb facilities and filled with a pristine and elegant atmosphere. Guest rooms are tastefully furnished by Sir David Hicks.
Lobby
Business hotelsHotels with spa

Oriental Hotel

We will help you to remain your great staying with our warm hospitality.

Things to do in Kobe, Japan

Choose from a range of unique experiences and fun activities in Kobe, Japan

Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Digital Voucher240 minutes

Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kobe! Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kobe is one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. Compact and designed for walking, it is easily visited as a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto. Immerse yourself in the city's distinct atmosphere and dining options! Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.
Over The Planet
Digital Voucher420 minutes

Kobe 1-Day Private Walking Highlights Tour

Kobe is one of the largest ports town in Japan, along with Yokohama. Kobe has been an important trade city since Japan's opening of the port in 1868, after the end of Japan's isolation from foreign countries for over 200 years.  The city is sheltered by Rokko mountain. Therefore, this ocean view from the mountain is very famous activity for Japanese people. You can enjoy highlight spots in Kobe with our local guide in 1 day.
Nunobiki Herb Garden
Digital Voucher420 minutes

1-Day Kobe Highlights Tour including Sake Tasting

Enjoy a leisurely 7-hour tour of Kobe, a port town that developed and flourished after Japan opened its ports to the world in the mid 19th century with a local guide. From the north in nature rich Mt. Rokko, downtown Kobe City in the south where you can enjoy shopping and gourmet, and Japan's leading sake breweries in the eastern Kashiwa sake district, enjoy a varied atmosphere in this coastal city. This tour covers all the best Kobe has to offer. We also offer pick-up and drop-off at Kobe Port making this a convenient day trip for those visiting Kobe on cruise ships such as the “Diamond Princess” or the “Celebrity Millennium”.
Kobe Custom Half Day Tour
Digital Voucher240 minutes

Kobe Custom Half Day Tour

This private and customizable tour for Kobe is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.
Kobe Custom Full Day Tour
Digital Voucher480 minutes

Kobe Custom Full Day Tour

This private and customizable tour for Kobe is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.
Private arrival Transfer from Osaka Itami Airport(ITM) to central Osaka city
Digital Voucher minutes

Private arrival Transfer from Osaka Itami Airport(ITM) to central Osaka city

This is a door to door private arrival transfer service from Itami international airport(ITM) to a hotel in central Osaka city, a comfortable and hassle-free service that will allow you to enjoy your own journey from the moment you arrive in the beautiful city of Osaka. We will completely disinfect the vehicle and places a free hand sanitizer on all the seats. Your driver will keep an appropriate distance with you who will assist with luggage and guide you to your vehicle will give you a comfortable, safety, health ride.
Osaka Airport (ITM) Private Transfer to Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe
Digital Voucher

Osaka Airport (ITM) Private Transfer to Osaka/Kyoto/Nara/Kobe

  • Alleviate the queue time for public transportation and depart for or from Osaka Airport (ITM) with ease 
  • Delight in the 30-min grace period and full refunds for cancellation requested 48 hrs in advance 
  • Revel in the top-notch services provided by the professional driver 
  • Take advantage of the convenient transfer service and have fun hassle-free
Private Kobe Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems 100% Personalised
Digital Voucher480 minutes

Private Kobe Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems 100% Personalised

You’ll spend the day with one of our hosts discovering the true nature of Kobe - and there is plenty of nature to see, the city is wedged between sweeping coastlines and vast mountain ranges after all. Explore the thriving Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street and indulge in authentic cuisine in Nankinmachi, Kobe’s Chinatown. Scale the Kobe Port Tower, where you can see the city's sweeping skyline highlighted by the neon, and discover hidden gems along the way, like the smaller shrines and historic streets that many visitors miss - but not you! Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Why People Love Kobe, Japan

See what people have to say about activities and accommodations in Kobe, Japan

A
anacV7208YR
3
Dec 2022
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Mr. Haru was wonderful. It was a personalised itinerary but still manage to show me some places in Kobe. Also, giving some ice breakers (did you know) whilst walking or commuting.
P
patroneous_h
5
Apr 2023
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Hero showed us Kobe finding out what we wanted and taking us there using taxis and public transport. She chowed us the shines and temples in Kobe and made the history and culture interesting. You would not be disappointed taking a tour with her.
J
Jenifer_R
1
Mar 2023
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
Kobe Half-Day Private Tour with Government-Licensed Guide
They canceled the tour the day before saying they could not find a guide after they charged my credit card and suggested a refund would be the way to proceed but never responded to my follow up emails

Explore all stays in Kobe, Japan

Explore all things to do in Kobe, Japan

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Frequently Asked Questions about Kobe

What are the must-visit attractions in Kobe?

Kobe has many interesting attractions to visit, but some of the must-visit ones include the Kobe Port Tower, the Nunobiki Herb Garden, and the Kobe City Museum. The Kobe Port Tower offers stunning panoramic views of the city and the ocean. The Nunobiki Herb Garden is a beautiful botanical garden that is home to a wide variety of plants and flowers. The Kobe City Museum is a great place to learn about the history and culture of Kobe.

What are some fun activities to do in Kobe?

Kobe offers a variety of fun activities to enjoy. Some of the most popular ones include visiting the Kobe Animal Kingdom, taking a stroll through the Kitano District, and exploring the Kobe Chinatown. The Kobe Animal Kingdom is a great place to see a variety of animals up close, including tigers, lions, and giraffes. The Kitano District is a charming area filled with historic Western-style houses. Kobe Chinatown is a vibrant area with many shops and restaurants to explore.

Where are the best places to eat in Kobe?

Kobe is known for its delicious food, particularly its Kobe beef. Some of the best places to eat in Kobe include Steak Land, Wakkoqu, and Mouriya. Steak Land is a popular restaurant that serves high-quality Kobe beef. Wakkoqu is another great restaurant that is known for its Kobe beef dishes. Mouriya is a traditional steakhouse that has been serving Kobe beef for over 130 years.

What are the best accommodations in Kobe?

Kobe has a variety of great accommodations to choose from. Some of the best ones include the Hotel Okura Kobe, the Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, and the ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe. The Hotel Okura Kobe is a luxurious hotel that offers stunning views of the city and the harbor. The Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel is a stylish hotel located near the waterfront. The ANA Crowne Plaza Kobe is a modern hotel that offers comfortable rooms and great amenities.

What is the best time of year to visit Kobe?

The best time of year to visit Kobe is in the spring or fall. The weather is mild and comfortable during these seasons, and there are many festivals and events that take place during this time. The Kobe Festival takes place in May and is a great event to experience the local culture. The Kobe Luminarie is a stunning light festival that takes place in December and is a must-see event.

What is the transportation system like in Kobe?

Kobe has an efficient and convenient transportation system. The city has a subway system that connects many of the major attractions and neighborhoods. There are also buses and taxis available for those who prefer to travel by land. For those who want to travel by water, there are ferries that connect Kobe to other cities in the region.

What is the nightlife like in Kobe?

Kobe has a vibrant nightlife scene that offers something for everyone. Some of the best places to go for a night out include the Harborland area, the Sannomiya area, and the Motomachi area. The Harborland area is a popular entertainment district that has many shops, restaurants, and bars. The Sannomiya area is another popular district that is known for its nightlife. The Motomachi area is a historic district that has many trendy bars and nightclubs.

What are some cultural experiences to have in Kobe?

Kobe is a city rich in culture and history. Some of the best cultural experiences to have in Kobe include visiting the Kobe City Museum, exploring the Kitano District, and attending a traditional tea ceremony. The Kobe City Museum is a great place to learn about the history and culture of the city. The Kitano District is a charming area filled with historic Western-style houses. Attending a traditional tea ceremony is a great way to experience Japanese culture firsthand.

What are some outdoor activities to do in Kobe?

Kobe is located near many beautiful natural areas that offer a variety of outdoor activities. Some of the best outdoor activities to do in Kobe include hiking in the Rokko Mountains, exploring the Nunobiki Falls, and visiting the Kobe Maritime Museum. The Rokko Mountains offer many hiking trails that offer stunning views of the city and the surrounding landscape. The Nunobiki Falls are a series of waterfalls that are located near the city center. The Kobe Maritime Museum is a great place to learn about the history of the city's port.

What are some shopping destinations in Kobe?

Kobe has many great shopping destinations to choose from. Some of the best ones include the Harborland area, the Sannomiya area, and the Motomachi area. The Harborland area is a popular shopping district that has many shops and boutiques. The Sannomiya area is a bustling shopping district that has many department stores and chain stores. The Motomachi area is a historic district that has many trendy shops and boutiques.