Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and Japan’s third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. Sitting on Osaka Bay, backed by the Rokko mountain range, it’s known as a cosmopolitan city with ancient history and an interesting blend of cultures. From its world famous beef, to its dimly-lit jazz clubs, its historic foreign quarters and ancient hot springs, there is something for everyone. Here are some of the best things to do in Kobe.
Eat Kobe Beef
Kobe is undoubtedly best known for its fatty, marbled, and delicious Kobe beef. This local delicacy is featured on menus around the world, but there’s something special about eating it close to the source. According to the rules, it must be certified Wagyu beef from Tajima black cattle – otherwise it cannot be called Kobe beef. It also holds special importance as one of the “three big beefs” of Japan (Sandai Wagyū) alongside Matsusaka beef from Mie, and Ōmi beef from Shiga. You won’t have a hard time finding beef while in Kobe – just be sure it’s the real deal. This official guide can help point you in the right direction.
See Some Jazz
Kobe is famously the jazz capital of Japan, so once the sun goes down, hitting up a jazz bar is one of the best things to do in Kobe. The country’s first jazz band formed here in 1923 and the scene quickly took off. In the same year, Tokyo was devastated by the Great Kanto Earthquake, seeing musicians migrate south to Kobe to develop the scene further. Understandably, this American-style music experienced a hiatus during World War II, but later experienced a resurgence in the 1950s.
Today, more than 100 years on, you can take your pick of countless jazz venues throughout town, mainly concentrated in the Kitano, Sannomiya, and Motomachi areas. There is also an annual Jazz Festival held over a weekend in October called Kobe Jazz Street which showcases local and foreign performers across the city. See more venues and events here.
Port of Kobe & Bay Cruise
Upon its opening in 1868, the Port of Kobe was the city’s gateway to the world. Today, not much has changed as it serves as the main cruise ship port in Japan welcoming visitors from all over the world. Head down to the seaside and you’ll find some popular attractions like the Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Harbourland entertainment complex, the Maritime Museum, and The Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park which commemorates the terrible 1995 earthquake.
For those who like to be out on the water, you can also buy tickets for a bay cruise and see the city from a different perspective.
Ikuta Jinja Shrine
Located five minutes from Sannomiya Station, Ikuta Jinja is the main Shinto shrine in Kobe and among some of the oldest ones in Japan, dating back around 1,800 years.
It’s also known as a “power spot” for love and relationships so it makes a wonderful date location. It’s free to enter the grounds and enjoy the architecture, pond, forest and short torii gate tunnel.
Kitano Ijinkan
Kitano Ijinkan is the location of Kobe’s foreign settlement following the opening of Kobe Port in 1868. Designed by respected British and German architects, it once contained over 300 houses and mansions. However, now only 30 remain, 20 of which are open to visitors.
The properties have been lovingly restored with different themes – think British, French, Tudor-style and even some weird and wacky taxidermy. The area contains tree-lined streets, quaint lamp posts and some winding alleys heading uphill. You can read more about it here.
Kitano Ijinkan is located a 15-minute walk from either Sannomiya Station or Shin-Kobe Stations.
Nankinmachi Chinatown
Like many port cities, Kobe too has a flourishing Chinatown. In the early days after the port opened, there was no treaty between Japan and China so Chinese settlers were unable to live in the official foreign settlement. Instead, they set themselves up around what we now know as Nankinmachi Chinatown.
Spanning an area of 270m by 110m, it is one of the three largest Chinatowns in Japan, alongside Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown and Yokohama Chinatown. Here, you’ll find all kinds of shops, restaurants and even tantalising street food! Definitely worth a visit.
Nunobiki Falls
The southern side of Mount Rokko is home to Nunobiki Falls, one of the most revered in Japan. The area contains four gorgeous waterfalls which can be accessed by a forested trail network. Each of the falls is different from the last, from the lowermost Mentaki to Tsuzumigadaki, Meotodaki, and the uppermost Ontaki. As you make your way uphill, you’re guaranteed some incredible sweeping views of the city.
Amazingly, this natural beauty is located minutes from Shin-Kobe Station, the city’s Shinkansen station. It’s a 15-20 minute uphill forested hike to reach the first of the falls, making it one of the easiest to access in Japan. For nature lovers, this is one of the best things to do in Kobe.
Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Perched above Kobe city and boasting over 75,000 herbs and blooming flowers, Nunobiki Herb Gardens is literally and figuratively a cut above the rest.
Aside from its 12 sprawling gardens, visitors can tour the fragrance and spice museums, witness artistic displays in the herbal house, laze in the herbal foot bath, pilgrimage to the lover’s bell and tuck into a meal at a German-castle inspired plaza.
It’s the perfect setting for a romantic day in Kobe. Even better, the gardens are in bloom all year round. From Shin-Kobe Station you can take a 10-minute ropeway uphill, or if you’re feeling energised, you can hike around 40 minutes to the “Kaze no Oka Mid Station” which is the lower entrance to the gardens. Read more about it here.
Arima Onsen
For those looking for a day trip or overnight escape, this is the place for you. Nestled in the Rokko mountains behind Kobe City, Arima Onsen is considered one of the oldest hot spring towns in Japan with a history stretching back over 1,000 years.
This provenance coupled with its charming atmosphere make it one of the most popular places to head for a soak. Arima Onsen is famous for its Kinsen (gold water) and Ginsen (silver water) springs, its quaint shopping streets, foot baths, and local delicacies.
From Shin-Kobe Station or Sannomiya Stations, you can reach Arima Onsen by train in around 30-40 minutes at a cost of around 690 yen. You will need to take the Hokushin Subway Line to Tanigami Station, then transfer to the Kobe Dentetsu-Arima Line. Alternatively, there are direct buses from Sannomiya Station Bus Terminal that take around 30 minutes and cost just under 800 yen.
How to get to Kobe
Kobe is located quite close to both Osaka and Kyoto. From Osaka, a train will take less than 30 minutes and cost under ¥500.
From Kyoto, a local train will take around an hour and cost under ¥1,000, or a shinkansen will take half that time (30 minutes) and cost around ¥3,000.
From Tokyo, you can take a 3 hour Shinkansen for around ¥15,000, or alternatively you can take a 8.5 hour bus for between ¥3,000 – ¥8,500. If you prefer air travel, Kobe Airport can also be accessed from Tokyo.
Post by Japan Journeys.
