Kobe
Country: Japan · Region: Japan · Currency: Japanese Yen
Kobe is a historic cosmopolitan port city in Japan's Keihanshin agglomeration, known for its international flavor, Western architecture dating to 1868, and well-restored status following the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake. Cruise passengers will find easy access to attractions via train and bus from the central Sannomiya area.
Top sights
Kitano Ijinkan (19th-century foreign houses), Meriken Park and Kobe Port Tower, Chinatown (Nankin-machi), Kyu-kyoryuchi (historic foreign quarter), Nada sake breweries, Mount Rokko
Things to do
- Kitano Ijinkan
- 19th-century residences of foreign traders clustered in the Kitano area, accessible from Sannomiya or Shin-Kobe stations.
- Kobe Port Tower
- The world's first sightseeing tower with pipe structure, built in 1962, standing 108m tall with 5 levels of observatories in Meriken Park.
- Sawa-no-Tsuru Museum
- Sake museum with informative multi-level exhibits partly labelled in English, free entry and free sake tasting.
- Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum
- Museum inside a former brewery featuring traditional tools, dioramas and English-language videos explaining sake-making processes.
Where to eat
- Chinatown (Nankin-machi)
- Original settlement of Chinese merchants offering Japanized versions of Chinese food such as pork buns.
- Kyu-kyoryuchi
- Historic foreign settlement district packed with high-fashion boutiques and restaurants in 19th-century converted buildings.
Forecast for Kobe
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Weather in Kobe by month
Averages from 2015 to 2024, not a forecast. Within about two weeks of a date, the live forecast above is the one to trust.
| Month | Average high | Average low | Rainfall | Wet days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 47°F | 37°F | 2.2 in | 7 |
| February | 49°F | 37°F | 2.6 in | 8 |
| March | 56°F | 43°F | 4.5 in | 11 |
| April | 64°F | 52°F | 6.5 in | 11 |
| May | 72°F | 60°F | 7.2 in | 10 |
| June | 77°F | 67°F | 9.5 in | 14 |
| July | 84°F | 75°F | 10.9 in | 16 |
| August | 87°F | 77°F | 7.9 in | 15 |
| September | 81°F | 72°F | 9.1 in | 14 |
| October | 71°F | 61°F | 6.8 in | 9 |
| November | 62°F | 52°F | 3.5 in | 8 |
| December | 52°F | 41°F | 2.3 in | 6 |
Getting around
Use the comprehensive train network (JR, Hankyu, Hanshin lines) that runs east-west through central Sannomiya, supplemented by City Loop tourist buses and subway connections.
What to eat
Try Japanized Chinese food in Chinatown including pork buns (buta-man), or visit sake breweries in the Nada district which offer free tastings and tours.
Tips
Visit the Sannomiya train station tourist information office for area maps and a coupon book offering 10-20% discounts at many attractions.
Best for
History, architecture, sake tasting
More ports in Japan
Hakodate · Kagoshima · Nagasaki · Okinawa (Naha) · Osaka · Tokyo (Yokohama)