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 Kobe's foreign traders clustered in the Kitano area, walking distance from Sannomiya or Shin-Kobe stations.
- Kobe Port Tower
- World's first sightseeing tower with pipe structure built in 1962, 108 m tall with 5 levels of observatories in Meriken Park.
- Sawa-no-Tsuru Museum
- Sake brewery museum with multi-level exhibits partly 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 (buta-man).
- Kyu-kyoryuchi
- Historic foreign quarter with 19th-century buildings converted into restaurants and high-fashion boutiques near Motomachi station.
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