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City guide

Kobe

Kobe, officially Kobe City , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. 5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama.

Type CityPopulation 1,500,000

Why go

  • City in Kansai region, Japan.
  • Served by Kobe Airport (UKB).

History

Kobe, officially Kobe City , is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. With a population of around 1.5 million, Kobe is Japan's seventh-largest city and the third-largest port city after Tokyo and Yokohama. It is located in the Kansai region, which makes up the southern side of the main island of Honshū, on the north shore of Osaka Bay. It is part of the Keihanshin metropolitan area along with Osaka and Kyoto. The Kobe city centre is located about 35 km (22 mi) west of Osaka and 70 km (43 mi) southwest of Kyoto.

Restaurants & places to go

Italian, Restaurant · Opening hours: 11:00-23:00 Wikipedia: ja:サイゼリヤ · 神戸市 · saizeriya.co.jp
Indoor
ベビーカステラ, Cake, Fast Food · 一口カステラ · 2-1, 神戸市, 6530812 · ktamago.com
Indoor
Burger, Fast Food · Opening hours: 24/7 Features: takeaway · 2-5-23 国道2号, 6510072 · mcdonards.co.jp
Indoor
Noodle, Restaurant · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-22:00 · 1-5 処女塚通 · marugame-seimen.com
Indoor
Restaurant · Kobe Beef Restaurant · koubegyuu.com
Indoor
Sushi, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 11:00-00:00 Features: takeaway · 国道2号 · shop.kurasushi.co.jp
Indoor
Beef Bowl, Fast Food · Opening hours: Mo-Su 04:00-03:00 Features: takeaway · 2-5-19 国道2号, 6510072 · sukiya.jp
Indoor
焼肉, Restaurant · Opening hours: 17:00-26:00 · 1階, 神戸市, 652-0811 · instagram.com
Indoor

292 more places in the Ultimate edition. See the Ultimate edition →

Airports

Kansai International Airport (KIX) 29 km to the centre
Osaka, 27, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 51 airlines (All Nippon Airways, Japan Airlines Domestic, Peach Aviation, Air China…) · direct flights to 57 destinations incl. Taipei, Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Busan… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 51 airlines, 57 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM) 27 km to the centre
Osaka, 27, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 4 airlines (Japan Airlines Domestic, All Nippon Airways, Ibex Airlines, American Airlines) · direct flights to 22 destinations incl. Fukuoka, Oita, Sapporo, Sendai, Tokyo… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 4 airlines, 22 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Kobe Airport (UKB) 6.7 km to the centre
Kobe, 28, JP — You board from the indoor waiting area — no need to plan for the weather. ✈ 3 airlines (Skymark Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Hokkaido International Airlines) · direct flights to 8 destinations incl. Sapporo, Okinawa, Tokyo, Ibaraki, Kagoshima… (OpenFlights route data).
✈ Airlines & flight paths — 3 airlines, 8 direct destinations

Routes and aircraft from OpenFlights (open data; a point-in-time snapshot). * = codeshare. Linked destinations open their own guidebook. Flight numbers are not in the open data — they come from the airline or a paid schedule feed.

Indoor
Konotori Tajima Airport (TJH) 99 km to the centre
Toyooka, 28, JP — Indoor waiting areas, but some gates board by bus or on foot across the apron — plan for the weather on the day.
Indoor | Outdoor

Getting there by ferry

Kamomeria
Ferry terminal · 0.7 km from the centre
Outdoor
Naka Pier Passenser Terminal
Ferry terminal · 0.9 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kobe Sannomiya Ferry Terminal
Ferry terminal · 1.9 km from the centre · 神戸フェリーセンター
Outdoor
Kobe Port Terminal
Ferry terminal · 2.3 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kobe Airport Kaijo Access Terminal
Ferry terminal · 6.4 km from the centre
Outdoor
Ferry Sunflower Terminal
Ferry terminal · 9.7 km from the centre
Outdoor
Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle
Ferry route
Outdoor
Jumbo Ferry (Kobe - Sakate - Takamatsu)
Ferry route · ジャンボフェリー株式会社
Outdoor
Jumbo Ferry (Kobe - Takamatsu)
Ferry route · ジャンボフェリー株式会社
Outdoor
Orange Ferry [Kobe-Niihama]
Ferry route · 四国開発フェリー(株)
Outdoor
Sunflower (Kobe - Oita)
Ferry route · 株式会社商船三井さんふらわあ
Outdoor
Sunflower (Osaka - Beppu)
Ferry route · 株式会社商船三井さんふらわあ
Outdoor
Hankyu Ferry (Kobe - ShinMoji)
Ferry route · 阪九フェリー株式会社
Outdoor
Miyazaki Car Ferry (Kobe - Miyazaki)
Ferry route · 宮崎カーフェリー株式会社
Outdoor

Where things are

Full geo-intelligence in Better Mapping →
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Photographs

When to go

Tourist season
May – September

The warmer, longer-day half of the year is the safest bet for a first visit.

Shoulder season
April, October

Cooler and quieter, with fewer visitors and better value.

Worth avoiding
Deep winter

Short days and the coldest weather — check local conditions before travelling.

Getting there & around

Getting there. The nearest airport on record is Kobe Airport (UKB); 4 other airports serve the wider area. Check rail and road links from the tourism sources below. By air: UKB has direct flights to 8 destinations on 3 airlines (incl. Sapporo, Okinawa, Tokyo, Ibaraki, Kagoshima…). By water: 6 ferry terminals within 20 km (nearest: Kamomeria, 0.7 km); routes include Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle, Jumbo Ferry (Kobe - Sakate - Takamatsu), Jumbo Ferry (Kobe - Takamatsu).

Getting around. Use the map above to orient yourself; nearby hotels, attractions and places to eat are listed from the live Ultimate data for Kobe. Local transit details will be added as the guide is expanded.

Trains & rail

Rail operator
Rail operator
Rail operator
National rail
National rail

Coaches & shuttles

Intercity coach

Private aviation

On-demand charter, jet cards and the semi-private scheduled carriers that serve this city.

Charter, management · Gulfstream, Global · Tokyo and Hong Kong business-jet operator.
Broker · Any aircraft via operators worldwide · Global charter broker with 30+ offices; private jets, group charters and cargo.
FBO, charter, management · Managed fleet · FBO network and management across Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.
Fractional, jet card · Embraer Praetor, Bombardier Challenger & Global, Gulfstream · Fractional ownership and jet cards in North America and Europe.
Charter, management · Large-cabin & VIP airliners · Geneva-based operator known for large-cabin and VIP airliner charters.

Tours & experiences