Kobe (神戸, Kōbe) is part of the the Keihanshin (京阪神) metropolitan area, alongside Kyoto (京都, Kyōto) and Osaka (大阪, Ōsaka). While lesser known than the other two cities, Kobe has a long heritage stemming from its history as a port city as well as one of the epicenters of the Great Hanshin Earthquake (17 Jan 1995, 兵庫県南部地震, Hyōgo-ken Nanbu Jishin). The city is a great place to visit for a day if you are also in the Kansai (関西, Kansai) region, visiting Osaka and Kyoto.
More than Kobe Beef, Discover the Hidden Charms of this Port City
Essential Kobe Itinerary
Ultimate One Day Kobe Itinerary
Discover the Charms of Japan's Port City and Fame of Kobe Beef
Nature
Culture
Gourmet
Volume
This itinerary aims to take you through all the interesting spots throughout Kobe. They might feel somewhat thematically different, but that’s also part of the mishmash that comes from being a port city.
You’ll start by checking out the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum, walking under the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (明石海峡大橋, Akashi Kaikyō Ōhashi), the world’s second longest suspension bridge, checking out Kobe Chinatown (南京町, Nankin-machi), one of Japan’s three chinatowns (日本の三大中華街, Nihon no San-dai Chūkagai), admiring Atoa (アトア), an interesting hybrid between an aquarium and a digital art museum, as well as ending the day off with some Kobe Beef (神戸牛, Kōbe-gyū) at Hiroshige.
Itinerary Details
Start off from Sannomiya Station
Recommended Time:
09:00
三ノ宮駅
Sannomiya Station
JR-A61
JR神戸線
JR Kobe Line
HS
32
阪神電気鉄道本線
Hanshin Main Line
HK
16
神戸本線
Kobe Main Line
HS
32
阪神神戸高速線
Hanshin Kobe Kosoku Line
S03
西神山手線
Seishin-Yamate Line
P01
ポートアイランド線
Port Island Line
Take the train to Kasuganomichi Station
Est.
09:00
12 mins
Hanshin Main Line
Towards Osaka-Umeda Station
Hanshin
Sannomiya Station
to
Kasuganomichi Station
2 mins
Take Exit 3
10 mins
850m
Kasuganomichi Station
to
Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum
Est.
09:20
1.5 hours
Closed
Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum (阪神・淡路大震災記念 人と防災未来センター)
Understand the horrors of the Great Hanshin Earthquake
The Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum, officially known as the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Museum, was built in memory of the tragic Great Hanshin Earthquake (17 Jan 1995, 兵庫県南部地震, Hyōgo-ken Nanbu Jishin) which was the most recent and largest earthquake to hit the Kansai (関西, Kansai) region. The earthquake destroyed houses, collapsed highways, and flattened buildings, and remains a traumatic memory for many who lived through it. The earthquake seeks to pass down memories of this tragic event to future generations so that they may learn from past trauma, and be better able to protect themselves in the case of such a natural disaster occurring again.
Back to Sannomiya Station
Est.
10:50
15 mins
10 mins
850m
Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum
to
Kasuganomichi Station
Hanshin Main Line
Towards Sannomiya Station
Hanshin
Kasuganomichi Station
to
Sannomiya Station
2 mins
Take Hankyu West Exit
3 mins
200m
Sannomiya Station
to
Steakland Kobe
Est.
11:15
1 hour
Steakland Kobe (ステーキランド 神戸)
Watch a master chef at work
When it comes to Kobe, the first thing that comes to mind for most is Kobe Beef (神戸牛, Kōbe-gyū). Often considered the pinnacle of Japanese beef, Kobe Beef is a premium ingredient, with an amazing marbling that melts in your mouth. One of the more affordable places to try Kobe Beef is at Steakland Kobe, where you can also experience teppanyaki (鉄板焼き).
Head over to Maiko Station
Est.
12:15
27 mins
3 mins
200m
Steakland Kobe
to
Sannomiya Station
JR Kobe Line
Towards Himeji Station
JR West
Sannomiya Station
to
Maiko Station
21 mins
Take South Exit
3 mins
280m
Maiko Station
to
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Est.
12:55
1 hour
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (明石海峡大橋)
Explore one of the world's longest suspension bridges
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is the world’s second longest suspension bridge (it was the longest from 1998 until 2022), and is one of the three bridges that connect Honshu (本州, Honshū) with the island of Shikoku (四国, Shikoku). Spanning 4km long, and 50m above the water, the bridge also hosts the Maiko Marine Promenade, which lets you explore the underside of the bridge.
Take the train to Motomachi
Est.
13:55
24 mins
3 mins
280m
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
to
Maiko Station
JR Kobe Line
Towards Sannomiya Station
JR West
Maiko Station
to
Motomachi Station
18 mins
Take East Exit
3 mins
250m
Motomachi Station
to
Kobe Chinatown
Est.
14:30
1 hour
Kobe Chinatown (南京町)
Eat through the streets of Nankin-machi
Nankinmachi, also known as Kobe Chinatown, is one of Japan’s three Chinatowns, alongside Yokohama Chinatown and Nagasaki Chinatown. The area consists of a wide variety of Chinese restaurants, supermarkets and shops, with plenty of street food including Xiao Long Bao (小籠包, Shōronpō, Chinese soup dumpling) and Peking Duck (北京ダック, Pekkin Dakku) Rolls.
Walk over to cafe & bar anthem
Est.
15:30
3 mins
3 mins
230m
Kobe Chinatown
to
cafe&bar anthem
Est.
15:40
1 hour
cafe&bar anthem (カフェ＆バー アンセム)
Sip on some herb tea and nibble on rare cheese
Walk over to Meriken Park
Est.
16:40
Est.
18:20
45 mins
Meriken Park (メリケンパーク)
Take in the ruins of an earthquake
Meriken Park is a large seaside park, and was named because of its proximity to Kobe’s foreign district in the past. “American” was commonly translated as “Meriken” during the Meiji Period (1868-1912, 明治時代, Meiji-jidai). While the park itself might not be much in terms of nature or sights, there are many facilities, cafes and restaurants in the area.
Walk over to atoa
Est.
19:05
7 mins
7 mins
600m
Meriken Park
to
Aquarium X Art atoa
Est.
19:25
1.5 hours
Aquarium X Art atoa (アトア)
The coexistence of art and an aquarium
Walk over to Sannomiya
Est.
20:55
25 mins
25 mins
1.9km
Aquarium X Art atoa
to
Kobe Gyudon Hiroshige
Est.
21:30
1.5 hours
Kobe Gyudon Hiroshige (神戸牛丼 広重)
Gobble down a Kobe Beef Gyudon
One might think of gyudon (牛丼, Gyūdon, Beef bowl) as being mainly fast-food with the prevalence of gyudon chains all around Japan. Kobe Gyudon Hiroshige elevates this with a soft, melt-in-your mouth Kobe Beef (神戸牛, Kōbe-gyū) slices atop a bed of rice and topped with a savory-sweet, umami-filled, sauce.
Return to Sannomiya Station
Est.
23:00
8 mins
8 mins
600m
Kobe Gyudon Hiroshige
to
Sannomiya Station
End off at Sannomiya Station
Est.
23:05
三ノ宮駅
Sannomiya Station
JR-A61
JR神戸線
JR Kobe Line
HS
32
阪神電気鉄道本線
Hanshin Main Line
HK
16
神戸本線
Kobe Main Line
HS
32
阪神神戸高速線
Hanshin Kobe Kosoku Line
S03
西神山手線
Seishin-Yamate Line
P01
ポートアイランド線
Port Island Line
© 2023 Ki Creative. All Rights Reserved.
Due to changing circumstances, readers are advised to do their own additional research. All information on this site is purely for reference only.
Privacy