A Guide to Kobe Travel: Visit Japan’s Most Convenient Hidden Gem

If you’re not ready to sacrifice convenient transportation, rich culture, or laid-back seaside vibes during your trip to Japan, Kobe is the answer. Thanks to its coastal location and fascinating history of cultural exchange, this port city has its own unique culture and relaxed maritime mood, with stylish streets, promenades along the water, atmospheric shopping options, and of course, outstanding food. It’s a welcoming destination for first-time visitors, especially those overwhelmed by the crowds of nearby Osaka or Kyoto, and the more you return, the better it gets.

To help you plan your next Kobe trip, we’ve put together a simple travel guide with spots that both first-time visitors and seasoned travelers can enjoy, from core travel highlights to surprising spots steeped in Kobe spirit.

Kobe’s Must-See Landmarks

A DIY Kobe Port Walking Tour

Knock out some of Kobe’s most iconic landmarks while enjoying the salty sea air! Start exploring Kobe with this route through Kobe Harborland, Meriken Park, and the Mosaic complex. Kobe Harborland is the name given to the various sightseeing and leisure facilities scattered along the water around the Kobe Port area, and as you wander through, you’ll find shopping, dining, and even a children’s museum. Nearby, the green lawns of Meriken Park offer an inviting spot for a picnic or a quick game of frisbee, the open harbor views (including Kobe Port Tower) providing the perfect backdrop. Visit the Ferris wheel at Mosaic, or just grab a bite to eat at one of the ocean-view restaurants and cafes, to round out your Kobe Port itinerary. With everything packed in along the waterfront, the area is perfect for exploring on foot at any time of day, but if you can time your visit around sunset, you’re really in for a treat.

Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)

As a port town, ships have long been bringing people to Kobe from all over the world, and those people have shared their culture (including some great food) with the city. Some of the clearest evidence of this meltingpot history can be seen in Nankinmachi, a small neighborhood also known as Kobe Chinatown! Concentrated around one long pedestrian road, Nankinmachi is one of Japan’s “three major Chinatowns,” and every inch of every alley is packed with fragrant food stalls and classic red decorations that even make it a popular photo spot. Conveniently located between Kobe’s city-center shopping area and the port, it’s the perfect place for a little street food tour, and offerings include a mix of authentic Chinese cuisine and options reinterpreted to suit the Japanese palatte. Try the freshly steamed meat buns, the juicy soup dumplings, little pockets of crispy Peking duck, and of course some sweet treats too. From Sannomiya Station in the heart of Kobe, Nankinmachi is on the edge of the bustling Motomachi shopping area, which makes it an easy addition to any itinerary.

Nankinmachi / Kobe Chinatown (南京町・神戸中華街)
1-3-18 Sakaemachidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Hours: vary by shop (street food generally available around 11:00 ~ 19:00)
Directions: 2 min from Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station (Subway Kaigan Line), 5 min from Motomachi Station (JR Kobe Line / Hanshin Railway), 7 min from Kenchomae Station (Subway Yamate Line), 10 min from Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
Official Website (jp)

Kobe Motomachi Shopping District

Young and old, the people of Kobe come to Motomachi to shop, eat, or just hang out, which makes it worth an excursion for any visiting traveler interested in discovering local life in the city. Motomachi is centered around one long covered shopping arcade, wedged in between the Motomachi Station and Nankinmachi, and lined with a mix of trendy cafes, distinctive boutiques selling items that make great souvenirs, and plenty of shops that look like they haven’t changed in generations. Enjoy the leisurely atmosphere on weekdays, or visit on a weekend to feel the rush of Hyogo Prefecture’s capital city.

Kobe Motomachi Shopping District (神戸元町商店街)
3-13-1 Motomachidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Hours: vary by shop (shops generally open by 11:00, but may close as early as 18:00)
Directions: 1 min from Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station (Subway Kaigan Line), 3 min from Motomachi Station (JR / Hanshin)
Official Website (jp)

Top Kobe Shopping: Plan Your Shopping Spree

Kobe Hankyu Department Store

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Whether it’s part of your plans or not, once you get to Japan, it’s hard to resist all the shopping – so you might as well find the best spots! In Kobe, the Kobe Hankyu department store is the place to go for leading Japanese cosmetics brands like Shiseido, SK-II, Decorté, and Clé de Peau Beauté, as well as popular luxury brands like Chanel and Dior. Not only will you find an impressive selection all in one place, but you can shop tax-free, too. On top of that, the department store also has some cool local souvenirs, ranging from Kobe-themed Snoopy goods to sweet treats available nowhere else. The building is connected directly to Sannomiya Station, so it’s an ideal shopping destination, even en route to your next stop.

Kobe Hankyu (神戸阪急)
8-1-8 Onogadori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Some restaurants, cafes, and other areas may have different hours.
Directions: 3 min from Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station, 5 min from JR Sannomiya Station and Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station, 7 min from Sannomiya Station (Kobe Municipal Subway)
Official Website (jp)

Studio Kiichi

If the Hankyu department store feels like all of Japan in one shopping experience, then our next stop feels more like getting to the heart of Kobe. Studio Kiichi is the studio/boutique of a Kobe-born leather brand, and from raw materials to finished product, each of Kiichi’s items is deeply rooted in the city’s own style. The shop is filled with a colorful array of wallets, coin purses, key straps, and other small accessories, all made from local Hyogo-prefecture cowhide, processed and sewn in-house. The designs are simple and elegant, with color options like bright turquoise and orange for a touch of whimsy, and the soft, smooth texture of the leather makes each piece feel at home in your hands. Look for items stamped with the shop’s anchor logo, or even the name “KOBE,” to bring back fond memories of your trip for years to come.

Studio Kiichi
6-7-3 Motomachidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo (within Motomachi)
Hours: 11:00 – 19:00 (closed Wednesdays)
Directions: 2 min from Hanshin Nishimotomachi Station, 4 min from Hankyu Hanakuma Station, 7 min from JR Kobe Station
Official Website (jp)

Where to Try Kobe Beef in Kobe: 3 Luxurious Wagyu Options

Kobe Sannomiya Yakiniku KOBE 133 Club Shabu-Shabu & Sukiyaki

Renowned worldwide for its delicate marbling and melt-in-your-mouth texture, Kobe beef is one of Japan’s most prestigious varieties of wagyu, and if you’re planning a trip to Kobe, there’s a good chance that trying this next-level meat is a high priority. There’s nothing like trying Kobe beef in its homeland, the real city of Kobe! So we’ve got a few suggestions of where to start.

KOBE 133 Club is a restaurant that specializes in Kobe’s famous local beef, and to get the full experience, one of the restaurant’s most popular orders is the “Kobe Beef Course,” which will run you 20,000 yen. A common choice among visiting travelers, this fixed-menu option makes it easy to savor Kobe beef in all its forms, with 13 different dishes including Kobe beef chateaubriand, premium Kobe beef short rib, premium Kobe beef sirloin, top-grade wagyu beef tongue, and Kobe beef sukiyaki. Alternatively, there are shabu-shabu and sukiyaki hot-pot options, and nine different yakiniku sets ranging from 6,000 yen to 57,000 yen, so you can enjoy a more reasonable indulgence or really shell out for an out-of-this-world wagyu experience.

With a simple and chic interior, and private dining rooms, the KOBE 133 Club is a high-end choice for family, friends, or even a special date – and since the shop also boasts an advanced ventilation system, you can enjoy the meal without worrying about bringing all the smoke and meat smells home with you.

Kobe Sannomiya Yakiniku KOBE133 Club Shabu-Shabu & Sukiyaki (神戸三宮焼肉 KOBE133倶楽部 しゃぶしゃぶ・すき焼き)
2F Bacchus Building, 1-26-1 Nakayamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Hours: 17:00 – 24:00 (last order 23:30)
Directions: 5~8 min from Sannomiya Station (Kobe Municipal Subway / JR)
Official Website (jp)

Mouriya Honten

If a classic Kobe beef steak in a historic Kobe restaurant is more your style, then the historic Japanese steakhouse Mouriya is for you. Over the past 140 years the shop has grown to include six different locations in Kobe and Kyoto, but Mouriya was first established in Kobe’s Sannomiya neighborhood in the 1800s, and the “Honten” (本店/original shop) has long been a destination for diners seeking out top-quality Kobe beef cooked to perfection. At this traditional Japanese teppan-yaki restaurant, the chef prepares exceptional cuts of Kobe beef right before your eyes, engaging all five senses with the sizzling of the iron griddle, the savory aromas in the air, and the deep flavor that across your tongue with every bite. English-language service is available, and the restaurant accepts both credit cards and various methods of mobile payment, so you can relax and let the Japanese steakhouse ambience enhance your whole Kobe trip.

Mouriya Honten (モーリヤ本店）
Mouriya Building, 2-1-17 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Hours: 11:00 – 22:00 (last order 21:00)
Directions: Directly in front of West Exit No. 1 of Sannomiya Station (Seishin-Yamate Line, Kobe Municipal Subway), or 5 min from JR Sannomiya Station
Official Website (jp)

Kobe Daikokuya

Bring the warm, nostalgic flavors of Kobe home with you, and discover a more everyday kind of Kobe beef at Kobe Daikokuya. This local gourmet food shop has been a Kobe favorite for three generations thanks to the packaged food products that many say capture the taste of Kobe. If you want to experience the city a little more like a local, you’ll want to pick up Kobe Daikokuya’s signature “Kobe Beef Shigureni,” a sweet-and-savory simmered beef dish reminiscent of local home-cooking. Although the traditional dish uses a soy-based sauce, the shop makes several variations, incorporating flavors like wine, ginger, and even sansho peppercorn to please different palates. These packaged Kobe beef dishes are convenient for bringing back to your hotel for some savory snacking, or packing up to bring back home as souvenirs for all your beef-loving and food-obsessed friends. Don’t miss the shop’s wide selection of other home-style “rice toppings” while you’re there, like ikanago no kugini (simmered sand lance, a Kobe specialty) and matsutake mushrooms simmered with Hokkaido kombu kelp.

Kobe Daikokuya Sanchika Store (神戸大黒屋 神戸大黒屋 サンチカテン)
1-10 Sannomiyacho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo
Hours: 10:00 – 20:00
Directions: Direct connection to the West Exit of Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station, 1~2 min from JR Sannomiya Station, Sannomiya Station (Seishin-Yamate Line, Kobe Municipal Subway), Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station (Subway Kaigan Line), or Port Liner Sannomiya Station
Official Website (jp)

Find the Perfect Kobe Itinerary, For Your First Trip Or Your 50th!

With centuries of port history, an air of modern urbanity, and a charming seaside breeze, Kobe is an underappreciated gem for international travelers exploring Japan. Between the romantic seaside promenades and the city shopping spots, the flavors of Chinese-Japanese street food and rich, melt-in-your-mouth Kobe beef, it’s hard not to fall in love with Kobe on your first visit – and before long you’ll probably be planning the next one. Combine it with all the fun of Kyoto and Osaka, and you’ve got a Kansai trip to remember!

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