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There is plenty to get your teeth into in Kobe – quite literally!
From some of the finest beef in the world, a wander through Nankin-machi (Kobe’s Chinatown) to a delve into history and culture, Kobe is a wonderful place to explore and discover.
Expand your mind with museum trips, fill your stomach in great restaurants and ease your joints in a hot spring bath – it really does have something for everyone. See our top 10 things to do in Kobe below.
Kobe Beef
This is something to really get your teeth into during Rugby World Cup 2019™!
Kobe beef is some of the finest in the world and there is no better way to enjoy this delicacy than at a local teppanyaki restaurant.
If you’d like to take in stunning views of the city while you enjoy your perfectly cooked beef, then the Mouriya restaurant may be the one for you. The experience is made even greater as the chef will grill the meat on an iron in front of you while you wait for your meal to be prepared.
This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonderful Japanese lifestyle. Yum!
Kobe beef is some of the finest in the world and there is no better way to enjoy this delicacy than at a local teppanyaki restaurant.
If you’d like to take in stunning views of the city while you enjoy your perfectly cooked beef, then the Mouriya restaurant may be the one for you. The experience is made even greater as the chef will grill the meat on an iron in front of you while you wait for your meal to be prepared.
This is a great opportunity to immerse yourself in the wonderful Japanese lifestyle. Yum!
Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum
The great thing about travelling is discovering the history and important events of the host country and there is no better way to do that than at the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum.
Far from being a macabre experience, this is a really good way of understanding and getting to know Kobe. On January 17, 1995, Kobe was hit with an earthquake which caused mass destruction. If you would like to see for yourself how the earthquake effected the city and how it has recovered since, then the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum is the perfect opportunity.
The museum is easy to get to, just a 10 minute walk from the Iwata Station on the Hanshin Main Line.
Far from being a macabre experience, this is a really good way of understanding and getting to know Kobe. On January 17, 1995, Kobe was hit with an earthquake which caused mass destruction. If you would like to see for yourself how the earthquake effected the city and how it has recovered since, then the Kobe Earthquake Memorial Museum is the perfect opportunity.
The museum is easy to get to, just a 10 minute walk from the Iwata Station on the Hanshin Main Line.
Shin-Kobe Ropeway
Take your Rugby World Cup trip to new heights and scale Mount Rokko in a ropeway lift from Kobe’s Shinkansen station. On your way up the mountain, you will pass various landmarks which include the Nunobiki Waterfall and the Nunobiki Herb Garden. But the best part of the ride is at the summit of the journey - the observation deck offers incredible views of the city, especially with the night time lights beaming through the landscape.
Don’t fancy the ropeway? Not to worry! For the avid hikers, there is an alternative method of ascending the mountain by which you can follow a trail all the way up to the observation deck.
Don’t fancy the ropeway? Not to worry! For the avid hikers, there is an alternative method of ascending the mountain by which you can follow a trail all the way up to the observation deck.
Arima Onsen
On the other side of Kobe to Mount Rokko, you can find the famous hot spring town called Arima Onsen. The town has been modernised but still has roots to its historic past with narrow lanes and wooden buildings and can be explored completely on foot. The town offers multiple types of hot springs to try with different benefits to each, including waters that are said to be great for the skin and muscle pains.
What better way to finish off an exciting day exploring than to relax in the bubbling hot springs of Arima Onsen!
What better way to finish off an exciting day exploring than to relax in the bubbling hot springs of Arima Onsen!
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
At almost four kilometres long, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The Bridge Exhibition Centre at the base of the bridge offers great insight into its development and construction. If that isn’t enough, then the Maiko Marine Promenade consists of observatory hallways under the bridge’s main platform 50 meters above the water, which gives great views of the surrounding bays and the bridges interior itself.
The Bridge Exhibition Centre at the base of the bridge offers great insight into its development and construction. If that isn’t enough, then the Maiko Marine Promenade consists of observatory hallways under the bridge’s main platform 50 meters above the water, which gives great views of the surrounding bays and the bridges interior itself.
Sorakuen Garden
If you want a change from the sprawling cityscape of modern buildings and restaurants, then the Sorakuen Garden is a perfect way to escape the passion and tensions of the rugby.
Opened to the public in 1941, all the buildings that originally stood within the garden were destroyed during the war leaving a collection of beautiful florae filling up the ruins.
Easily accessible, the gardens are a five-minute walk from Kencho-mae station (Kobe subway) or a 10 minute walk from Motomachi Station.
Opened to the public in 1941, all the buildings that originally stood within the garden were destroyed during the war leaving a collection of beautiful florae filling up the ruins.
Easily accessible, the gardens are a five-minute walk from Kencho-mae station (Kobe subway) or a 10 minute walk from Motomachi Station.
Kitano-cho
Kitano-cho is a district in Kobe that is rich in history. An old trading port that was opened in the second half of the 19th century, many of the old mansions remain open to the public as museums. While some of the houses charge a small admission fee, there is an abundance of restaurants and boutiques in the area, making it perfect for a couple’s adventure.
The area is a short 10 to 15 minute walk from Shin-Kobe Stations.
The area is a short 10 to 15 minute walk from Shin-Kobe Stations.
Meriken Park
A must-see location on your Rugby World Cup journey is Meriken Park on Kobe’s waterfront.
If you are a fan of transport and vehicles, then this is the perfect place for you. The Kobe Maritime Museum is split into two halves with different focuses. One half looks at how the Kobe port functions and gives visitors the chance to see historic boats which showcase Japan’s importance to the world.
The other half of the museum delves into the manufacturing of vehicle components in Japan for export such as jets, helicopters and motorcycles. There are even opportunities to get hands on experiences with some of the vehicles!
If you are a fan of transport and vehicles, then this is the perfect place for you. The Kobe Maritime Museum is split into two halves with different focuses. One half looks at how the Kobe port functions and gives visitors the chance to see historic boats which showcase Japan’s importance to the world.
The other half of the museum delves into the manufacturing of vehicle components in Japan for export such as jets, helicopters and motorcycles. There are even opportunities to get hands on experiences with some of the vehicles!
Kobe City Museum
Want to become the ultimate Japan expert? The Kobe City Museum is a great place to go to gain a wealth of knowledge about Japan.
Opened in 1982, the museum features everything you could need to know about the history of Japan, featuring a collection of maps from different regions and eras, as well as artefacts representing Japan’s exchange with foreign countries.
If that isn’t enough, then the museum has one of the world’s largest collection of Namban Art, a Japanese style developed from the first contacts with western trading ships in the 1500s.
It is an easy location to reach, being only a five minute walk from various stations across Kobe.
Opened in 1982, the museum features everything you could need to know about the history of Japan, featuring a collection of maps from different regions and eras, as well as artefacts representing Japan’s exchange with foreign countries.
If that isn’t enough, then the museum has one of the world’s largest collection of Namban Art, a Japanese style developed from the first contacts with western trading ships in the 1500s.
It is an easy location to reach, being only a five minute walk from various stations across Kobe.
Chinatown
Although you are in Japan, it would be well worth your time to go and check out the Chinatown district in Kobe.
A fan favourite among tourists, the area is packed with shops, restaurants and other food stands that sell popular items that have been modified to fit the Japanese culture.
The Chinatown district is located in central Kobe and is just a five-minute walk north of Meriken Park.
A fan favourite among tourists, the area is packed with shops, restaurants and other food stands that sell popular items that have been modified to fit the Japanese culture.
The Chinatown district is located in central Kobe and is just a five-minute walk north of Meriken Park.