Kobe Airport in Kobe, Japan

As part of our guide for visitors to Kobe City, here is some information about the airport in Kobe, Japan.

Kobe Airport

Kobe Airport is an important airport in Hyogo prefecture and it is one of the airports in the Kansai region, followed by Kansai International Airport and Osaka Itami Airport.

The airport opened for domestic flights beginning in February, 2006. In April, 2025, a second terminal (Terminal 2) opened for international flights.

Where is the Airport in Kobe?

Kobe Airport is located about 9 km south of city of Kobe, on an artificial island called Kobe Airport Island. Visitors that want to get to Kobe City from the airport can take the Port Liner train to Sannomiya Station in Kobe City. The trip from the airport to the city takes about 18 minutes by train.

How to get to Kobe Airport?

Train, car, and bus are the available transportation options from Sannomiya Station or Shin-Kobe Station to Kobe Airport. The details are provided below.

By Train
It takes 18 minutes from Sannomiya Station to Kobe Airport by Port Liner, with a fare of 340 JPY. There is no direct train from Shin-Kobe Station to the airport, so passengers should take a 2-minute train ride from Shin-Kobe to Sannomiya for 210 JPY and then transfer to the Port Liner.

By Limousine Bus
Buses are operated by four companies: Shinki Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Honshi Kaikyo Bus, and JR Shikoku Bus. Shinki Bus stops at both Shin-Kobe and Sannomiya Stations, while West Japan JR Bus, Honshi Kaikyo Bus, and JR Shikoku Bus stop only at Shin-Kobe Station.

These services are designated as “Limousine” buses (as compared to regular city buses). These buses are designed for convenient and comfortable transportation for travelers with luggage, and often provide direct routes with minimal stops. Each bus ride takes approximately 35 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station and costs 340 JPY.

If you are coming from Shin-Kobe Station, taking the train is usually faster (~28 min), but you have to transfer at Sannomiya Station. Taking the the bus is slower (~28-35 min), but more cost-effective compared to the train. It may also be easier because there is no need to transfer (which may be easier if you have luggage).

By Car
It takes only 16 minutes from Sannomiya Station to Kobe Airport by car. Parking costs 150 JPY per hour, with the first 30 minutes free. For parking between 10 and 24 hours, the fee is 1,530 JPY. After 24 hours, the rate is 150 JPY per hour. Flight passengers receive a discount: parking is free for the first 24 hours, and after that, the rate is 150 JPY per hour.

How do I get to Kobe City from Kobe Airport?

Kobe Airport is very close to the center of Kobe City. The trip from Kobe Airport to Sannomiya Station (the most central station in Kobe) takes only 18 minutes via Port Liner train.

Which Terminal at Kobe Airport is Used for Domestic Flights?

Domestic flights use Terminal 1 at Kobe Airport. The domestic flight slots have been expanded from 80 to 120 since April, 2025. The airlines operating domestic routes from Kobe Airport are All Nippon Airlines (ANA), Skymark Airlines (SKY), Solaseed Air (SNJ), Air Do (ADO), Fuji Dream Airlines (FDA), and Toki Air (TOK).

Which Terminal at Kobe Airport is Used for International Flights?

On April 18, 2025, Terminal 2 opened and is used for international flights. The international airlines operating from Kobe Airport include Korean Air, Juneyao Air, Starlux Airlines, and EVA Air.

How Many People Use Kobe Airport in a Year?

When the airport opened in 2006, it served 354,146 passengers with a boarding rate of 72.5%. Kobe Airport has significantly increased its passenger numbers over the years, reaching 3,545,886 passengers in 2024, with a boarding rate of 78.2%.

Highspeed Ferry Service from Kobe Airport to Kansai International Airport

There is a high-speed ferry available between Kobe Airport and Osaka’s Kansai International Airport. That service travels over Osaka Bay and takes only 30 minutes between Kobe and Osaka airports. The cost is 1880 JPY for a one-way ticket, and 3060 JPY for round trip.

If the ferry is cancelled due to the weather concerns, there are alternative buses. This service makes it fast and easy for passengers to transfer between airports.

What is the Most Common Way Visitors Travel to Kobe?

For visitors coming to Kobe City, there are a variety of transportation options including airplanes, local trains, shinkansen, and cars.

For people coming from areas that are close to Kobe – Kinki, Chugoku, Shikoku, and Chubu regions – local trains and cars are a common solution (source: FeelKOBE). For visitors from the Kanto region (including Tokyo) or the Kyushu region, these visitors typically use the shinkansen highspeed train service to Kobe. Airport passengers usually come from more distant areas, such as the Tohoku region and the southern part of the Kyushu region, or from international destinations.

Kobe Airport also serves as a gateway for Kobe residents traveling to other distant destinations. According to the City of Kobe, the top three destinations (for 2024) from Kobe Airport are: Haneda Airport (Tokyo), 1,104,287 passengers; Naha Airport (Okinawa), 913,983 passengers; and New Chitose (Hokkaido), 856,498 passengers.

Kobe Airport is Managed by the Kansai Airport Group

Kobe Airport is operated by a company called the Kansai Airport Group.

Kobe Airport was originally managed by the city of Kobe. In 2018, the Kansai Airport Group took over the operations of Kobe Airport. In addition to Kobe Airport (UKB), the Kansai Airport Group (which is a group of nine companies) also manages Osaka Itami Airport (ITM) and Kansai International Airport (KIX).