Tourist Attractions in Kobe, Japan

As a resource for visitors to Kobe, this article will explore the most popular attractions visited by tourists in Kobe, Japan. Below is a list of famous locations where tourists and visitors can enjoy spending time with friends and family in Kobe City.

Places to visit in Kobe

– Famous Tourists Attractions in Kobe, Japan
– Zoos in Kobe / Aquarium in Kobe
– Best Museums in Kobe
– Best Places for Shopping in Kobe
– Shrines and Temples in Kobe
– Best Parks and Gardens in Kobe
– Kobe Onsen
– Famouse Festivals in Kobe

== Famous Tourists Attractions in Kobe, Japan

Kobe Chinatown Nankin-machi

— Address: 1-3-18 Sakaemachidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0023
— Website: https://www.nankinmachi.or.jp/

Nankin-machi is one of the famous Chinatown neighborhoods in Japan (following Yokohama and Nagasaki). There are 88 shops and restaurants where you can enjoy Chinese food, ingredients, and other products from China. Moreover, the Chinese New Year celebration and Mid-Autumn Festival are held here every year.

Kobe Brick Warehouse

— Address: 1-5-5 Higashikawasakicho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0044
— Website: https://kobe-renga.jp/

Kobe Brick Warehouse was built in the late 1890s in the English bond style and was originally used to store cargo arriving at Kobe Port. Two houses from that period remain by the seaside, and have been renovated. Today those structures are used as photo studios, restaurants, and as shops.

Kobe Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

— Address: Kitanocho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0002
— Admission Fee: Depends on the Ijinkan you visit
— Website: https://www.kobeijinkan.com/

Following the opening of Kobe Port, the number of foreign residents increased, leading to the creation of the Ijinkan (foreigners’ residence) town. Despite the fact that many of the 200 original Ijinkan were destroyed during and after World War II, some remain due to the city’s preservation efforts.

There are 16 Ijinkan to visit, each offering unique exhibitions and hands-on craft experiences reflecting their country of origin. In addition to the Ijinkan, there are bakeries, cafés, and rental shops offering traditional Japanese clothing, so you can enjoy dressing up and going around the town.

== Zoos in Kobe / Aquarium in Kobe

Kobe Animal Kingdom

— Address: 7 Chome-1-9 Minatojima Minamimachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0047
— Admission Fee: Adults 2,200JPY, 6-12yo 1,200JPY, Children 500JPY, Over 65yo 1,600JPY
— Website: https://www.kobe-oukoku.com/en

Kobe Animal Kingdom is located on Port Island, between Kobe Airport and Kobe city. It is more than just a zoo, offering activities such as free-flight bird shows, camel rides, and opportunities to feed the animals.

Kobe Ōji Zoo

— Address: 3 Chome-1 Ojicho, Nada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo 657-0838
— Admission Fee: Adults 600JPY, Children Free
— Website: https://www.kobe-ojizoo.jp/guide/fl/

Kobe Oji Zoo is a popular attraction for both children and adults. The zoo features an animal section, an animal science section, a theme park, and restaurants.

Átoa

— Address: 7-2 Shinkocho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0041
— Admission Fee: Adults 2,800JPY, 13-18yo 2,400JPY, 6-12yo 1,600JPY, 3-6yo Free entry for one child per adult
— Website: https://atoa-kobe.jp/

Átoa is the aquarium in Kobe, featuring live fish and other attractions. Known for its photogenic displays, the aquarium attracts visitors from Japan and around the world.

== Best Museums in Kobe

There are several wonderful museums in Kobe where visitors can learn and enjoy while in Kobe City. Here is a selection of the top museums for a variety of tastes.

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art

— Address: 1 Chome-1-1 Wakinohamakaigandori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-0073
— Admission Fee: Adults: 550JPY, University students: 400JPY, High school students and younger: Free
— Website: https://www.artm.pref.hyogo.jp/

Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art has collected around 13,000 works since its days as the former Museum of Modern Art.

Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall

— Address: 1-6-2 Higashikawasakicho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0044
— Admission Fee: 2,000JPY ～ 2,500JPY
— Website: https://www.kobe-anpanman.jp/

Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall is popular with children and their parents. The Anpanman museum is at the end of a outdoor shopping mall called Mosaic. Children and their parents can enjoy the museum, parents can have fun at the attached shopping mall. There is also an outdoor train ride, and a ferris wheel, located next to the museum.

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

— Address: 7-5-1, Kumochicho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo, 651-0056
— Admission Fee: Adults: 700JPY, Seniors: 500JPY, Students: 500JPY, Children: Free
— Website: https://en.dougukan.jp/

The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum is located near Shin-Kobe Station. It is the only museum in Japan that aims to collect and preserve vanishing carpentry tools as part of the national heritage, and pass them on to future generations through research and exhibitions.

While in the same neighborhood, visitors might also want to see the Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway (located a short walk away).

== Kobe best shopping places/malls

There are several high-end department stores in Kobe, as well as some Kobe shopping malls, that are popular with both locals and tourists. For more information, see our guide to shopping in Kobe.

Daimaru Kobe

— Address: 40 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0037
— Station: Motomachi Station
— Website: https://www.daimaru.co.jp/kobe/

Daimaru became Japan’s top-selling department store and earned a reputation as one of the nation’s top department stores. Daimaru operates nine stores in Japan, mainly around the Kansai area (where Kobe is located). There is a beautiful Daimaru located in the Akashimachi district of Chuo Ward, near Chinatown.

Kobe Sanda Premium Outlets

— Address: 7-3 Kozudai, Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1515
— Station: Take a bust from Sanda Station
— Website: https://www.premiumoutlets.co.jp/kobesanda/

Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets is one of Japan’s best outlet malls, featuring around 220 shops, including restaurants. The architecture is inspired by Pasadena, a luxurious residential area in Los Angeles.

Kōbe Hankyū

— Address: 8 Chome-1-8 Onoedori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-8511
— Station: Kobe-Sannomiya Station
— Website: https://global.hankyu-hanshin-dept.co.jp/store/kobe/

Kobe Hankyu is one of several excellent department stores in Kobe. Hankyu Department Store was the first in the world to open directly connected to a railway station; this store is located next to Kobe-Sannomiya Station. Today, the Hankyu company operates 12 stores (mainly in the Kansai region), with additional locations in the Kanto and Kyushu regions. For example, the Hankyu department store in Osaka is the most popular department store in that city.

Umie

— Address: 1-7-2 Higashikawasakicho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0044
— Station: Harborland Station
— Website: https://umie.jp/

Umie is a shopping mall that has approximately 200 shops. Some restaurants are open until 10 PM so that you can enjoy the night view after dinner.

== Best Shrines and Temples in Kobe

Visitors can enjoy Japanese tradition by going to shrines and temples in Kobe.

Ikuta Shrine

— Address: 1 Chome-2-1 Shimoyamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe　City, Hyogo 650-0011
— Website: https://ikutajinja.or.jp/

Ikuta Shrine is an ancient shrine with a history of over 1,800 years. The name “Kobe” originated from the “Kanbe,” the families who protected the deity of Ikuta. The word “Ikuta” meaning a place brimming with vibrant life force.

Sumadera Temple

— Address: 4 Chome-6-8 Sumaderacho, Suma Ward, Kobe　City, Hyogo 654-0071,
— Website: https://sumadera.or.jp/english/

The temple is nationally renowned as an ancient site connected to the Genpei War, featuring numerous treasures and historical landmarks. It also contains many sites associated with The Tale of Genji, making it a destination rich in historical significance and cultural heritage.

== Best Parks and Gardens in Kobe

In this section, we will recommend three of the best parks and gardens in Kobe, which are Meriken Park, Nunobiki, and Mt.Rokko.

Meriken park

Meriken Park is located near Harborland, and is home to the famous “BE KOBE” monument. Many attractions, such as Átoa, Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall, and Kobe Brick Warehouse, are near the Meriken Park area. There is also a tower called Kobe Port Tower that allows tourist to see the view of Kobe.

Kobe Port Tower
— Address: 5-5 Hatoba-cho, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo, 650-0042
— Admission Fee: Adults: 1,200 JPY, Children: 500 JPY, Toddlers: Free
— Website: https://www.kobe-port-tower.com/

Kobe Port Tower was built in 1963, offers panoramic views of the city and its port.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

— Address: 1-chōme-4-3 Kitanochō, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0002
— Admission Fee: Adults: 2,000 JPY, Children (elementary to Junior high school students): 1,000 JPY, Pre school: Free
— Website: https://www.kobeherb.com/

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway has the biggest scenic garden in Japan, as well as four waterfalls on the way to the garden from the foot of the mountain.

There are 12 themed gardens featuring different flowers and plants that change with the seasons. A ropeway operates from the foot of the mountain to take visitors to the Herb Gardens.

For visitors that don’t want to take the ropeway, you can walk from the entrance up the hill to see the gardens and waterfalls.

Mt. Rokko

Mt. Rokko is a popular tourist destination known for offering one of Japan’s “Three Great Night Views.”

Observation Deck
— Address: 1-32 Ichigatani, Rokkocho, Nada Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 657-0101
— Admission Fee: Adults: 500 JPY, Children: 200 JPY, Under 3 years old: Free
— Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/tenrandai/

In commemoration of Emperor Showa’s visit on May 25, 1981, this spot was named Tenrandai, meaning “the place where the Emperor views.”

Rokko Garden Terrace
— Address: 1877-9 Rokkosancho, Nada Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 657-0101
— Admission Fee: Entrance fee: free (Inside facilities require an additional fee)
— Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/gt/

Rokko Garden Terrace is one of Japan’s top scenic viewpoints, offering panoramic views from the Akashi Strait to Kansai International Airport. Within the terrace, several lookout spots provide different perspectives and atmospheres depending on the angle and time of day.

Mt. Rokkō Snow Park
— Address: 4512-98 Kitarokko, Rokkosan-cho, Nada Ward, Kobe CIty, Hyogo 657-0101
— Admission Fee: Adults: 2,500 JPY, Children: 1,300 JPY (Excluding a rental fee)
— Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/ski/

Rokko Snow Park is an artificial snow theme park offering not only skiing and snowboarding but also sledding and snow play. The gentle slopes of the main run are perfect for beginners, and a full range of rental equipment makes it easy for anyone to join in the fun.

Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden
— Address: 4512-150 Kitarokko, Rokkosancho, Nada Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 657-0101
— Admission Fee: Adults: 900 JPY, Children: 450 JPY
— Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/hana/

This botanical garden cultivates around 1,500 species of alpine and cold-climate plants in a natural setting. Visitors can enjoy seasonal highlights such as spring flowers, summer greenery, and brilliant autumn foliage, along with a plant-themed shop and a cozy café.

== Best Onsen in Kobe

Kobe is one of the top destinations for hot springs in Japan. There are onsen and sento located within Kobe’s downtown area, as well as the famous onsen in Arima (located in the mountains outside of downtown Kobe). For more information, see our guide to hot springs in Kobe.

Arima Onsen

— Address: Kita Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo 651-1401
— Website: https://www.arima-onsen.com/

Arima onsen is one of the most famous onsen towns in Japan. There are many onsen (featuring natural mineral water) that are open to the public for day use. There are also many hotels that have their own onsen. The Arima onsen town offers a variety of cafés, restaurants, and souvenir shops for visitors to enjoy.

== Famous Festivals in Kobe

Below we feature two of the the most famous festivals in Kobe. For more information, see our articles about events in Kobe City and Kobe festivals.

Danjiri Festival

— Date: 3rd to 5th of May
— Time: Depends on the area
— Location: Higashinada Ward
— Website: https://www.uhara-danjiri.jp/

The Danjiri Festival refers to a general term for festivals in which people pull dashi (festival floats) used in shrine ceremonies to pray for a good harvest of grains. Kobe has a unique Danjiri style as people dance on the top of the floats while putting on make-up.

Kobe Festival and Parade

— Date: The third Saturday of May
— Time: 11:00 – 17:00
— Location: Sannomiya area
— Website: https://kobe-matsuri.com/

The Kobe Festival takes place in the streets around Sannomiya Station. People enjoy seeing performances including parades with singing, dancing, and costumes.

Popular Tourist Attractions in Kobe, Japan