Kobe: Getting there and around

From/To:

Tokyo and Kobe are connected with each other by the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen. Nozomi trains require about 160 minutes to reach Shin-Kobe Station from Tokyo, while direct Hikari trains require roughly 195 minutes. The regular one way fare from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe is 14,420 yen for a non-reserved seat or around 15,000 yen for a reserved seat. The Japan Rail Pass is valid on Hikari trains, but a supplement needs to be paid on Nozomi trains.

The one way trip from Tokyo to Kobe by overnight bus takes about 8-9 hours. The competition between bus companies on the Tokyo - Osaka - Kobe route is fierce and has produced various discount offers. Fares by discount bus operators, such as Willer Express, start from around 5000 yen, and if used effectively, the Japan Bus Pass can reduce the cost for the bus trip to around 3000 yen. Buses on this price level are usually standard buses, which offer little comfort. The one way trip on more comfortable buses costs around 8500 yen. Online Reservations can be made through Willer and Japan Bus Online.

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Multiple flights are operated each day between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kobe Airport by ANA and Skymark Airlines. The regular one way fare by ANA is about 25,000 yen, while discount tickets are typically available from around 10,000 yen. The regular one way fare by Skymark Airlines is around 15,000 yen, while discount fares are usually available for below 10,000 yen.

Above fees and schedules are subject to change. Be sure to check current yen exchange rates.

Kobe's busiest railway station is not Kobe Station but Sannomiya Station at the city center. Sannomiya Station is served by multiple railway companies, including Japan Railways (JR), Hankyu Railway and Hanshin Railway. The shinkansen (bullet train) stops at Shin-Kobe Station, a short subway ride north of Sannomiya Station.

Distances between the attractions in central Kobe are relatively short, and good walkers can cover many of them on foot. There is also a tourist-oriented loop bus, which connects sites such as Kitano-cho, Nankinmachi, Meriken Park and Harborland with Shin-Kobe and Sannomiya Stations. The bus costs 260 yen per ride, while a day pass is available for 700 yen.

Kobe Airport is located on a man-made island just off the coast of central Kobe and can be reached by the Port Liner from Sannomiya Station in less than 20 minutes for 340 yen.

Special Tickets

Kobe Meguri 1 Day Coupon (1000 yen)
Unlimited use of subways, non-JR trains and some buses around Kobe on one calendar day plus a 800 yen coupon to be used on admission to selected tourist sites. Available at non-JR train stations. There are also extended versions of this ticket that include access to Kobe, e.g. the Hanshin version for 1650 yen that includes unlimited use of Hanshin trains from Osaka or the Hankyu version for 1800 yen which can be used to access Kobe from as far as Kyoto by Hankyu trains.
City Loop - Day Pass (700 yen)
Unlimited rides on the Kobe City Loop bus on one calendar day. A 2-day pass is available for 1000 yen.
Subway and Bus Day Pass (1040 yen)
Unlimited usage of Kobe's two subway lines and Kobe city buses (not including the City Loop) on one calendar day.

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- Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland
  Luxury
  
  Located at the waterfront of Kobe Harborland, Hotel La Suite offers spacious rooms with ocean views and a spa bath. It features concierge service, a French restaurant and massage treatments. Free Wi-Fi/wired internet and free videos on demand are available in the rooms. This hotel was selected as one of Top 25 Hotels in Japan by TripAdvisor's Travelers' Choice Award 2013. Luxurious rooms come with a large flat-screen TV, a DVD player and extra long beds. Bathrooms have a TV and a hot tub, some with sea views. Amenities include a bathrobe, a humidifier with aroma diffuser and Phytomer brand bath salt. Guests at La Suite Kobe can lounge on comfortable sofas on the rooftop terrace. The hotel offers laundry and baby-sitting services. Bicycle and laptop rentals are available, and a free internet-PC is provided at the lobby. Creative French cuisine is presented in a decor of soft carpeting and wide windows at restaurant Le Coeur, while cafe Grand Blue serves a wide range of drinks and light meals. Restaurant Kokoro offers contemporary Japanese cooking inspired on traditional dishes. Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland is a 4-minute walk from Minato-Motomachi Station. It's only a 3-minute walk from Kobe Tower, and a 6-minute stroll from Meriken Park. Kobe Airport is a 15-minute drive away.
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- Arima Onsen Tocen Goshobo
  Luxury
  
  Founded in the 12th century and beloved by Junichiro Tanizaki and other Japanese novelists, Tosen Goshobo is the oldest of the hot-spring inns at Arima. Standing beside the Taki River, it features outdoor hot-spring baths and traditional in-room meals and is a 5-minute walk from Arima Onsen Train Station. The Japanese rooms have traditional futon bedding and a minibar. The 20 rooms at Arima Onsen Tosen Goshobo include tatami (woven-straw) floors and shoji paper screens. Guests can relax at the seating area and enjoy the zen atmosphere with a cup of green tea. Bathing facilities are shared. Right next to the Hankyu Highway Bus station, the ryokan is a 3-minute walk from the Arima Toys and Automata Museum. Zuihoji Park is 900 metres away. Shin-Kobe Shinkansen Station is a 30-minute train ride. Breakfast is Japanese-style with black-bean tofu, and dinner features specialties such as Kobe beef, fresh fish from Akashi-Ura port.
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- Arima Onsen Taketoritei Maruyama
  Luxury
  
  Taketoritei Maruyama is a non-smoking Japanese-style accommodation featuring natural hot spring baths for private use and free Wi-Fi throughout the property. From its hilltop location a 15-minute walk from Kobe Electric Railway Arima Onsen Station, it offers sweeping views of Arima Onsen. Guests at Maruyama Taketoritei can privately unwind in a hot spring bath, or relax with a massage treatment. Facilities include drinks vending machines, while a free shuttle service is available to/from Kobe Electric Railway Arima Onsen Station and Arima Onsen Bus Stop. Air-conditioned rooms feature a seating area with a tatami (woven-straw) floor and a low table with seating cushions. Some rooms offer beds, while others have traditional futon bedding. All rooms are equipped with an LCD TV, yukata robes and a fridge. The property is a 10-minute walk from the Arima Onsen area. Osaka�fs Umeda station is a 55-minute bus ride away.
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- ORIENTAL HOTEL
  Luxury
  
  Overlooking the beautiful Kobe Harbour, Oriental Hotel offers luxurious accommodation in the heart of the historic Kyu-Kyoryuchi area. Guests can work out at the free-use fitness centre, or relax with beauty massages at the on-site salon. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the property. Rooms with chic d?cor are fitted with stylish furnishings, and feature a flat-screen TV, a fridge and an electric kettle. The en suite bathroom includes a bath tub and free toiletries. Most rooms boast views of either the harbour or the city. The 24-hour front desk at the Hotel Oriental offers luggage storage services for free. In-room massages can be arranged at an extra charge. A range of items like a DVD player, humidifier and iron can be borrowed from the reception. The hotel is a 10-minute walk from both JR Sannomiya and Motomachi stations. Shin-kobe Shinkansen (bullet train) Station is a 5-minute drive away. Kobe City Museum is situated right next to the hotel, and Meriken Park can be reached within a 5-minute walk. Main Dining by the House of Pacific serves sophisticated Western dishes, while Kanesaka offers delicately prepared sushi. Teppanyaki can be enjoyed at Steak House Medium Rare, and The Bar J. W. Hart lets guests savour cocktails with the gorgeous harbour views.
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- Kobe Guesthouse MAYA
  Budget-friendly
  
  Set within 3.5 km of Kobe Center for Overseas Migration and Cultural Interaction and 8.6 km of Noevir Stadium Kobe, Kobe Guesthouse MAYA offers rooms with air conditioning and a shared bathroom in Kobe. Among the facilities at this property are a shared kitchen and a shared lounge, along with free WiFi throughout the property. The property is non-smoking and is located 15 km from Emba Museum of Chinese Modern Art. The units feature a shared bathroom, a hairdryer and bed linen. The area is popular for hiking, and bike hire is available at the hostel. Mount Maya is 16 km from Kobe Guesthouse MAYA, while Onsen-ji Temple is 16 km away. Kobe Airport is 10 km from the property.
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- Arima Grand Hotel
  Luxury
  
  Boasting an open-air hot springs bath and spacious garden, Arima Grand Hotel is located a 10-minute walk away from Arima Onsen Station. Free WiFi is available in all rooms. Free private parking is also available on site. The entire property is non-smoking, while guests can smoke in the designated smoking area. All air-conditioned rooms come with a flat-screen TV, hairdryer and a mountain view. For guests' comfort, slippers and free toiletries are provided. Some rooms include a private bathroom. A seasonal outdoor pool, various spa and wellness facilities are available at a surcharge. Guests can enjoy the public hot springs bath free of charge. There is also a hot springs bath that is available for private use upon prior reservation at an additional fee. Arima Grand Hotel is situated a 40-minute car ride away from Kobe city and a 25-minute car ride away from Rokko Mountain Snow Park. This accommodation can be reached from Kobe Airport by a 30-minute drive. Mt. Maya is a 35-minute car ride away.
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- Tabiyu Abrigo
  Mid-range
  
  Tabiyu Abrigo is located in the Arima Onsen district of Kobe, a few steps from Arima Toys and Automata Museum, 100 metres from Zempuku-ji Temple and 100 metres from Onsen-ji Temple. Featuring mountain and city views, this aparthotel also offers free WiFi. This 3-star aparthotel offers private entrance. All units in the aparthotel are fitted with a kettle. Complete with a private bathroom equipped with a bidet and slippers, the units at the aparthotel have a TV and air conditioning, and selected rooms come with a balcony. At the aparthotel, every unit includes bed linen and towels. The aparthotel is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. Guests at the aparthotel will be able to enjoy activities in and around Kobe, like hiking. Popular points of interest near Tabiyu Abrigo include Nenbutsu-ji Temple, Gokurakuji Temple and Tosen Shrine. The nearest airport is Itami Airport, 23 km from the accommodation.
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- Hotel Hanakoyado
  Mid-range
  
  Offering stylish rooms with shoji paper screens and Western beds, Hotel Hanakoyado is only a 6-minute walk from Arima Onsen Train Station. It features hot-spring baths and a massage service. The air-conditioned rooms at Hanakoyado Hotel include a fridge and tea maker. Each has an attached toilet, and bathing facilities are shared. Arima Toys and Automata Museum is just 100 metres from the ryokan. JR Sannomiya Train Station is a 35-minute train ride away. Reservable baths for private use are available 24/7. Guests can take a break from the baths to go fishing or hike along one of the area�fs trails. Meals are served at Shunju Dining Room and feature grilled fish and meats.
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- Arima Onsen Takayamaso Hanano
  Luxury
  
  Set in Kobe and only 100 metres from Tenjin Gensen, Arima Onsen Takayamaso Hanano offers accommodation with mountain views, free WiFi and free private parking. Each accommodation at the 4-star ryokan has city views, and guests can enjoy access to a hot spring bath and spa facilities. The accommodation features a lift, full-day security and luggage storage for guests. The ryokan will provide guests with air-conditioned units with a desk, a coffee machine, a fridge, a safety deposit box, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a bidet. The ryokan provides certain units that feature a terrace, and the units have a kettle. At the ryokan, each unit comes with bed linen and towels. Guests at the ryokan can enjoy an Asian breakfast. The ryokan is located in a geothermal area, with a number of hot springs nearby for guests to relax in. A variety of wellness packages are available for guests to get rejuvenated on-site. Guests can also relax in the garden or in the shared lounge area. Popular points of interest near Arima Onsen Takayamaso Hanano include Zempuku-ji Temple, Hosenji Temple and Philatelic Culture Museum Arima, Kobe. Itami Airport is 23 km away.
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- Kobe Minato Onsen Ren
  Luxury
  
  Located a 5-minute taxi ride from Sannomiya Station and Motomachi Station, Kobe Minato Onsen Ren boasts a variety of hot spring baths, a year-round hot spring outdoor pool, an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and hot stone spa facilities. Free WiFi is provided throughout the property and private parking is available on site at a fee. Each room at this hotel features a terrace with a sea view, a Japanese-style seating area with a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with free toiletries. A fridge, a minibar and an electric kettle are also provided. The hotel offers free shuttle service between Sannomiya Station and the hotel. Other services include massage treatments, dry cleaning, ironing, concierge and luggage storage. Guests can enjoy Japanese dishes prepared using fresh seasonal ingredients at the hotel. Noevir Stadium Kobe is 3.6 km from Kobe Minato Onsen Ren, while Mount Maya is 6 km away. The nearest airport is Osaka Itami Airport, a 40-minute shuttle bus ride from JR Sannomiya Station.
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