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A city terminal connecting Kansai

Kobe’s Nankinmachi is one of Japan’s three big Chinatowns, together with Yokohama Chinatown and Nagasaki Shinchi Chinatown. Located in an area measuring 270 meters east-west and 110 meters north-south that is a quick walk away from JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station, the lively streets of Nankinmachi buzz with Chinese eateries and general goods stores. The historic streetscape was built by people who came to Japan from China with the opening of the Port of Kobe in the Meiji period (1868–1912), and remains today.

Nankinmachi’s greatest appeal has to be trying the different foods! Appetizing aromas drift from the stalls along the road, and you can easily enjoy authentic Chinese gourmet dishes, including butaman steamed pork buns, xiaolongbao soup dumplings, Peking duck, and shark fin soup here. Stores you’ll especially want to visit are the long-established Roushouki, said to have sold the first butaman in Japan, and the YUNYUN, offering popular fried xiaolongbao.

Crimson gates and lanterns line the streets, and taking in this Chinatown’s exotic ambiance is a fascinating experience. The central Nankinmachi Square is a perfect place for a commemorative photograph.

This Chinatown holds plenty of events—in addition to Shunsetsusai, the celebration of the lunar new year, and the mid-Autumn festival, which celebrates the harvest moon, you can also enjoy the December Lantern Fair, with magical lamps. It's a destination that is lively throughout the year.

*Please don't eat/drink as you are walking around

This popular part of Kobe holds Western-style residences from the Meiji period (1868–1912). Look out over the streets and sea from part-way up the hilly road, and enjoy the exotic buildings and cafes.

This popular spot, representative of Kobe, allows visitors to enjoy both the beauty of nature and views of the city at once.

Take the ropeway that leaves from the Bottom Station, five minutes’ walk from Shin-Kobe Station, and start a comfortable 10-minute journey through the air to the Top Station. The glass-sided gondolas offer panoramic views of the streetscapes and port of Kobe, as well as the scenery of Nunobiki Falls, selected as one of Japan’s 100 best waterfalls.

The mountaintop stands at approximately 400 meters above sea level. Here, you’ll find one of Japan’s largest herb gardens, where around 75,000 herbs and flowers of about 200 species bloom through the four seasons in 12 themed gardens. One of the herb gardens’ greatest appeals is the different scenery created at different times of year, with tulips and roses in the spring, lavender and sunflowers in the summer, and cosmos in the fall.

You can also enjoy various experience programs in the herb gardens. Making items for everyday life and aromatic goods using seasonal herbs will leave you with a perfect memory of your trip! Plus, you can taste herbal cuisine and original teas in the restaurant, which offers fantastic views. We recommend sitting back and relaxing in the herbal footbath after taking a stroll.

This is a spot that you can visit as a couple or with family, as well as a place you can feel at ease if you are travelling alone.

Arima Onsen is famous as one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs. Traditional ryokan inns and souvenir stores line the sloping roads, and visitors can enjoy an atmospheric stroll through the streets, including visits to bathe in the “gold” and “silver” spring waters.

This station is located in the heart of Arima Onsen. It offers easy access to the streets with ryokan inns and the open-air bath area—you can feel the atmosphere of a hot spring resort as soon as you arrive.

This famous castle is representative of Japan, being the country’s first registered UNESCO World Heritage site together with Horyuji Temple in Nara. Its beautiful white walls have given it the nickname “white heron castle,” and visitors are captivated by its elegant shape, resembling a heron spreading its wings. This castle boasts around 400 years of history, and has been passed down to us today in its original form as a castle that escaped the fires and ravages of war.

Its ingenious design to prevent enemy invasion is one reason for its fame. The castle’s clever tricks, such as its complex, maze-like pathways and steep steps, excite each time you step inside. We also recommend looking for the kokuin, the carved seals of the stonemasons engraved all over the stone walls. The top floor of the keep offers a superb 360-degree panoramic view! Enjoy picturesque scenery as you look out over the castle town and the distant mountains.

Himeji Castle’s countenance differs in each season. In the spring, the blooming cherry blossoms create a contrast between the white keep and the pink flowers, with particularly breathtaking beauty. Plus, you mustn’t miss the castle when it is lit up at night in white, bringing out the white plaster, and in seasonal colors.

Koko-en garden is located on the former site of the Nishi-oyashiki, the western residences of World Heritage Site Himeji Castle. It is a Japanese stroll garden that incorporates the sight of Himeji Castle in its vista. Koko-en was opened in 1992, and nine tasteful gardens stretch across its wide area, created in the style of the Edo period (1603–1868).

The Oyashiki no Niwa (Garden of the Lord’s Residence) in the center of Kokoen offers dynamic scenery with a waterfall, pond, and small river. The graceful koi carp in the pond and the seasonal flowers draw the eye with their bright color. The Nagare no Hiraniwa (Flatly Landscaped Garden) lies in the midst of a bamboo grove; here, you can spend a special time in the Souju-an Teahouse, with the comforting sound of clear water. Savor matcha green tea and confections with a moment of relaxation. There’s also a number of other elaborately designed gardens, such as the Nae no Niwa (Seedling Garden) where lots of different flowers bloom in each season, that captivate visitors.

Koko-en Garden displays different scenery throughout the year, with cherry blossoms in the spring, fresh greenery in the early summer, crimson leaves in the fall, and snowscapes in the winter. The vividly colored leaves illuminated in the fall are a particular highlight, standing out against the darkness of the night with breathtaking beauty. Why not spend some time in these picturesque gardens, filled with a feeling of history, and experience the four seasons of Japan?

This ancient temple of the Tendai School was built on top of Mt. Shosha, rising above Himeji City. As this is also a place of ascetic practice, like Mt. Hiei (a historically significant mountain on the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures), it is known as the Mount Hiei of the West. It was founded in 966 by Shoku-Shonin, a holy priest. It is well-known as the 27th temple of the 33-temple Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and is visited by a large number of tourists and worshippers.

Head up the mountain on the Mt. Shosha Ropeway, and the first thing you’ll see is the Mani-den, a magnificent building with a stage-like structure. Built upon a precipitous cliff, it is reminiscent of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, and has an overwhelming presence. If you go inside, you’ll find a tranquil and solemn space with three sites of worship arranged in a U shape: the main Daiko-do, Jiki-do, and Jogyo-do.

The large temple grounds are dotted with nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and Cultural Properties designated by Hyogo Prefecture—you’ll need around an hour and a half or two hours to see all the highlights. Participate in a sutra-copying or zazen meditation experience and try vegetarian Buddhist shojin ryori cuisine; here, you can make the most of a precious experience to purify your mind and heart among history and nature.

This temple is also known as a location used in a number of movies, including the Last Samurai and Rurouni Kenshin. Why not spend a peaceful time in a space where history and nature intertwine?

Uonotana Shopping Street is located around three minutes’ walk from Akashi Station, and is a well-loved shopping area affectionately known as Uontana by the locals. This approximately 350-meter arcade is home to around 110 stores, and fascinates visitors with its overflowing rows of fresh fish and shellfish, as well as Akashi’s unique specialty produce and seasonal seafood only available at certain times of year. We recommend buying the glinting, fresh marine produce for souvenirs! As they can be delivered using chilled delivery, you can enjoy shopping with peace of mind.

It's fun to just look around Uonotana, but the real thrill is definitely trying the different foods! There’s such a variety you’ll be at a loss as to what to choose—perhaps the sushi, rice dishes, or grilled seafood? If you’re heading to Akashi, one thing you must try is Akashiyaki, a kind of omelet, freshly cooked and fluffy. There are several eateries that are well-patronized by local people and tourists. The authentic Akashi style involves eating this with dashi stock. You should definitely have a taste!

After you’ve eaten your fill, try walking around the shopping street. The excitement continues with Akashi’s unique products: there are souvenir shops with popular goods based on Akashi City’s colorful, patterned manholes and octopuses, and sake stores that stock Akashi’s local sake. Enjoy a wonderful time as you mix with the local people. Then, as the sun sets, Uonotana’s appearance changes and the night begins. Relax and enjoy some sake with oden (a type of hotpot) or carefully savor sushi at a counter—there’s different ways of having fun for everyone. Make the most of a lively time here from morning until night.

This is one of the world’s longest suspension bridges, connecting Awaji Island with Kobe. It is an impressive 3,911 meters in length, and while it serves as an important traffic route linking Honshu and Awaji Island, it also has a distinct presence as a tourist spot that fascinates visitors.

The whole bridge is illuminated at night, creating a magical form totally different from the daytime. Different lighting is used in each season and for events, making it a great place to enjoy a romantic atmosphere.

Maiko Marine Promenade on the Kobe side of the bridge is a round-trip walkway approximately 47 meters above the sea and around 150 meters from the land. The great bridge pier, towering over Maiko Park, serves as the entrance, and this promenade offers a thrilling experience of walking through the air, seeing the expanse of sea directly below through the glass floor. The facility also holds a cafe where you can relax and enjoy the scenery and an exhibition of materials that explain the construction of the bridge in a way that is easy to understand.

If you want an even more special experience, we recommend Akashi Kaikyo Bridge’s Bridge World. This tour takes you on a walk along the normally inaccessible maintenance routes and you can climb to the very top of the bridge. From 300 meters above the sea, you can see the ships sailing through the Akashi Strait and the streets stretching out in the distance. This tour, which enables you to experience the massive scale of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge for yourself, will surely leave you with unforgettable memories.

This seaside park extends from the base of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Here, you can enjoy a promenade, museums, and seaside scenery as you get a sense of the scale of the bridge from up close.

This is a popular destination for sightseeing in Kobe, where you can make the most of your day while enjoying the scenery of the port. Kobe Harborland umie is the shopping mall in the heart of this area, and umie MOSAIC, which runs along the shoreline, charms with its feeling of openness, resembling a foreign port town. It contains cafes, restaurants, and miscellaneous goods stores, so you can enjoy meals and shopping with views of the beautiful Port of Kobe.

Once the sun sets, Harborland transforms into a magical nighttime vision. The illuminated streetscapes are reflected on the surface of the port, creating a stretch of romantic scenery. The Mosaic Big Ferris Wheel, the symbol of Harborland, is a particularly popular attraction with panoramic views of Kobe’s streetscape, which appears very different in the day and the night. Its gleaming lights rise up into the night sky, creating a special moment.

If you’d rather make the most of the Port of Kobe’s night scenery from aboard ship, we recommend THE KOBE CRUISE Concerto. This is a gourmet cruise where you can savor authentic French or teppanyaki (hot plate) cuisine while listening to live music: an extraordinary way to spend your time.

There’s also the neighboring Kobe Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall, full of places that will make your whole family smile. Feel the sea breezes as you enjoy shopping, meals, and entertainment to your heart’s content, in a special atmosphere that combines a retro red-brick warehouse and modern architecture.

This is a main station for the Shinkansen and regular train lines, connecting Kansai with the rest of the country. It offers easy access to Kyoto, Kobe, and Kansai International Airport, and is convenient as a base for tourism and business.