Visit HYOGO

This key station provides excellent access to the different parts of the city of Kobe. Close by, you’ll find an expansive shopping area and the scenery of a port town—this is your starting point for sightseeing and gourmet.

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.

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

Meriken Park, with its pleasant sea breezes, is home to many of the symbols of the Port of Kobe. This waterfront area is a representative part of Kobe, made up of the once-bustling Meriken Wharf (derived from “American Wharf”) and the reclaimed land of Japan’s first modern quay.

It is full of highlights, including the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park, which informs visitors of the damage caused by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake; Kobe Port Tower, with panoramic views of the streets of Kobe; and the Kobe Maritime Museum, created in the image of a white sailing ship!

Within the park, the “BE KOBE” monument is a particularly popular photo spot. It is lit up at night, so you can make the most of a fantastical atmosphere that merges into the port’s nightscape. The wide lawn area is a great rest spot for enjoying a picnic or stroll. The largest Starbucks in western Japan is also located here, and we recommend spending some leisurely moments there as you gaze out at the sea.

Kobe Port Tower stands lofty in the port as the symbol of Kobe. Its shape, similar to a red taiko drum, has given it the nickname “steel tower beauty,” and it has been loved by the people for many years. It was opened in 1963, commemorating 90 years since the opening of the Port of Kobe, and its unique architecture was the first in the world to be created from pipes.

It underwent a large renovation in 2024, and was reborn with new, additional appeal. A rooftop deck was created at its apex, with sweeping views of Kobe’s streets and sea. Here, you can gaze out at a 360-degree panorama of Kobe’s glittering streetscapes, the vast Osaka Bay, and the magnificent Mt. Rokko from a height of 100 meters. You can enjoy not only open daytime views, but also seemingly bejeweled magical night scenery, making this a popular dating spot for couples.

Inside, the tower is packed with areas of interest, including the Brilliance Museum that exhibits works based on the theme of “light” and a cafe & bar where you can savor a meal together with the view. The fifth floor has plenty of photo spots—perfect for a snap with your family as a reminder.

Experience both the history and future of Kobe in Kobe Port Tower. Its changing façade in the daylight and night makes it different each time you visit, so you can come for multiple trips.

This station is convenient for its proximity to Nankinmachi and the former foreign settlement area. It is located by shopping streets and cafes, and you can enjoy a walk while experiencing quintessential Kobe scenery here.