Kobe travel guide

Kobe Tourism | Kobe Guide

You're Going to Love Kobe

With a population of 1.53 million, Kobe is the largest city in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan by the number of inhabitants. It is one of the most popular cities to visit in the country. Consider staying at least one whole day in Kobe to see all of its attractions.

Where to Eat in Kobe

If you’re looking for affordable options, MAIN DINING by THE HOUSE OF PACIFIC - ORIENTAL HOTEL (京町25) and スカイグリルブッフェ GOCOCU - 神戸ポートピアホテル (港島中町6-10-1) are great picks.

When to visit Kobe

Kobe in January
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel
Kobe in January
Estimated hotel price
$108
1 night at 3-star hotel

Looking for warm weather? Then head to Kobe in August, when the average temperature is 27 °C, and the highest can go up to 30 °C. The coldest month, on the other hand, is January, when it can get as cold as 1 °C, with an average temperature of 4 °C. You’re likely to see more rain in June, when precipitation is around 199 mm. In contrast, January is usually the driest month of the year in Kobe, with an average rainfall of 45 mm.

Data provided by weatherbase
Temperatures
Temperatures
Data provided by weatherbase

How to Get to Kobe

Plane

When flying to Kobe, you’ll arrive at Kobe (UKB), which is located 7 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Kobe from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 15h 45m.

Train

Train is the only carrier operating train routes to Kobe. The train station in Kobe is called Kobe Shin-Kobe, and is located 2.1 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Kobe is to pick up a car hire from Osaka, which is about 29 km from Kobe. You’ll find branches of Relax Rent A Car and Europcar, among others, in Osaka.

Plane

When flying to Kobe, you’ll arrive at Kobe (UKB), which is located 7 km from the city centre. The shortest flight to Kobe from New Zealand departs from Auckland and takes around 15h 45m.

Train

Train is the only carrier operating train routes to Kobe. The train station in Kobe is called Kobe Shin-Kobe, and is located 2.1 km from the city centre.

Car

Another option to get to Kobe is to pick up a car hire from Osaka, which is about 29 km from Kobe. You’ll find branches of Relax Rent A Car and Europcar, among others, in Osaka.

Airports near Kobe

Airlines serving Kobe

Lufthansa
Good (4,640 reviews)
KLM
Good (849 reviews)
British Airways
Good (4,472 reviews)
Delta
Good (4,600 reviews)
Turkish Airlines
Good (2,300 reviews)
Air France
Good (982 reviews)
United Airlines
Good (4,935 reviews)
Emirates
Excellent (2,126 reviews)
Qatar Airways
Good (2,480 reviews)
Air Canada
Good (5,769 reviews)
Finnair
Good (879 reviews)
Singapore Airlines
Excellent (913 reviews)
Etihad Airways
Good (832 reviews)
Ethiopian Air
Good (397 reviews)
Alaska Airlines
Excellent (5,548 reviews)
ITA Airways
Good (710 reviews)
Cathay Pacific
Good (495 reviews)
Malaysia Airlines
Good (181 reviews)
Korean Air
Excellent (775 reviews)
ANA
Excellent (462 reviews)
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Where to stay in Kobe

From 5-star hotels such as the Ana Crowne Plaza Kobe, An IHG Hotel to great affordable options like the Ariston Hotel Kobe, Kobe offers a range of accommodations for every taste. Average rates range from around $162 per night for a double room in a 3-star hotel to $208 and up for a 5-star experience.

Where to stay in popular areas of Kobe

Most booked hotels in Kobe

Arima Onsen Tocen Goshobo
4 stars
Excellent (9.1, Excellent reviews)
$436+
Kobe Minato Onsen Ren
4 stars
Excellent (9, Excellent reviews)
$326+
Hotel Okura Kobe
4 stars
Excellent (8.7, Excellent reviews)
$119+
Negiya Ryofukaku
3 stars
Excellent (8.6, Excellent reviews)
$342+
Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel
4 stars
Excellent (8.4, Excellent reviews)
$111+
Kobe Sannomiya Union Hotel
3 stars
Good (7.5, Good reviews)
$57+

Hiring a car in Kobe

Expect to pay $1.89 per litre in Kobe (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $22.63 and $30.17. Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Kobe, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.

Expect to pay $1.89 per litre in Kobe (average price from the past 30 days). Depending on the size of your car hire, filling up the tank will cost between $22.63 and $30.17. Economy (Class Economy Car or similar) is the most popular car type to hire in Kobe, while also 49% cheaper than other types, on average.