Hotel-Top Official Lighthouse Open Day 2026

Dates & time: November 1, 2026 (Sun) 15:30–16:30 (reception from 15:20, last entry 16:20)
Price & booking: Free No reservation needed. Go straight up to the 14th floor during opening hours.
Venue & access: 14th-floor balcony, Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel About 15 minutes on foot from JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station, or take the hotel's free shuttle bus from Sannomiya (about 20 minutes). On the day, use the elevator on the hotel's 3rd floor to go up to the 14th floor.

There are 1 public restrooms within a 8-minute walk of 14th-floor balcony, Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. The map shows each with its walking time.

Facility data comes from OpenStreetMap. It does not include opening hours, fees or availability.

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Why You Should Visit

Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel carries what is described as Japan's only official lighthouse built on a hotel, recognised by the Japan Coast Guard. On November 1, Lighthouse Day, the normally closed 14th-floor balcony opens for one hour so anyone can see the lighthouse up close, free and without booking. The light first shone from the old Oriental Hotel in 1964 and was taken over by the new hotel in 1995 after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake; it still guides ships in and out of Kobe Port. From the balcony you get a wide view of the harbour, and you can also see a stone inscribed with a poem by Emperor Showa. A good pick for anyone curious about Kobe's port history or wanting a view from somewhere usually off-limits.

NOTE

Highlights

An official lighthouse on a hotel, operating with Japan Coast Guard approval
Relit at its current site at 19:07 on July 7, 1995, with 777 fireworks
Harbour views from the normally closed 14th-floor balcony
Stone inscribed with a poem by Emperor Showa

On the day

Goes ahead in rain; cancelled in stormy weather
Entry may be limited for safety if it gets crowded, so there may be a wait
There is no waiting area before 15:30
Photography is allowed

Kobe Port Waterfront History Heritage Photo Spots Free Cheap Sightseeing

出典: PR TIMES（株式会社ホテルマネージメントジャパン）

Kobe · Gluten-free

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FAQ

Can I visit without staying at the hotel?

Yes. Anyone can visit whether or not they are staying, with no booking or fee.

Does it go ahead if it rains?

Yes, it goes ahead in rain. It is cancelled only in stormy weather.

Is November 1 the only open day?

It opens twice a year: on November 1 (Lighthouse Day) and January 17 (Hyogo Safety Day).

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Hotel-Top Official Lighthouse Open Day

Why You Should Visit

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