Places WhereKobe Comes Alive

World's largest suspension bridge connecting Kobe and Awaji Island. Total length 3,911m with 300m tall main towers. Guinness-certified as world's longest suspension bridge from 1998 to 2022. Experience the bridge from Maiko Marine Promenade at 47m above sea level, and enjoy spectacular illuminated views at night.

A theatrical aquarium that fuses aquarium and art. Features Japan's largest spherical aquarium and digital art productions, with approximately 100 species and 3,000 creatures alongside 50 art pieces that stimulate all five senses.

A cultural facility donated by architect Tadao Ando, where children can freely explore books. From picture books to literature, encyclopedias, and foreign-language books, the 'forest of books' nurtures creativity and curiosity.

The largest keyhole-shaped burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture. The 194-meter mound overlooks the Akashi Strait from a hilltop. Opened in 1975 as Japan's first restored ancient tomb, and in April 2026 the adjacent Goshikizuka Kofun Museum opened. Explore ancient history through haniwa exhibits, hands-on activities, and an AR terrace. Free admission.

The Great Buddha of Hyogo is an 18-meter seated Amida Buddha and one of Japan’s Three Great Buddha statues. Standing within Nofukuji Temple, it rivals the Buddhas of Nara and Kamakura. Beneath the statue lies a serene hall enshrining over 4,000 memorial figures, offering a deeper spiritual experience beyond its impressive exterior.

An open lawn plaza in the heart of Kobe. A relaxing spot for citizens to enjoy picnics and events. Beautiful night illumination with diverse programs including night picnics and jazz events.

Opened in 2002 as a symbol of cultural recovery from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, this is one of Western Japan's largest art museums. Designed by world-renowned architect Tadao Ando, the building features distinctive spaces using exposed concrete and natural light. The museum houses over 10,000 works, focusing on modern sculpture, prints, and works by Hyogo-related artists.

A historic shrine that gave Kobe its name. Known for matchmaking blessings, its lush grounds provide a peaceful retreat in the city center. The beautiful vermillion gate makes it Kobe's premier power spot.

Historic district lined with exotic Western-style houses

Home to the Kobe Wine winery, the former Kobe Agricultural Park reopened in April 2025 as Kobe Agri Park — an experience-focused park themed on food and farming, with free admission. Enjoy the all-inclusive WINERY BBQ, a shop selling Kobe Wine, a farm-to-table cafe and restaurant, and a pottery studio offering wheel-throwing and painting. In spring, a hill of around one million nemophila blooms is the star. A relaxed countryside day out amid rolling vineyard scenery in western Kobe.

A theme park-style zoo on Kobe's Port Island where animals and flowers coexist. Under the theme 'Show Life — Gateway to the Wild,' visitors can experience close encounters with flamingos, capybaras, shoebills, and animals from around the world. Extensive indoor exhibits make it enjoyable even on rainy days.

One of Japan’s oldest hot springs, Arima Onsen is famous for its unique Golden and Silver spring waters.

Expansive botanical garden utilizing Mt. Rokko's natural landscape. Features trees from around the world and Japanese autumn foliage. Peak autumn colors from early to late November. Annual pass (¥900) grants access to three parks including Suma Rikyu Park and Sorakuen Garden.

A landmark customs building overlooking Kobe Port. Visitors can tour only the Old Building entrance hall, the Public Relations Exhibition Room, and the courtyard; the second floor is not open to the public. The exhibition introduces the history of customs operations and anti-smuggling efforts.

A beautiful theme park themed around medieval Europe featuring flowers and fruits. Enjoy seasonal flowers, fruit picking, hot springs, and an amusement park - a perfect full-day destination for families. From October to February, the spectacular 'Kobe Illuminage' featuring over 5 million lights is held.

A signature waterfront district of Kobe, offering a wide selection of shopping, dining, and entertainment options. The seaside promenade provides refreshing ocean breezes, and terrace restaurants offer scenic views of the port. At night, the Ferris wheel and the harbor light up, creating a romantic and photogenic atmosphere that draws many visitors.

A restaurant operated by Kobe Kitano Hotel. Savor exquisite French courses by Chef Hiroshi Yamaguchi, renowned for 'the world’s best breakfast,' in a glass-enclosed space overlooking Kobe’s cityscape. From breakfast to dinner, indulge in a blissful gourmet experience.

A seaside park in Nada, Kobe, where Kawazu cherry blossoms and rapeseed flowers bloom together in early March. The red pillars of the Hanshin Expressway overhead make for a scene you won't find anywhere else. Home to the annual community Nanohana Festival each March.

A historic shrine in Nagata Ward, Kobe, enshrining Kotoshironushi (Ebisu), long revered as a protector of commerce, industry, and fortune. It is affectionately called "Nagata-san." Recently, it gained renewed attention as a filming location for Netflix’s "Alice in Borderland" Season 3.

Japan's largest herb garden at 400m elevation. 5-min walk from Shin-Kobe Station + 10-min ropeway. 200+ species across 12 themed gardens with panoramic city and sea views.

A nature-rich zoo at the foot of Mt. Rokko. Houses about 120 species and 700 animals, and was once famous as Japan's only zoo where you could see both pandas and koalas. Features the nationally designated Important Cultural Property 'Former Hunter Residence' and an amusement park, also renowned as a cherry blossom viewing spot in spring.

A top night-view spot in Kobe where you can enjoy the Ferris wheel and Minato Kobe Bridge over the water. Quiet and relaxed, popular among couples and photographers. During fireworks events, it becomes a hidden viewing spot with many tripod-carrying photographers.

Fully renovated in 2024, Kobe Port Tower is a renewed symbol of the city. Its observation decks and glass skywalk offer panoramic views of the harbor. At night the tower glows red, reflecting beautifully on the water and creating highly photogenic scenery.

A waterfront complex reborn from two red-brick warehouses standing along Kobe's port. The buildings that once held the harbor's cargo now house restaurants, cafes, design shops, and photo studios. Their solid walls — laid in the English brick bond — are the signature feature, and it's a short seaside walk from Harborland's Mosaic. Historic by day and warmly lit by night, it's a spot made for a stroll and a few photos.

A calm, elegant viewpoint offering a wide night panorama from Kobe to Osaka, quieter than Kikuseidai.

A large outlet mall spread across the hills of Kobe's Kita Ward, designed to evoke a West Coast American townscape. With major Japanese and international brands plus cafes and restaurants, it makes for a full day of shopping and dining. Direct buses from major Kansai stations make it easy to reach without a car.

A large sports park directly connected to Kobe Sports Park subway station, featuring a baseball stadium, athletics track, indoor arena, and tennis courts alongside adventure play areas — Kobe's gathering place where sport and nature coexist

*The park will be closed between January 15 and January 23, 2026 for scheduled inspection and maintenance. A park with a European palace-like atmosphere. Features a fountain plaza and seasonal flowers. Autumn leaves are at their best from mid to late November. Annual pass (¥900) grants access to three parks including Forest Botanical Garden and Sorakuen Garden.

Opened on June 1, 2024, Kobe Suma Sea World in Suma-ku, Kobe is a large-scale aquarium featuring the only orca performance in western Japan, dolphin shows, and marine life exhibits.

A park directly connected to Sanyo Electric Railway's Suma-ura Koen Station, overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. Known for approximately 1,000 cherry trees spreading across the hillside, it is one of Kobe's premier hanami destinations. The annual 'Atsumori Sakura' event offers daytime 'Hi-zakura' views of cherry blossoms against the sea and nightly projection mapping with illuminated night sakura. The mountain summit park can be reached by ropeway or the 'car-levator', a small hillside ride that climbs the slope.

Taibata Yakuyoke Hachimangu Shrine is revered as Japan’s oldest sacred site for warding off misfortune. Known affectionately as “Taibata no Yakujin,” it has long been a place of prayer for protection, health, and good fortune.

A quiet ancient temple nestled in the rural mountains of Nishi-ku, Kobe. Said to have been founded in the Nara period, its main hall from the late Kamakura era is the only National Treasure building in Kobe city. Walking along the forest approach to the temple grounds, visitors are welcomed by beautiful cherry blossoms in spring and vibrant autumn foliage. A hidden gem about 30 minutes by car from central Kobe.

Rebuilt as part of the Tarumi Revitalization Plan, the new Tarumi Library offers a spacious 2,200㎡ interior, a 120,000-book collection, and 316 seats. Its multi-faceted exterior—designed to appear front-facing from any angle—and outdoor terraces overlooking the sea and trains create a uniquely local atmosphere.

A famous maple-viewing spot near Arima Onsen, once praised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as a 'garden of the world.' Around 2,000 maple trees create vibrant red and golden scenery in autumn, with the iconic 'Higurashi Garden' carpeted in fallen leaves.

A sophisticated streetscape lined with beautiful retro modern architecture

One of Japan's three major night views. A spectacular viewpoint overlooking Kobe cityscape and Osaka Bay.

A waterfront park featuring Kobe's iconic landmarks including Kobe Port Tower and Maritime Museum

A landmark urban park in Kobe's Hyogo ward, right beside the Shinkaichi district. Opened in 1911, it is one of Kobe's oldest parks and features a bronze statue of the medieval warrior Kusunoki Masashige. An everyday gathering place for locals, it also hosts major events such as the Shinkaichi Music Festival and the Minatogawa Park Handmade Market. Directly connected to the station, it makes a handy base for exploring the area.

A historic shrine in Kobe's Chuo Ward. Known for enshrining Kusunoki Masashige, a loyal retainer from the Nanboku-cho period, it is affectionately called 'Nanko-san' by locals. The shrine grounds offer a serene atmosphere that calms visitors' hearts.

A seaside outlet mall with views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. Featuring fashion, lifestyle shops, and dining, it offers an open and relaxed atmosphere where shopping and strolling can be enjoyed together.

One of Japan's three major Chinatowns

Home stadium of Vissel Kobe. The close proximity to the pitch lets you feel the players' intensity. Beyond soccer matches, it's Kobe's entertainment hub hosting numerous concerts and events.

A complex facility renovated from the former Kitano Elementary School (over 90 years old)

A mystical waterfall just 15 minutes walk from Shin-Kobe Station. Selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls, it has been beloved by poets since the Heian period.

A park at the mouth of the Saigo River in Nada Ward, Kobe. In spring, enjoy kawazu cherry blossoms, rapeseed flowers, and snow willow simultaneously. Somei Yoshino cherries bloom in April. Also features basketball courts and playground equipment.

Kobe's only Japanese garden featuring a beautiful strolling pond garden. Historic buildings including the Important Cultural Property Kodera Family Stable are highlights. Enjoy tea time with garden views at Sorakuen Parlor inside the grounds.

At the western end of the Rokko range, between Mt. Yokoo (312m) and Mt. Higashiyama (253m), lies the Suma Alps — a ridge of weathered granite whose highlight is the Umanose ('horseback') traverse. Crossing the narrow rocky spine with drops on both sides delivers a real alpine thrill, with sweeping views over Osaka Bay and the city of Kobe. Despite the low elevation, it is one of the most dramatic sections of the Rokko Zenzan traverse. There are rope-assisted sections and rock scrambles, so it suits beginner-to-intermediate hikers with proper footwear.

A retro mountaintop amusement park above Sumaura Park. Reach it by ropeway and the unique car-levator, then enjoy sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea and Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. It is also known for cherry blossoms, with a revolving observatory and nostalgic attractions that preserve a slice of Showa-era leisure culture.

Mount Takatori is a 328-meter mountain in Kobe, ideal for beginners and easily accessible from nearby stations. The summit can be reached in about 30–40 minutes, with traditional teahouses along the trail and scenic views over Kobe city and Osaka Bay.

A landmark plaza in Shin-Nagata featuring a giant 18-meter monument of Tetsujin 28, the iconic robot from the manga by Kobe-born artist Mitsuteru Yokoyama. The plaza is also a popular venue for local festivals and events.

An open waterfront park on Kobe’s Shinko Pier No.2, featuring a grassy hill, scenic walkways, and various seasonal events.

A figure-eight spiral bridge on Mt. Suwa overlooking Kobe's cityscape and harbor. A free night-view spot within walking distance of downtown.