A day trip to Kobe

Kobe is one of Kansai's largest cities, with over 1.5 million inhabitants. Kobe can be visited on a day-trip from Osaka, as they are only 30 minutes apart, but an extended stay allows you to immerse yourself in Japanese daily life and places unexplored by most travelers! A port city, it is surrounded by sea and mountains. Here are some of Kobe's highlights, to be explored according to your tastes. If you're only staying for a day, not everything will be feasible, so select what suits you!

In Kobe

• Western villas - Ijinkan-gai

On the heights of Kobe, in the Kitano district, you can stroll among sumptuous Western mansions. Kobe opened its port to foreign traders in the late 1850s. Among them were many Westerners, including some of the wealthiest, who were able to build these villas. Today, many of them have become museums or cafés.

• Sannomiya

For shopping, head to Sannomiya, the heart of Kobe. As in many Japanese cities, Sannomiya is a station whose underground passages are extended by large shopping malls with boutiques, restaurants, cafés and, above all, air conditioning! On the mainland, to the north of the station, the Ikuta Shrine is a must-see, next to the covered shopping alleys where restaurants abound.

• Sorakuen Garden

Another, smaller garden is hidden away in central Kobe. The Sorakuen Garden is a small haven of peace, with many colors and influences, as the garden is Japanese in style, while the buildings are Western in architecture. The garden dazzles with the seasons, with vivid reds in autumn, beautiful azaleas in spring and the intense green of the superb 500-year-old camphor trees in summer.

• Meriken Park

Meriken Park isn't really a garden, but a waterfront where all the symbols of Kobe come together. The Kobe Port Tower, the famous BE KOBE logo, the Kobe Maritime Museum with its unmistakable architecture - it's all here! Meriken Park is home to numerous festivals, including the Umi no Bon Odori, where you can learn traditional dances and sample Kansai street food. At the end of the day, we recommend a stroll along the quays to admire the sunset!

Around Kobe

• Arima onsen

Need a break? Visit Arima spa is one of Japan's most famous spas. It lies on the other side of Mount Rokkô, a little way from Kobe. It's ideal for bath lovers and walkers escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.

• Mount Rokkô

There are several cable cars that will take you to the top of the Rokkô Mountains. From here, you can enjoy superb views of Kobe, especially at dusk, when the light fades and the city takes on its sparkling attributes. Among the cable cars, we recommend the Nunobiki Herb Garden the Maya Cable or the Mt. Rokko Cable.

• Awaji Island

If you're staying several days in Kobe, consider a day on Awaji Island, a land of art and nature ! Between fields of flowers, architectural structures, sanctuaries and beaches, Awaji Island is full of surprises. Awaji can be reached from Kobe via a direct bus.

Find out more: Discovering Awaji Island

Getting to Kobe

Kobe is one of the cities served by all Shinkansen on the Sanyo and Tokaido lines, so it's very easy to get to! Shinkansen trains stop at Shin-Kobe station, just a few minutes from Sannomiya, the city center.

From Osaka, you have several direct options for getting to Kobe:

• JR Tokaido-Sanyo Line (included in JR Pass)

• Hanshin Line

• Hankyu Line