Kobe Airport : The Third Largest Airport in Kansai
- Published on : 04/01/2025
- by : Lucie G.
- Youtube
Skymark Airlines plane taking off at Kobe Airport
© Ryuno, Unsplash
Opened in 2006, Kobe airport is located on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, just like Kansai International Airport!
With over 3 million passengers a year, Kobe airport (UKB) is the smallest of the three around Osaka. Kansai International Airport, the region's largest airport, is located in the same bay, and Osaka-Itami Airport is some fifteen kilometers from the center of Osaka. The airport opened in 2006 and covers 156 hectares of land.
Just 8 km (5 miles) from Sannomiya, it is the most convenient airport from which to arrive or depart if you're passing through Kobe on your trip! It serves Japan's most important cities as well as distant destinations such as Naha airport in Okinawa, or Sapporo in Hokkaido. Kobe airport also transports travelers to several East Asian countries! Fly to South Korea, Taiwan, or China from Kobe with ease!
Terminals and Airlines
The airport has two terminals:
- Terminal 1 : domestic flights departures and arrivals
- Terminal 2 : international flights departures and arrivals
Several airlines serve Kobe airport:
Terminal 1: ANA, (All Nippon Airways) Solaseed Air, Skymark Airlines, Air Do, Fuji Dream Airlines, Toki Air
Terminal 2: Korean Air, Juneyao Air, EVA Air, Starlux Airlines
JAL (Japan Airlines) stopped operating flights at this airport in 2010. You can find Japan Airlines at Osaka-Itami Airport or Kansai International Airport.
Kobe Airport
© 663highland, wikimedias
Domestic flights serve Japan's main cities, from Hokkaido to Okinawa (Tokyo-Haneda, Sapporo-Chitose, Sendai, Kagoshima, Naha...), while international flights are to East Asian countries (Taipei, Taichung, Seoul, Shanghai, Nanjing). There are no flights to Tokyo-Narita from Kobe airport, only from Kansai and Osaka-Itami airports.
How to get to Kobe Airport ?
By train
- Port Liner
The Port Liner is an automatic train line that connects Sannomiya (Kobe's central station) and the airport's artificial island, crossing Port Island (ポートイランド), another artificial island in Osaka Bay. The line takes 18 minutes to reach Sannomiya and the airport.
Sannomiya station is linked by different major lines that pass through several major cities in Kansai. You can take the Hankyu-Kobe Line, the Hanshin Line (both go to Osaka) and the JR Kobe Line (to Osaka and Himeji, among others).
Kobe Port Liner
© 66highland, wikimedias
By bus
As at every airport, there are limousine buses to the main towns and places around it. Here's the list of places served by limousine buses from and to Kobe airport :
- 2025 Osaka World Expo Site
- Osaka Station
- Rokko Island
- Tokushima Station
- Arima Onsen
- Awaji Island
- Sannomiya Station
- Shin Kobe Station (Station of the Shinkansen Tokaido to Tokyo and Sanyo to Fukuoka-Hakata)
There is also a bus City Loop that runs around the main points of the port city (Nankinmachi, Meriken Park, Harborland...).
Buses arriving at the airport are located in front of terminals 1 and 2, while those departing for the airport are at the entrance to terminal 1, on platforms 2, 3, 5 and 7.
By car
To catch your flight, you can reach downtown Kobe from the airport in just 15 minutes, by cab or rental car. Cabs are available in front of both terminals.
By boat
Kobe airport and Kansai airport are both on artificial islands, so the sea connects it ! A ferry links Kobe airport and Kansai International Airport in 30 minutes. The trip costs 500 yen (if you're a foreigner), and a bus runs from the boarding pier to Kobe airport.
Ferry bay shuttle linking Kansai and Kobe airports
© 663highland, wikimedias (CC 2.5)
Services available at the airport
- Observation deck
On the roof of Terminal 1, an observation deck has been set up, where you can watch the planes take off and land! In the distance, you can see the cities of Kobe and Osaka, as well as the mountains that surround the urban area.
This rooftop is also an opportunity to discover a bit of art, as Kobe airport has teamed up with Japanese artist Tatsuya Tanaka to create the MINIATURE LIFE × KOBE AIRPORT project. He is exhibiting on the rooftop level, as well as throughout Terminal 1. Known for his miniature creations, he has also chosen to exhibit a giant version of a broccoli, a recurring element in his designs. It sits enthroned on the observation deck, allowing you to take a fun souvenir photo with the planes taking off and landing in the background!
There is another observation deck at Terminal 2 2F.
Runways of the Kobe airport with the mountains of Kobe
© Ryuno, Unsplash
- Shopping
This is a fairly small airport, so you won't encounter many stores. There is, however, a Duty Free area, where you'll find luxury goods such as cosmetics, perfumes and so on. There are several omiyage stores, such as Kansai Tabinikki or Kobe Tabinikki, where you can buy typical Kansai and Kobe delicacies!
- Cafés and restaurants
Udon, Gyoza, Curry... The food courts and restaurants in Kobe airport offer a variety of foods and dishes specific to Japan, located before and after security checks.
Kobe airport shops, before security check
© Abasaa, wikimedias
- Wifi
Kobe airport offers free Internet access in both terminals.
- Information desk
There are two information desks at the airport. The first is in Terminal 1, next to the car rental area. The second is in Terminal 2, on the arrivals level.
- Ravimana Kobe
This sumptuous establishment is ideal for weddings, but you can also visit the lagoon and the two chapels (Blue Bijou and Ariose) with their modern, airy, nature-inspired design. It is located next to the Kobe Airport Island West Park.
- Car rental
If you'd like to rent a car during your trip, car rental companies such as Nippon Rent A Car, Nissan Rent A Car and Times CAR are located on the first floor of Terminal 1. Don't forget to have your driver's license translated if it was issued in one of the following countries: France, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Monaco or Taiwan. For licenses issued in other countries, you'll need an international license.
- ATM
ATMs are located on level 2 F, in terminal 1, and 1 F in terminal 2.
- Coin Lockers
Coin lockers are available at terminal 1 2 F. Thanks to this service, you can leave your luggage there for 400 to 600 yen a day.
- Post box
There's a post office box on the first floor of Terminal 1.
Around Kobe Airport
The airport is very close to the city of Kobe, where many activities and sights await you! You can reach Kobe's Chinatown (Nankimachi) in 30 minutes, or even the bustling Sannomiya district with its many restaurants and Ikuta-jinja shrine in around 20 minutes! In addition to the city of Kobe, here are a few places to visit next to the airport:
Kobe airport's three parks
Small green spaces have been created on the east, west and center sides of the artificial island. Kobe Airport Island Chuo Park, Kobe Airport Island East Park and Kobe Airport Island West Park are all planted with trees and feature a number of benches and places to sit in the shade.
Between the UCC coffee museum and Japan's largest IKEA store, Port Island can be the perfect place to spend an afternoon! Discover the many viewpoints from which you can admire the cityscape and the Seto Sea. This is also where you'll find the hotels closest to the airport, handy if your flight leaves early in the morning!
The two other airports in Kansai
- Kansai international airport
- Osaka Itami airport
