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Hyogo

Kobe

Port city with vibrant culture and wagyu beef heritage

Kobe is the fifth-largest city in Japan and the capital of Hyogo Prefecture. Its long history as a port city, concentration of multi-national companies, and reputation as a cosmopolitan city make it a popular tourist destination in the Kansai Region. Kobe is bordered by Osaka Bay to the south and Mount Rokko to the north. Kobe's concentration of history, culture, natural beauty, and its world famous beef make it a worthwhile stop on any trip through Kansai.

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Kobe was one of the first cities to open up to the West after Japan's long history of isolationism. The result is a city that is especially foreign-friendly to this day and one that is proud of its Kitano neighborhood, which retains a historical feel and a number of mansions built by rich foreign merchants in the nineteenth century. Kitano tends to be more popular with Asian and Japanese tourists, but the great atmosphere in this historic neighborhood at the base of Mount Rokko should really be experienced by all.

Kobe is one of only a handful of Japanese cities with international name recognition, thanks almost entirely to Kobe beef. This wagyu beef, famous for its marbled meat and fat, is considered one of the best in the world. Many restaurants that claim to sell Kobe beef outside of Japan are in fact selling "Kobe-style" beef and not the real thing. Authentic Kobe beef comes from the Tajima region of northern Hyogo but gets its name from its historical popularity in Kobe. A trip through Kobe isn't complete without a premium Kobe steak.

Kobe, not unlike Hyogo Prefecture, is a city that really has a little bit of everything. It's a great place to take in some wonderful sights, do some world-class shopping, or eat a great meal

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Kobe Map

Things to do in Kobe

All Activities Culture Food

Upcoming events

  • Kobe Handmade Marche 2025

    Kobe Handmade Marche 2025

    Jun 28th - Jun 29th

    The Kobe Handmade Marche is Hyogo Prefecture's largest handmade market, and is set to include around 1000 booths selling a wide..

    Free Entry
    Kobe Niku Festival 2025

    Kobe Niku Festival 2025

    Mid Aug

    The two-day Kobe Niku Festival allows visitors to indulge in everything from hamburgers and steaks through to yakiniku and yakitori,..

    Free Entry
  • Summer Garden Fest 2025

    Summer Garden Fest 2025

    Jul 12th - Aug 31st

    During summer, the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens hosts their Summer Garden Fest, a seasonal event with a variety of different activities..

    4
  • Kobe Luminarie 2026

    Kobe Luminarie 2026

    Late Jan - Early Feb

    Kobe Luminarie is held every year in the first two weeks of December to commemorate the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995.

    9 Free Entry
  • Kobe Christmas Market 2025

    Kobe Christmas Market 2025

    Mid Nov - Late Dec

    Running on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays from early November right up until Christmas Day, the Kobe Christmas Market..

    ¥2,300
  • Nankinmachi Lantern Festival 2025

    Nankinmachi Lantern Festival 2025

    Early - Late Dec

    The Nankinmachi Lantern Festival is an annual event that takes place at Kobe's Nankinmachi Square, which is one of the city's..

    1 Free Entry
    Infiorata Kobe 2026

    Infiorata Kobe 2026

    May 3rd - May 5th

    'Kobe Infiorata', a two-day event during Golden Week (beginning of May) in Kobe has the popular tourist spots and roads..

    3 Free Entry
  • Nankinmachi Spring Festival 2026

    Nankinmachi Spring Festival 2026

    Late Jan - Early Feb

    If you're in the Kobe area and looking for a way to celebrate Lunar New Year, check out the Nankinmachi Spring Festival. T..

    Free Entry
    Kobe Sports Park Cosmos Festival 2025

    Kobe Sports Park Cosmos Festival 2025

    Mid Oct

    Each year, the Kobe Sports Park is home to a cosmos festival that typically runs throughout the month of October. The cosmos hill..

    2 Free Entry
  • Umie Ice Marina 2025-2026

    Umie Ice Marina 2025-2026

    Mid Dec - Mid Feb

    The Umie Ice Marina event allows visitors to ice skate whilst enjoying beautiful views of Kobe Harbor.

    2 ¥1,600
    Kobe Beer Jamboree 2026

    Kobe Beer Jamboree 2026

    Late Feb

    The Kobe Beer Jamboree is a new beer festival, and it's set to bring brewers and bars from across the country to Kobe Sambo..

  • Chinese New Year in Kobe 2026

    Chinese New Year in Kobe 2026

    Late Jan - Early Feb

    Traditional folk dancing is one of the main events at the Chinese New Year celebrations in Kobe's Chinatown, Nankinmachi.

Where to eat in Kobe

Places to stay in Kobe

  • Arima Hot Spring 7

    Arima Hot Spring

    Lily

    Arima hot spring in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, is one of the top three oldest hot springs in Japan. Its relatively small size, back..

    3

Near Kobe

  • Himeji 49km away
  • Awajishima 54km away
  • Kinosaki Onsen 109km away