Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is a railway station in the Sannomiya area of Kobe, which serves the Hankyu Kobe Line and the Kobe Kosoku Line. This station is very close to JR Sannomiya Station and it can be seen from the JR station’s platforms.
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station viewed from the platforms of JR Sannomiya Station
Location
This station is located inside the Kobe-Sannomiya Hankyu Building, a high-rise commercial facility on the north side of the railway tracks, which also contains restaurants, offices and a hotel. This building should not be confused with Kobe Hankyu Department Store which is in a different building. Here is a map showing the station’s location.
The Kobe-Sannomiya Hankyu Building
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station can be entered from the 1st floor of the Kobe-Sannomiya Hankyu Building by either the east or west entrances.
The East Entrance to Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
The West Entrance to Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
This station’s ticket gates are on the 2nd floor and its platforms are on the 3rd floor.
The 2nd floor walkway leading to Hankyu Kobe Sannomiya Station from JR Sannomiya Station
A 2nd floor walkway connects Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station to JR Sannomiya Station.
The 2nd floor walkway from Marui Department Store to the Kobe Kotsu Center Building
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station can also be accessed from the south side of the railway tracks via the 2nd floor of the Kobe Kotsu Center Building. Another 2nd floor walkway connects this building to Marui Department Store.
Ticket Gates
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station has two sets of ticket gates. The East Ticket Gate is convenient if you need to transfer to JR Sannomiya Station, Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station, Port Liner Sannomiya Station, Sannomiya Subway Station or Sannomiya-Hanadoekimae Station.
The East Ticket Gate
The West Ticket Gate is more convenient for Ikuta Road, Ikuta Shrine, Tor Road and the Motomachi area.
The West Ticket Gate
Ticket machines are located beside each of the ticket gates.
Ticket machines at Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
Above the ticket machines are fare charts that show all the destinations and fares on the Hankyu Railway network and on other connecting networks such as the Kobe Kosoku Line and Sanyo Dentetsu Main Line.
Part of a fare chart showing destinations and fares at Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
Ticket machines have an English language option and are easy to use. Simply put your money into the machine, choose the number of passengers, and then choose the correct fare for your destination.
The entrance to the Information Counter
If you need advice about transport or tourism on the Hankyu Railway network, you can ask at the Information Counter which is by the East Ticket Gate.
Platforms
There are four platforms at Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station.
Platforms 1 and 2 at Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
Trains at platforms 1 and 2 are westbound services on the Kobe Kosoku Line that are bound for Shinkaichi and for destinations on the Sanyo Dentetsu Main Line such as Akashi and Himeji.
A limited express service bound for Shinkaichi at Platform 1
Because Sanyo Dentetsu also runs through services between Himeji and Kobe-Sannomiya, Sanyo trains also run from this station.
A Sanyo Dentetsu local train bound for Himeji at Platform 1
Trains at platforms 3 and 4 are eastbound services on the Hankyu Kobe Line.
Platforms 3 and 4 at Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station
These trains are bound for Osaka Umeda, Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, Kyoto and Takarazuka.
A local train bound for Osaka Umeda at Platform 3
A limited express bound for Osaka Umeda at Platform 4
Digital signs at all platforms clearly show destinations and departures in English as well as Japanese.
A departure sign at Platform 1
A departure sign at Platform 4
Other Facilities
On the 2nd floor of the station building there are convenience stores at both ticket gates and on the 1st floor there is a restaurant area called Ekizo. Remm Plus Kobe Sannomiya is a luxury hotel on the upper floors of Kobe-Sannomiya Hankyu Building. The top floor of this 29-story building has an observation deck, a restaurant and a whisky bar.
Article and original photos by Michael Lambe. All rights reserved.
