Kobe Port Tower
An iconic landmark of Kobe’s seafront cityscape Kobe Port Tower cuts a happy figure with its upbeat 60’s design but despite its modern appearance it also bears tribute to Japanese tradition. The 108-meter high tower reopened in April 2024 after extensive renovations with a new observation deck on the tower’s rooftop, which was previously closed to the public. From here visitors can now enjoy a panoramic view over the Rokko mountains, the city of Kobe and its harbor. Read more
Ikuta Jinja Shrine
Ikuta Jinja is a major shrine in Kobe and is believed to be one of the oldest shrines in Japan. Located a short walk from JR Sannomiya Station, this shrine in Kobe’s city center has spacious grounds, impressive buildings and at its rear you can find a remnant of the ancient forest that once covered the entire area. Read more
Kobe City Museum
Located in Kobe’s central Sannomiya district, Kobe City Museum is an outstanding museum with an impressive collection of 70,000 works of art and archaeological items. On the ground floor of the museum there is a free and very thorough exhibition on Kobe’s history and on its upper floors it also hosts a variety of large-scale special exhibitions. Read more
Minatogawa Jinja Shrine
Minatogawa Jinja is a shrine located close to Kobe Station and the Kobe Harborland shopping district. Although it is an important shrine in Kobe, it is not so well-known among tourists, so on most days it is a nice, quiet spot in the city, where you can enjoy some peace from the crowds. However, during New Year’s celebrations Minatogawa Jinja is Kobe’s most popular shrine with over a million people visiting from all over the country. Read more
Kobe Chinatown: Nankinmachi
Kobe Chinatown, also called Nankinmachi, covers a small area, but it is packed with Chinese restaurants, street food stalls, and souvenir shops. Nankinmachi is one of three Chinatowns in Japan along with those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, and it is one of Kobe’s major tourist attractions. In this article we will introduce the area’s history, the main architectural sights, its festivals, and the best places to eat authentic Chinese food. Read more
Kobe Shushinkan – Fukuju Sake Brewery
Thanks to its mild climate and an abundance of high quality spring water, Kobe is one of the top sake-producing regions of Japan. Many historic sake breweries can be found in the city’s Nada and Higashinada wards, and one of the most famous of these is the Fukuju brewery. Founded in 1751 this brewery has been run by the same family for 13 generations. Read more
Sannomiya Shrine
Sannomiya Shrine is a small shrine in central Kobe. Although it is not a major tourist attraction, it is a site of historical importance and is easy enough to visit when in the area. Kobe’s Sannomiya district, a major transport hub and commercial center is actually named after this little shrine. Read more
Kobe Mosque and Halal Food in Kobe
As an international port city, Kobe has long welcomed people from all over the world and people of many cultures and religions have made their home in the city. The Muslim community in Kobe is also well-established and Kobe Mosque is the oldest mosque in Japan. Read more
