The most famous sightseeing places in Kobe, Japan

Kobe is one of the most attractive cities in Japan, located in the Kansai region, near Osaka and Kyoto. This city has become popular among tourists due to its rich history, beautiful nature, modern architecture and delicious local cuisine. The port of Kobe was one of the first Japanese ports to open to foreign trade in the 19th century, along with the ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Niigata. Therefore, it is very valuable from a historical point of view. In the following, we mention some of the sightseeing places in Kobe, Japan.

Geography of Kobe

The center of Kobe is surrounded by the sea and mountains from the south and north. In fact, this city is located between the mountains and the sea and has an amazing view.

Kobe is a small city, but its excellent geographical location allows you to see the two beautiful natures of the sea and the mountains together. Many of the main attractions of the city are located close to each other, but if you want to not miss other places of interest in Kobe, Japan, you can use public transportation.

If you have limited time in Kobe, we recommend using the Loop Bus, the most tourist-friendly bus service, where you can get discounts at over 30 attractions on or near the route by showing your pass. If you are not interested in walking, there is a cable car in the mountain area.

History of Kobe, Japan

Having information about the history of Kobe will make your trip more enjoyable. Since the end of the 19th century, the port of Kobe has been known as one of Japan’s leading international trade ports, and people from different cultures of the world gathered to do business in this port. These cultures from all over the world and different cities of Japan were mixed together in Kobe and created a unique culture.

The world famous Kobe beef is one of its examples. Another example is that there was no meat eating culture in Japan. But after the 19th century, Englishmen visiting Kobe used cattle used for agriculture as feed, and the Japanese also embraced the idea after trying it.

The urban architecture of Kobe also shows the strong influence of foreign countries. Kobe’s prominent landmarks such as Kitano and Kyo Kyoryuchi (Kobe’s former foreign residence) are good examples of this. In these areas, there are many Western-style buildings built by merchants and diplomats who came from Europe and the United States. In addition, Nankinmachi (Kobe China Town) in the center of Kobe is one of the 3 largest Chinese towns and one of the sightseeing spots in Kobe, Japan.

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Sightseeing places in Kobe, Japan

Where is the best place to visit in Kobe? Below is a list of the main sights and attractions that are recommended for first-time visitors to Kobe:

Kobe Port Tower

Kobe Port Tower, nicknamed “Steel Tower”, is a dark blue tower that is built in the shape of an hourglass and resembles a Japanese hand drum called Tezumi. Located in the central area, this tower rises 354 feet (108 meters) above the city and is known as the symbol of Kobe. Most visitors come here for the panoramic viewing decks and spinning bar.

Kobe Maritime Museum

Kobe is an important port city, so you can review the visual history of the city in the Maritime Museum. The mesh steel architecture of the museum is designed to evoke the impression of sailing ships. This modern museum with many interactive exhibits, beautiful ships and information in Japanese and English is one of the most famous sightseeing spots in Kobe, Japan.

UCC Coffee Museum is one of the must-see places in Kobe, Japan

Most tourists on a Japan tour have probably tried some Ueshima Coffee Company (UCC) coffee. The company is famous for introducing the world’s first canned coffee. At the UCC Coffee Museum, you can learn about coffee culture as well as how it is made. The experience of drinking a unique cup of coffee has made this museum one of the most interesting places to visit in Kobe, Japan.

Kobe Animal Kingdom

Located on Port Island, Kobe Animal Land offers the opportunity to see all kinds of animals and birds that roam freely in the park up close. Visitors of all ages, including young children, will enjoy seeing creatures from around the world in their natural habitats.

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4 experiences you should not miss in Kobe

The sightseeing spots in Kobe, Japan are very diverse and fun, but in addition to the tourist attractions, you can include doing these things in your trip to this city:

1- Try “Kobe Beef”.

Kobe is known as the home of the famous Kobe beef. These days, there are many restaurants around the world that serve Kobe beef. But in Kobe, you can enjoy fresh Kobe beef produced on site and served by expert chefs.

Kobe beef has a lot of fat, which breaks down over time with long-term transportation and its quality decreases, so it is better to eat it near the place of production. The meat is also very tender, so it requires specialized techniques to cook it properly. There are many Kobe beef restaurants in Kobe and the chefs work hard to improve their skills every day.

Kobe Beef has a very strict certification system to maintain the quality of its brand. Restaurants certified by the Kobe Beef Association display a bronze statue and mark the veal stamped with chrysanthemum. Please check these things when choosing a restaurant to serve Kobe beef.

2- Enjoy drinking “Nada Sake”.

Along with Kobe beef, Japanese sake is also one of the best attractions and places to see in Kobe, Japan. Many Sake breweries in this area are known as “Nada-gogo (Five Breweries in Nada)”.

Nada-gogo is rice water that is brewed in a completely traditional way. Some breweries offer tours about the history and culture of the sake brewing process that you can take part in during your trip to Kobe.

3- Go to Arima Onsen hot spring and wellness

Arima Onsen in Kobe is one of the most famous hot springs in Japan and is only about 30 minutes away from the city center.

This hot spring is so old that its name is mentioned in the oldest book of Japanese history. Arima Onsen Hot Springs mainly has two types of onsen, one is “Kinsen (Golden Onsen)” and the other is “Jinsen (Silver Onsen)”.

Kinsen is the more famous hot spring of Arima Onsen. The water of this spring has high iron and gives it a reddish brown color, and its salt content is even higher than sea water. In Japan, 9 hot spring ingredients have been identified for their therapeutic effects, and this spring has 7 of them, so in addition to the warming and hydrating effects, it is also excellent for skin beauty and health promotion.

4- Experience the amazing night view of Kobe

The night view from Kuha has been called the “million dollar night view” and is one of the 3 most beautiful night views in Japan. There are two mountains north of downtown Kobe, “Rokkosan (Mt.Rokko)” and “Mayasan (Mt.Maya)”. It takes about an hour to get to the top of the mountain from downtown Kobe by train, bus, ropeway, or cable car. From the observatory you can admire the dynamic night view of Kobe as well as the city lights of Osaka, Kyoto and Wakayama in the distance. It is not without reason that this view is included in the list of the most beautiful and famous sightseeing spots in Kobe, Japan.

final word

Kobe is one of the largest and most important cities in Japan, located in the south of Honshu Island in Hyogo Prefecture. Due to its special geographical location, the combination of modernity and tradition, and a rich history, this city is considered one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Japan.