What this area is like
Walk the waterfront at Harborland and Meriken Park, the Kitano district of Western-style houses and Nankinmachi Chinatown. The Rokko and Arima hot springs are nearby, and Kobe beef restaurants are everywhere.
Shin-Kobe (Shinkansen) and Sannomiya (city centre) are different stations, one subway stop apart.
Choose your next step
Places to see in this area
Kitano Ijinkan
Western-style houses built for foreign merchants after the port opened in 1868. Sixteen of about thirty are open to visitors.
- Access
- About 10 minutes on foot from Shin-Kobe Station, or about 15 minutes from Sannomiya.
- Hours
- House hours vary. Kitano Tourist Information Center: April–November 9:00–18:00, December–March 9:00–17:00.
- Fee
- Each house charges; combination tickets cover several.
- Address
- 3-10-20 Kitano-cho, Chuo Ward, Kobe (tourist center)
The lanes are steep. You can enjoy the streets and photos without a ticket; pick two or three houses if time is short.
Kobe Port Tower
The red lattice tower of Kobe harbour, reopened in 2024 with an open-air rooftop deck.
- Access
- About 5 minutes on foot from Minato Motomachi Station (Kaigan subway line), or the Port Loop bus from Sannomiya.
- Hours
- 9:00–23:00; hours vary by floor.
- Fee
- Observation floor and rooftop deck: adults ¥1,200, children ¥500. Observation floor only: adults ¥1,000.
- Address
- 5-5 Hatoba-cho, Chuo Ward, Kobe
Come at dusk for the harbour lights; Meriken Park and Harborland are next door.
How to plan your time here
- Kitano in the morning, Nankinmachi (Chinatown) for lunch, and the harbour in the evening. Try Kobe beef for dinner if it fits your budget.
- Kobe is about 20–30 minutes from Osaka by JR, and Shin-Kobe is a Shinkansen stop. Arima Onsen is about 30 minutes inland.
Information checked 26 October 2026. Plans are JapaLens editorial suggestions, not on-site reviews. Hours and fees can change; check the official page before you go.