Located at the center of Japan in the Kansai region, Kobe is a port city with a mild climate. Rich in nature, the city commands spectacular views of Osaka Bay set against the Rokko Mountain range. The city has prospered as a port for overseas trade from ancient times, and nowadays the city has been developed mainly in maritime transport, shipbuilding, steel, and medical industries to become a cosmopolitan city with a population of about 1.5 million consisting of people from more than 130 countries.

On January 17, 1995, Kobe was hit by a massive earthquake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. In the aftermath of the quake, the people of Kobe worked as one to rebuild the city, engaging in disaster prevention and resilience education. To ensure that they make the most of our experience with the quake, they have been working enthusiastically to improve regional disaster preparedness, develop disaster prevention management policies and technologies, and communicate to the world, envisaging the creation of a more disaster-resilient society.

After the earthquake, the city announced the `Kobe Medical Industry Development Project' as an initiative to restore the city's economy and began to promote a new biomedical cluster looking to spur growth going into the 21st century. Now fully recovered from the earthquake, Kobe is a world leader in the medical industry with state-of-the-art research facilities, hospitals, and a large presence of biomedical companies and organizations which has seen the city play host to many medical conferences, including some of the largest in Japan such as the G7 Kobe Health Ministers' Meeting in 2016.

On Port Island, a man-made island that sits in front of the city, the K supercomputer of the Riken Advanced Institute for Computational Science had been in operation since 2011, which was one of the world’s fastest computers sitting in the TOP500 and which has been replaced by a new supercomputer Fugaku in 2021. Kobe is also recognized as a City of Design and has been a member of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network since 2008.

It is very easy to access Kobe from abroad. There are three airports near Kobe city: Kansai International Airport (KIX), Osaka International Airport (ITAMI), and Kobe Airport (KOBE). KIX is the second largest international airport in Japan. There are 220 flights everyday which connects KIX to 90 towns in 25 countries. It takes 65 min from KIX to Sannomiya by limousine bus. ITAMI and KOBE are currently domestic airports, and there are many flights between ITAMI/KOBE and Tokyo International Airport (HANEDA). It takes 70 min to fly from HANEDA to ITAMI/KOBE. It takes 40 min from ITAMI to Sannomiya via limousine bus, and 20 min from KOBE to Sannomiya via the Port Liner. One can also move from Tokyo to Shin-Kobe station using the Shinkansen, which takes 3 hours, and it takes 2 min from Shin-Kobe station to Sannomiya by subway.

The Rokkodai Area of Kobe University is located between Sannomiya, the central area of Kobe city, and Osaka. It takes 5 min to move from Sannomiya station to Rokkomichi station, and 25 min from Osaka station to Rokkomichi station via the JR Kobe Line. It takes 10 min from Rokkomichi station to Rokkodai Area of Kobe University by bus. The campus can also be accessed from Hankyu-Rokko station via bus, taking 5 min, or on foot in 15 min.

Kobe University (front) / Port Island & Kobe Airport (back) / Hotel Okura Kobe (right) © KOBE TOURISM BUREAU

There are no hotels within walking distance to the Rokkodai Area of Kobe University. It is strongly recommended to reserve a room at a hotel in Sannomiya, Motomachi, and near Shin-Kobe station. Hotels in Sannomiya are located mostly within walking distance from Sannomiya station and the bus stop of the limousine bus from Kansai International Airport and Osaka International Airport. There are approximately 30 hotels with 4,500 rooms in the above areas.

Kobe Port Tower (left) / Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel (middle) / Hotel Okura Kobe (right) © KOBE TOURISM BUREAU

Luxury

Oriental Hotel, Hotel Okura Kobe, Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel, ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel, Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel and Towers, Kobe Portpia Hotel, Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland

Standard

APA Hotel Kobe Sannomiya, Comfort Hotel Kobe Sannomiya, Daiwa Roynet Hotel Kobe Sannomiya, Hotel Trusty Kobe Kyukyoryuchi, Hotel Via Mare Kobe, Kobe Sannomiya Tokyu REI Hotel, Toyoko Inn Sannomiya 2, Kobe Motomoachi Tokyu REI Hotel, R&B Hotel Kobe Motomachi, Hotel Kitano Plaza Rokko-So, Remm Plus Kobe Sannomiya

Reasonable

Hotel 1-2-3 Kobe, Kobe Sannomiya Union Hotel, Green Hill Hotel Kobe

Around Kobe

As a tourist destination, Kobe offers many attractions including the city night view of Kobe from Rokko Mountain, Seto Inland Sea cruising, and Arima Onsen, a traditional hot spring town whose origin dates back as far as the 1600s. Kobe is also famous for its fine and diverse food culture, such as the world-famous Kobe Beef, Nada Sake, and Western confectioneries.

Short Trip

Kobe is close to the popular tourist cities. Osaka is famous for its shopping streets and its local food. Kyoto and Nara are the former capitals of Japan, and boast many old temples, shrines. A visit to Himeji is also strongly recommended. Known as the White Heron Castle, Himeji Castle is one the most beautiful castles in Japan. From Kobe it takes 30 min to Osaka, 60 min to Kyoto and Himeji, and 90 min to Nara via local train. World Expo 2025 will be held in Osaka. Day trips to Hiroshima's famous Itsukushima Shrine and the Atomic Bomb Dome can also be arranged as it takes only 90 min from Kobe to Hiroshima on the Shinkansen. G7 Hiroshima Summit was held in May, 2023.