Local GuideLOCAL GUIDE/KOBE

Kobe, the capital of Hyogo Prefecture, is one of Japan's biggest and busiest port cities. Tracing its origins back nearly 9 centuries, Kobe has always been an important hub for international trade and exchange.

Easily accessible by air or shinkansen bullet train, Kobe also maintains an extensive network of municipal subway and commuter train lines as well as express train links with Osaka, Kyoto and Himeji making its location ideal for travel or business in the region. Indeed, many major Japanese and international corporations maintain head offices in Kobe.

Visitors to Kobe will find a lively, modern, comfortable city with a fascinating history and unique culture that offers up a wide variety of attractions to entertain and enthrall any traveller.

Food

Kobe is perhaps most well-known for it's signature wagyu marbled beef. However, there are many other culinary delights to try in this vibrant port city.

Kobe Beef. Of course, no description of Kobe cuisine could start without a few details on the city's contribution to wagyu beef, characterized by it's marbled appearance and tender, full flavored taste. A Kobe beef teppanyaki, shabu-shabu or steak restaurant is generally one of the first stops on any culinary tour of Kobe.
Sobameshi. A local original! Finely cut pan fried noodles are cooked and tossed together with boiled rice, pork, vegetables and seasoned with salt, pepper and Japanese sauce. Enjoy this unique Kobe dish.
Nagatayaki. This Kobe variation on okonomiyaki is also unique to the city and is served with a variety of vegetables, meat or seafood and local seasonings.
Bread & Sweets. Kobe is also a famous area for bakeries. Visitors can often find relaxing cafes at most bakeries and these are popular places for a quick breakfast or midday teabreak with locals and travelers alike.
Bread & Sweets. Kobe is also a famous area for bakeries. Visitors can often find relaxing cafes at most bakeries and these are popular places for a quick breakfast or midday teabreak with locals and travelers alike.

Attractions and Local Specialties

Kobe is a city abounding with options for sightseeing, be it cultural, historical, natural or just some shopping!

Ikuta Shrine is thought to be one of Japan's oldest, founded near the beginning of the 3rd Century. Witness to some of Japan's most important historical events, Ikuta Shrine is today known as a shrine of good luck and longevity.
Sannomiya Center Town is one of Kobe's biggest stations and Center Town one of its largest shopping areas. Running nearly 600 metres, this massive arcade is home to boutiques, shops, restaurants and department stores. If you're shopping for some of Kobe's famous pearls, sake or arima doll brushes this is the place to start.
Nankinmachi Chinatown was founded about 150 years ago in Kobe. While the smallest of Japan's 3 "designated" Chinatowns, Nankinmachi more than makes up for it with it's authenticity, energy and offerings including over 100 restaurants!
Meriken Park is an oceanfront area near central Kobe. The park is a popular place for a relaxing stroll along the water or to take in some of Kobe's signature landmarks such as the Kobe Port Tower, Maritime Museum and Kobe Harbourland.

Events & Activities

Kobe also draws visitors for its numerous festivals and events which tend to reflect this city's long history and it's place as a centre of international trade and exchange.

Shunsetsu-sai Spring Festival. Held every February to celebrate Chinese New Year, Nankinmachi Chinatown becomes a riot of colour, lights and music. Highlights include the nearly 40 metre long dragon snaking through the area as well as the dragon dances and acrobatics performed by local troupes- and of course the food!
Kobe Matsuri Festival. Mid May sees the entire city of Kobe transformed for the Kobe Festival. Started in the 1970s this festival offers up parades, traditional Japanese dancers, a Samba Festival and much more.
Kobe Umi no Bon-Odori Bon Festival. O-Bon, or the The Bon Festival, are traditional Japanese festivals held every August where family welcome the spirits of their ancestors and lively dances and events are held. In Kobe, one of the biggest Bon Festivals is held at the oceanside Meriken Park.

ATTRACTIONS

Ikuta Shrine

Kobe has a classical multicultural flavor due to the presence of China Town, the Foreign Residence Area and the Former Foreign Settlement. The stylish streetlife is near at hand, while the hotel's location also makes it a suitable base for business travelers.
Kitano Ijinkan Area

A quaint district at the foot of the Rokko mountain range, the area contains several museums showing how early foreign merchants who settled in Japan used to live, as well as cafes and other interesting shops. It is also a good place to view both the city of Kobe, and the sea in the distance. We recommend having a slow and leisurely walk around the Kitano Ijinkan area.[About 15 minutes on foot from Hotel Monterey Kobe]
China Town (Nankinmachi)

One of the big 3 Chinatowns in Japan along with those in Yokohama and Nagasaki, you will find lots of shops, restaurants and food stalls lining the bustling streets. It is a popular location to enjoy some of the gourmet foods of Kobe. Furthermore, there are many souvenir shops offering a variety of interesting items.[About 15 minutes on foot from Hotel Monterey Kobe]
Kobe Harborland / Kobe Port Island

Extending west from Kobe Port, the Kobe Harborland area offers a myriad of shopping, dining, and sightseeing options.
Meanwhile, the Kobe Port Island area is a modern, man-made island that is home to Kobe Airport, the Kobe Science Museum, Kobe Animal Kingdom, and more.
[Kobe Harborland: near to JR Kobe Station; Kobe Port Island: near to Naka-Koen Station on the Kobe Port Liner]
Mt. Maya (Kikuseidai Observation Deck)

Mount Maya has been officially recognised as offering one of Japan's Top 3 Best Night Views. The Kikuseidai viewing area offers views of the night lights of Kobe, stretching all the way to Osaka. The name Kikuseidai means an area where one can literally 'scoop up the stars', and the spectacular view is sure to leave you spellbound.[Take the bus / ropeway from Sannomiya Station]
Akashi Kaikyo Suspension Bridge

The longest suspension bridge in the world, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge may seem to be far away from Sannomiya, but it can be reached in just 21 minutes via a JR Kobe Line express train. The charm of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge lies in its magnificent scale and aesthetic beauty, as well as the picturesque landscape that surrounds it. In the evening, it is lit up in different colors based on the season, while the views in the daytime also vary with the seasons. Viewing it from Maiko Park is a further recommendation.[Maiko Park: about 5 minutes walk from JR Maiko Station]