Kobe is one of the three major port cities in Japan. It is located 30 min. west of Osaka by train. The city is rather compact sandwiched between mountain range in the north and ocean in the south. It has a mixed culture of Japanese, Chinese and Western.
You can choose 3 spots from the list below.
At your hotel in Kobe
It's a perfect spot to have a panoramic view of the city and enjoy nature. We will take an airy gondola for 10 min. to go up to the garden entrance that is 400m above the ground. The place has a numerous kinds of flowers and herbs.
Nankinmachi Chinatown is located in the center of the city. Locals and tourists visit there to enjoy Chinese street food.
When the port was opened 150 years ago, westerners built their houses in the Kitano area on a hill. You can see about 20 houses in colonial style, and some are open to public.
Harborland is a name of the area near the port. You can have a short cruise or relax at Mosaic Mall overlooking ships come and go. There are about 50 restaurants and shops in the open air mall.
Ikuta Jinja Shrine was establised in 201 AD. Although it's not far from the city center, you can feel sacred air in the shrine grounds. God of sea is enshrined here.
It used to be a residence of Taijiro Kodera, father of former Kobe city mayor in the early 20th century. 20,000 square meter garden has a pond that colorful Koi carps swim, and you can stroll around it.
At the last destination or your hotel in Kobe
Kobe is a historic port city, easily accessible by local train from Osaka.
Situated between the Rokko Mountains in the north and the harbor in the south, Kobe is a relaxing city with nice views.
In this tour we will visit 3 or 4 of the following places of your choice:
1. Kobe Harborland and Mosaic
You can enjoy bay cruise (45 min.) and shopping and eating at open air Mosaic Mall. You can see a typical Kobe view from Mosaic including Kobe Port Tower, Kobe's landmark.
2. Chinatown
Chinatown is only several minutes away from the harbor by sight-seeing bus. The area has been developed since Chinese people came to Kobe after the opening of Kobe Port in 1868.
The place is always crowded with many people eating street food and shopping Chinese goods.
3. Kitano Foreign Residence Area
Westerners first lived in the Old Settlement Area in Motomachi, but later they started to build houses on a hill near Rokko Mountains. There still remain about 20 houses in the area, and some of them are open to visitors today. Also, in the area you can find nice cafes and souvenior shops.
4. Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden
Going up 330 meters by ropeway (10 min.) brings us to the garden entrance.
It's a large garden on a slope with a lot of herbs and flowers. You can also enjoy a nice view of the city on a clear day.
5. Kobe Beef in Sannomiya
Sannomiya is in the center of the city; if you like to have Kobe Beef, I can recommend a nice Teppanyaki restaurant that a chef cooks right in front of you.
(Kobe Beef Lunch is available 3,500yen-7,000yen.)
6. Ikuta Jinjya Shrine
Shinto shrine stablised in 201. You will see a main shrine that Wakahirumenomikoto is enshrined and some other smaller shrines in the pricinct.
7. Sorakuen Japanese Garden (closed on Thursdays)
Completed in the early 20th centrury. It's a stroll pond garden build on the residence of Taijiro Kodera, father of former Kobe City mayor.
20,000 square meter garden includes a tea house.
guide fee,
hotel pick up in Kobe
transportation fees for you and guide,
entrance fees for you (Harbor Cruise 1,500yen, Kitano Foreign Residence 350-1050yen, Nunobiki Herb Garden including gondola 1,800yen),
lunch for you (Kobe beef lunch is around 3,500 to 10,000yen depending on the size and the portion of the meat.)
I accept a tour request until 2 days prior to the tour date and a group of 2 persons up to 10 persons.
Please choose 3 spots you like to visit.
We will have a lunch break during the tour. I will book a restaurant if you like to have Kobe beef lunch.
We recently booked Mari for a shore excursion from Osaka to Kyoto. Despite our numerous questions prior to the trip, she was always very patient in her responses. Through her thoughtful planning, our party of 6 got to experience travelling via a variety of local transportation and navigated the busy tourist areas with ease. We would not hesitate to recommend Mari and would book her again if we visited Osaka/Kyoto/Kobe (her home town) again. Thank you Mari!
Dear Chris, Thank you so much for your kind review. I had such an enjoyable group and had fun myself. It was my pleasure answering your questions. I hope to see you again in the near future! Mari
Mari knows Kobe well and shared a very pleasant day with us visiting the Nunobiki herb garden, Kitano Foreign Residence Area, lunch at lovely teppanyaki restaurant and a visit to the very peaceful Sorakuen Japanese Garden. Thank you for a lovely day, Hedi and Bruce.
Thank you so much for taking time to write a Kobe tour review. I also had a wonderful time with you and Hedi. Regards, Mari
Thank you very much for an interesting and enjoyable day in Osaka. We enjoyed the historical sites of Osaka castle, Shitennoji temple and the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine, as well as Namba and the Dotomnori markets. And your choice for lunch was excellent, thank you. We are very much looking forward to our next visit with you. All the best, Hedi and Bruce.
Thank you very much for your thoughtful comments. I was so thankful for showing your interest in our history. I’m also happy to know you enjoyed our local food! Best regards, Mari
Mari packed a lot in one day and it was amazing. I am so glad we decided to use a guide for our first day. I wasn't worried about getting lost or not knowing the best things to see, so I was able to just enjoy the day. We can't wait to go back and see the sights again.
Hi Melissa, Thank you so much for your tour review! I enjoyed having your family for a full day tour. Your children were very nice and polite. With your help I could manage a tour smoothly. Mari