Kobe is located 30 minutes away from Osaka by train, yet the city's atomosphere is totally different. It's one of the three major port cities besides Yokohama and Nagasaki. Since the opening of the port 150 years ago, Kobe has been influenced significantly by people around the world, and therefore, it has an international touch. The city is rather compact with the Rokko mountain range in the north and the ocean in the south. You can also enjoy world famous Kobe Beef for lunch.
At your hotel in Kobe/Osaka or JR Kobe/Osaka station
Enjoy herbs & flowers and the wonderful view overlooking the city. You'll go up to the garden entrance by airy gondola; on the way you can see great waterfalls from the above.
Mosaic Mall is a restaurants/shops complex facing the port. From the deck you will have a typical view of Kobe including Kobe Port Tower, Kobe's landmark. Also 45 min. sightseeing boats are available at the port.
Nankinmachi Chinatown is always crowded with tourists looking for good Chinese street food.
Strolling around the town is a lot of fun. A long shopping arcade of various kinds of shops is also located in the neighborhood.
Westerners built homes on the hillside called Kitano when they moved to Kobe and started their businesses.
Many houses were built in the late 1800's to early 1900's in colonial style; today some of them are open to public as museums.
Ikuta Jinja Shrine is one of the oldest Shinto shrines having a history of 1,800 years.
Behind the main hall, there is a small forest that has 500 to 1000 year-old comphor trees.
Often times you can see Shinto priests giving special blessings to people in the main hall.
Japanese Rice Wine called Sake was originated about 2000 years ago. Nada is the largest Sake brewing district that produces 30% of all Sake in Japan. One of the leading brewing companies called Hakutsuru has a Sake museum next to their factory. You can learn how Sake is made by looking at a short video for each process. At the end of the tour, you are welcome to have Sake tasting for free!
If you like animals and birds, this might be the place to visit. It is not an ordinary zoo, and there are no lions or elephants. The Animal Kingdom keeps rare animals such as capybaras, sloth, alpaca, giant tortoise in additional to small and medium sized animals so that the visitors can touch. The highlight is the eagle/hawk shows in a large indoor facility. The birds fly just over your heads!
At JR Kobe/Osaka station
Guide fee,
Hotel pick up in Kobe/Osaka or at JR Kobe/Osaka station
Transportation for you and guide during the tour
Lunch for you and guide (If you are having Kobe Beef, guide will eat elsewhere.)
Entrance fee (Bay Cruise 1,500yen, Kitano Foreign Residence 350-1,050yen, Nunobiki Herb Garden including airy gondola 1,800yen, Animal Kingdom 2,000yen including train fare, Nada Sake brewery, free entrance, 400yen train fare)
Most of the spots can be reached by city loop bus (700yen for one day pass) except for Nada Sake Brewing area and Kobe Animal Kingdom. To Nada and Animal Kingdom, we need to take trains.
We can visit 2 spots in the morning, have lunch and 2 in the afternoon. In the case of starting a tour at your hotel in Osaka, please choose 3 spots for an 8 hour tour. Please cover guide's transportation fees during the tour as well as yours.
If you wish to have a Kobe beef lunch, please inform me beforehand.
I accept a tour request until 2 days prior to the tour date and a group of 2 persons up to 10 persons.
“Kyoto 9 Hour Tour on April 14”
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!
Mari N.
(126 reviews)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
“Very pleasant day in Kobe”
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.
Mari N.
(126 reviews)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
“Interesting and enjoyable day in Osaka”
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.
Mari N.
(126 reviews)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