Where to Stay in Kobe (神戸) For Your First Epic Visit to Japan
It is written that Kobe, Japan is only worth a day trip visit from Osaka and Kyoto.
I say how dare they. Have they ever been to Sannomiya?
The magnificent port city of Kobe, in its own right, is a city that deserves at least several overnight stays. And on this post, I’ll explain why Sannomiya is the best area to stay in Kobe along with a couple of affordable hotels I’ve stayed in.
Not long ago, I visited a full week in Kobe moving around three neighborhoods and staying in three different hotels. From my experience Kobe hotels are a lot more affordable than larger cities within the Kansai region of Japan.
Especially while I was in Sannomiya and discovered the reasons why it’s such a perfect location. It’s the center of Kobe and a major public transportation hub.
Kobe is a Fantastic Jump Point to Visit Other Prefectures of Japan’s Kansai Region
Most travelers make the choice of staying in Osaka or Kyoto first. And then visiting nearby cities like Nara, Kobe and then Himeji which is the furthest city from the rest mentioned. That’s not a bad choice, Osaka is also a great city to visit for a first time trip to Japan.
Instead I’m making the case that Kobe is a great city as a base to explore other parts of Japan’s Kansai region. Especially when you don’t have a lot of time.
This is especially true when you’re flying out of Kansai International Airport (KIX). Traveling from Kobe to KIX is fast and affordable. From central Kobe where we were staying it only took us one hour to reach Kansai International Airport.
If you stay in Sannomiya you won’t have a hard time traveling or rush to the airport since it is so near.
Ferris wheel at Kobe harborland…
5 Reasons Why Kobe is Such a Great City to Check Out for Your First Visit in Japan
Kobe is located in Hyogo prefecture in Kansai region. It only takes 20 to 30 minutes train ride (depending on train line) to Osaka and train fares cost 300 yen to 400 yen.
Kobe hotels are more affordable compared to Osaka and Kyoto. And way more affordable compared to Tokyo. Below are a selection of fine affordable family friendly hotels I recommend.
Kobe is a historic city where many foreigners used to live in the Kitano-cho (北野町, Kitanochō) district. You’ll certainly enjoy the city’s history and natural beauty starting with Mount Rokko to Sorakuen Garden and on to Arima Onsen for hot springs. There’s more to see along Nankinmachi (南京町), Kobe’s own little Chinatown. There’s plenty of sights and attractions in Kobe to round out an amazing vacation in Japan.
Kobe beef. Need I say more?
It only takes roughly one hour travel between Kobe and Kansai International Airport.
Best Way to Travel to Kobe from Kansai International Airport And Back
Yes, it only takes 1 hour to travel from Kobe to KIX airport and vice versa. Here’s a post I wrote about traveling from central Kobe to KIX airport using the convenient Bay Shuttle. There are photos with directions on that post that will help you navigate and find the right area to catch the shuttle boat to the KIX.
A short 30 minute ride from on ferry shuttle from Kobe Airport to Kansai International Airport (KIX)
Bay Shuttle Kobe-Kansai Airport Fare 2023:
Adults 1880 yen (one way) – 3060 yen (round trip) Children ages 6 – 11 940 yen (one way) – 1530 yen (round trip)
But great news! While I was lookin up the current fare price for Kobe-Kansai Airport Bay Shuttle. I saw a big discount for tickets.
Discounted Fare for Foreign Tourists Until March 31st, 2024:
Adults 500 yen (one way) Children ages 6-11 250 yen ( one way)
To reserve your fares and check ferry schedule take a look at their website, credit cards are accepted. This is a special deal only available to foreign tourists.
This is the biggest discount I’ve ever seen…
But here’s a heads up. Japan’s typhoon season starts end of August to early September. So you’ll want to check the weather forecast or plan around this time to avoid travel delays.
How to Get to the Bay Shuttle from Kobe’s Sannomiya Station
At JR Sannomiya Station look for signs near the east gate leading to Kobe Portliner Sannomiya Station. Adult fare is only 330 yen and the ride. Look for the train heading to Kobe Airport which is the terminal station. The ride only takes 20 minutes.
Portliner Station is where you catch the train to the bay shuttle ferry at Kobe airport…Kobe Portliner train is located at the east gate. You will see plenty of signs leading to the station…
Now that you know the reasons why I think you should stay longer in Kobe for your first epic visit to Japan, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. You’re home away from home.
My 4 Favorite Hotels Are located in Kobe’s Chuo Ward in Sannomiya
And all the hotels I recommend in Sannomiya are close to 6 train stations:
JR / Sannomiya station
Hankyu Railway / Kobe-Sannomiya station
Hanshin Railway / Kobe-Sannomiya station
Kobe Port Liner / Sannomiya station
Kobe Subway Seishin-Yamate line / Sannomiya station
Kobe Subway Kaigan line / Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae station
With so many train stations you can easily catch one for day trips around the Kansai regions. I used the JR train to visit Himeji for a day.
Plus Nearby Things to See and Do in Kobe
Sannomiya, the center of Kobe’s city
Meriken Park located on the bay of Kobe with its signature iconic red, cylindrical 108 meter-high Port Tower
Kobe Harborland has a seaport shopping center right next to Meiken Park. If traveling with young children check out Anpanman Children’s Museum & Mall.
Kobe Maritime Museum also located within Meriken Park
Nanking Machi is Kobe’s vibrant Chinatown
My Favorite Hotels in Sannomiya
Sannomiya is the heart of Kobe City. It is divided into two areas, north and south which is conveniently divided by Sannoymiya Station.
Hotels in South Sannomiya from my experience is where you’ll find the most budget friendly hotels in Kobe.
My recommended hotels all have free internet wi-fi as most hotels in this day and age should. And it’s fast with easy connection. I chose a few of these mostly because of the larger than average Japanese hotel room sizes.
Except for the capsule hotel which was mainly done out of fun and experience. Overall, my select pick of these four hotels in Sannomiya will ensure you have a comfortable, enjoyable stay.
The rates I provided are based on season. And also two persons per room, except for capsule hotel of course.
the b KobeKobe Capsule Hotel SekiAPA Hotel – Kobe SannomiyaHotel Villa Fontaine
1. the b Kobe Hotel – $75USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) This is the first hotel I’ve ever stayed in for my first trip to Kobe. And I’ve been back ever since. The reason is simple. Their rooms are larger than the average Japanese hotel room. With 14 sq. meters of space my wife and I can stay in comfort without bumping into our luggage.
2. Kobe Capsule Hotel Seki – $30USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) What kind of Kobe hotel review will this be if I don’t include one Japan’s famous capsule style hotels. I stayed here while I was traveling solo a few years back. It’s fun, comfortable and clean. Most importantly cheap. Though awhile ago it’s been converted into mens’ only capsule hotel.
3. APA Hotel Kobe Sannomiya – $75USD (Check rates and reviews on agoda.com) I always rave about APA chain of business classed hotels. This is my go to hotel option whenever I’m in Japan and I don’t know which hotel to stay in. This particular APA hotel has a buffet breakfast option that cost $10USD extra. Which is a very good deal.
4. Hotel Villa Fontaine – $65USD (Check rates and read reviews on agoda.com) I stayed at this hotel because all of my favorite budget hotels in Kobe were either fully booked or didn’t have double rooms to share with my wife. But when I got my room here I was totally happy. A superior double room is 18 sq. meters. Hotel Villa Fontaine is very popular today and one of the best affordable hotels in Kobe with terrific reviews.
The Fastest and Cheapest Way to Kobe from Kansai International Airport and Back
If you’re planning on visiting Kobe after landing at Kansai International Airport there’s a super deal for the high speed ferry that will zip you to Kobe in no time. Hopping on these fast bay shuttle boats is cheaper than taking a bus or a train from KIX to Kobe and back.
As of writing until March 31st, 2024 an adult one-way fare cost 500¥. The bay shuttle ferry takes you from Kansai International Airport to Kobe Airport in about 30 minutes.
The normal fare for adults cost 1880¥. Children’s one-way fare cost 200¥ down from 940¥. That’s a savings of 75%.
Discount price for foreigners…
This special discount is only available for foreign tourists. So you’ll have to present your passports. And this deal is valid until March 31st, 2024. And they have been extending these discounts because I remember this special fare for tourists since 2020.
I came across this discount while I was searching for the cheapest train option to KIX from Kobe. There are no direct trains so I would have to transfer to one of the trains at one of Osaka’s stations. Plus my flight departs at 10am which meant I would have to get up early and try to drag my butt to the airport a few hours before.
Which meant that I’d have to check out of my hotel at 5am. Which means I would be groggy, grouchy and possibly bitchy until I find some decent coffee. All in all, it wouldn’t be pretty.
So when I found out this better and cheaper way of getting from Kobe to KIX in about an hour I was all psyched.
credit: https://www.kobe-access.jp
Since I wanted to stay in Kobe for my last leg of the trip, using the bay shuttle makes more sense. I already stayed quite awhile in Osaka already recently. So I really wanted to spend more time in Kobe.
Kobe – Kansai High Speed Shuttle ferry service is hands down better than taking a bus or a train back to Kansai airport. Because the ferry ride takes about 30 minutes. Total travel time for me was only about 1 hour.
Boarding start 5 minutes before departure. There are about 50 seats inside. I would make a reservation on their website to lock in a seat…
This high speed ferry boat service going from Kobe to KIX runs every hour starting at 5:30am with the last departure at 10:45pm. The ferry boats run once every hour but check out their timetable to make sure in case there are changes. And of course it also runs from KIX to Kobe also which is great if you are planning to head to Kobe first.
Even though early in the morning there were plenty of seats available I still highly recommend you reserve a seat, especially if you’re traveling in a larger group. The boat has about 50 seat passenger capacity with designated spaces allocated for luggage.
I can imagine during peak hours it might be hard to get a seat. It’s a high speed boat after all and for safety reasons there’s no standing room permitted. When passengers are seated they are required to use the seatbelts.
How to Get from Kobe City to Kansai International Airport in Roughly 1 Hour
I was staying at b Kobe Hotel which is about a 5 minute walk to Port Liner Sannomiya Station (PLSS). The PLSS is directly connected to JR Sannomiya Station which is important to know because there are other train stations nearby with the Sannomiya name. And trust me you don’t want to get into the wrong station. Otherwise you’d never find PLSS.
So when you located JR Sannomiya station, start looking for signs directing you to PLSS. There were many signs and hard to miss.
Port liner station is on the second floor of Jr Sannomiya station…
There’s only one entrance to Port Liner Sannomiya station and it’s on the second floor. If you have a lot of luggage there is an elevator on the ground level. You’ll see the ticket vending machines like the one the picture below. Just like other ticketing machines you’ve come across while traveling on Japanese trains, you first must indicate how many fares you are purchasing and then you’ll get the total you have to pay.
It’s 330 Yen for 1 adult. I was buying tickets for myself and my wife and thus the 660 Yen total…
My flight was departing at 10am so I checked out of the hotel at 5am. The walk from b Kobe hotel where I was staying to Port Liner Sannomiya Station took about 5 minutes.
I actually went a few days ahead to find the entrance of the Port Liner station so I wouldn’t have to run around like a headless chicken at the last minute in the early cold morning of Japan’s winter. To me alone that would probably be fun. But I was traveling with my wife so I had to be a bit wiser. So that’s why I found the station quicker.
“Wayfaring Soul Travel Tip #86: Locating the exact location of your next transport hub beforehand will ensure smooth travels.”
There are only two platforms so be sure to read the digital display which points to the right platform. You’re looking for the train heading to Kobe Airport…
The first train at Port Liner Sannomiya Station arrives 5:40am sharp. The trip to Kobe Airport where the ferry terminal is located is 18 minutes long and the final stop. Remember to take the train heading for Kobe Airport. If I recall correctly the train waited for about 3 minutes before it left the station.
Inside a port line train. The ride is 18 minutes long, making 8 stops before terminating at Kobe Airport…
Because we were in so early the train was not crowded at all. The train makes 8 stops along the way and even stops at a station with an IKEA. I was so tempted to go buy some Lingonberry jam and some wall shelves. But we had a plane to catch.
Credit: https://www.kobe-access.jp – On this map you have to head to Kobe Airport Kaijyo Access Terminal. I don’t know why they just don’t call it the Kobe to KIX Ferry Access Terminal…
Almost There
Kobe Airport is the last stop. After you exit the ticket gate you should see some signs pointing the way to the port entrance right in front of you. There’s no need to go inside Kobe airport. When you go downstairs outside you’ll see the first large sign leading to the ferry terminal.
You’ll be walking past a parking lot and at the end of the parking lot is another sign directing you to go left. Then more signs leading you directly to the Kobe Airport Kaijyo Access Terminal.
There should be a bus that will take you to the pier but we didn’t see one I guess because it was still early in the morning. But for me and my wife the walk took about 5 minutes. So the pier is not far away.
The Kobe airport Kaijyo access terminal is the short white building in the distance…
I reserved 2 seats a few days ago before departure. Matter of fact according to their website reservations are available 3 months to 48 hours before departure. The ticket counter was easy to spot because the ferry terminal is not all too big. You can pay with credit card and I even saw a currency exchange booth.
Just a single ticket counter to purchase your fare…
So I informed them of my reservation and was asked to show my passports and then I got two tickets on the ferry to KIX at 500¥ a piece with 15 minutes to spare. I even had enough time to buy a hot coffee at a vending machine.
Besides vending machines selling hot and cold drinks I even saw ice cream too. Also some work tables with charging ports. Quite the cozy ferry terminal if I may say so.
Kobe – Kansai Bay Shuttle ferry boat…
At KIX Airport
Once passengers disembark at KIX ferry terminal a few buses are waiting. The first bus heads to Terminal 1 which is where all airlines are located except for Peach Airline which is located in Terminal 2. Don’t worry, all the buses have digital displays indicating which bus goes to which terminal.
Check the bus’s digital display. Some of the Terminal 2 buses will make stops at Terminal 1 first, during off peak hours…
Final Thoughts
It’s probably a wise idea to check the weather to make sure there are no typhoons or hurricanes forecasted. The end of August and early September is Japan’s typhoon season. You can imagine weather could really play a part in delaying your trip to catch your flight from Kobe to KIX.
Really, the whole trip process was so smooth and in a way, so clock work Japanese. As I looked out my window when the boat departed you could see a porter waving good bye. Everything went so smoothly. Usually I get nervous about trying out a mode of transport for the very first time. Especially when I have to catch a flight home. But this first time going on this high speed ferry boat from Kobe to KIX was a flawless experience.
TheWayfaringSoul.com is an online travel guide to Asia. Written by Warren, a native New Yorker and long-term resident in Thailand.
