Take a day trip from Osaka to the unique port city of Kobe, and even further afield to a hot spring town and an outlet mall
Many people may think of Kyoto and Nara as the major tourist spots near Osaka, but Kobe is also a popular travel destination for both domestic and international tourists. After the Edo Period, Kobe became the main port city to open up the Osaka and Kansai region to the world for the first time. Due to this cultural milestone, Kobe has evolved into a unique port city atmosphere which blends Japanese, Western, and Eastern cultures into one.
Sannomiya in central Kobe can be reached in 30 minutes by train from Umeda Station or Osaka Station, the two stations located in the center of Osaka. From Sannomiya Station, you can use the Kobe City Loop Bus to tour the city and visit various tourist spots.
The charm of Kobe: 1. Simply stylish!
Due to the early settlement of foreigners, Eastern and Western cultures blended, resulting in many unique and stylish buildings. The Kitano area, in particular, features some distinctly beautiful streetscapes.
The charm of Kobe: 2. Delicious food!
Discover Kobe's gourmet food, including Kobe beef and various types of sweets.
The charm of Kobe: 3. Loads of events!
Plenty of events are held throughout the year, including Kobe beef, flower, and music festivals.
Explore Kobe with the CITY LOOP Bus
Hop on and off to major attractions
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Pick up a "Kobe 1-Day Loop Bus Ticket"
The "Kobe 1-Day Loop Bus Ticket" comes in 1 Day or 2 Day options. With this pass, you can board all lines on the CITY LOOP Bus or PORT Loop Routes an unlimited amount of times. You can buy the 1 day ticket online or both passes at the Kobe Information Center.
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Visit Major Tourist Areas
The CITY LOOP Bus and PORT Loop Bus covers an expansive area including but not limited to: Chinatown, Kobe Port, Harborland, Motomachi Shopping Street, Kitano Area, Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway, Kobe City Museum, Shin-Kobe Station and more!
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Combine with other set tickets
Shinki Bus also offers the Hyogo Amazing Pass, which combines the CITY LOOP bus, PORT Loop Bus, and also the highway buses between Sannomiya, Sanda, Osaka. It's perfect to go to places such as Arima Onsen and the Kobe Sanda Premium Outlets.
Ikuta Shrine
A shrine for praying for love!
The deity enshrined here is the god of fortune telling, who is believed to be able to strengthen the bonds between two people.
Kitano Area
Western styled buildings and mansions
This area has many attractions, such as the Kobe Trick Art Museum, a white wooden house displaying optical illusions and various 3D images, and is great for taking photogenic pictures.
Kobe Port Area
A large park overlooking Kobe's Port
The port area is the heart of Kobe, and is home to the iconic "BE KOBE" sign which many people take a picture with to remind them of their time in Kobe.
For Panoramic Views of Kobe: Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway
Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway is a large botanical garden located on a scenic hill overlooking the city of Kobe. The 12 garden areas boast 200 different kinds of beautiful herbs and flowers which bloom all year long. There are also many places to rest and lounge, making it a perfect place to unwind while taking in the panoramic views of the city below. To reach Nunobiki Herb Garden you can take a ropeway which takes you 400m above Kobe City to the grounds. The ropeway boarding station can be reached by using the CITY LOOP Bus.
Opening Hours: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
(from July 20th-November 30th, the observatory area is open until 8:30 PM)
Note: The ropeway operation dates and times depend on the season. For more detailed information and to plan ahead for your trip, check the official website.
Explore outer Kobe with the Hyogo Amazing Pass
Located just 25 minutes to an hour away from Kobe City are perfect half day trips to popular spots such as Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets and Arima Onsen. Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets is one of the largest shopping areas in the Kansai area and Arima Onsen is one of Japan's oldest hot springs spanning with a history of over 1,000 years!
Getting there:
From Shinki Bus Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal, board the bus for Arima Onsen or Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets and pay on the bus when you get off at the respective stop.
More information
The Amazing Hyogo Pass includes: All day usage of Kobe's City Loop Bus and Port Loop Bus, Express Buses (Sanda-Osaka line, Himeji-Arima Onsen), and Shinki Bus local routes (Orange Bus) running in Hyogo Prefecture
Online Ticket Reservation
Arima Onsen
Arima Onsen is located approximately 30 minutes by bus from Shinki Bus Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal and is one of the most popular hot springs in the Kansai region due to it being one of the 3 oldest hot springs in Japan. Take a stroll around this charming hot spring town or enjoy its unique golden and silver spring waters which are high in iron content. There are also many traditional shops and cafes where you can try the local speciality Tansan Senbei, a light crispy cracker made from carbonated water from the local springs.
Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlets
The Kobe-Sanda Premium Outlet is located approximately 60 minutes by bus from Shinki Bus Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal, or 30 minutes by bus from Arima Onsen. This outlet is one of the largest shopping centers in the Kansai region, as it boasts more than 200 stores ranging from mid-range to high-end products and top sports brands, jewelry, childrens toys, and hosuehold goods. Although it is already a discounted outlet, there are additional special offers available for tourists.
