The name Kobe may sound familiar to you. It is often referenced when talking about high-end Japanese beef, but it is also a town in Japan (where this beef comes from). The town is not as frequented by tourists despite being less than 30 minutes by train from both Kyoto and Osaka. However, it has a lot to offer as a modern port city. It was the first city to open up to international influence and trade in the 1850s and there is evidence of international influence is some of the historical districts around the town. The town also has many sake distilleries, giving you access to boutique and artisanal sake producers. And finally, the town celebrates its tie to the designation of Kobe beef with many restaurants specializing in serving different cuts of beef. And with how close the town is to Kyoto and Osaka, a Kobe day trip could be the perfect amount of time to explore this city.
How to Travel from Kyoto or Osaka for a Nara Day Trip
The town of Nara is so close to Kyoto and Osaka that it can be accessed with an easy train ride. You can also look into spending the evening in Kobe, especially if you are considering continuing on to Hiroshima when visiting Japan.
What To Do During a Kobe Day Trip
Walk Around the Kitanocho Neighborhood
The Kitanocho neighborhood is a historic neighborhood in Kobe that is full of western-style mansions, which were built by foreign merchants. The architecture is in a variety of styles so walk around the neighborhood to discover the unique buildings and various boutiques and cafes of the neighborhood.
Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway
The Nunobiki herb gardens and ropeway is a chair lift that takes you to a garden up on a hill above Kobe. The views of the city from the lift and the gardens overlook the city. You can walk around the gardens making your way partially down the hill. From there, you can pick up the chair lift and return to the base of the hill.
Visit the Nada Ward for Sake Tasting
The Nada ward of Kobe is the area where sake is produced in artisanal ways. The area is full of different sake distilleries, some of which have tours and others that have storefronts and shops. A great place to start learning about the traditional sake process is at the Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Museum. This site has a small museum that talks about the traditional process of producing sake. They also provide tours of a barrel making production site where artisans make the wood barrels that sake is stored in by hand in an artisanal way. Finally, they also provide access to a museum of sake cups (which is only provided in Japanese). These two tours give you a good perspective on the history, culture, and craftsmanship that revolves around the important sake drink in Japan.
You can also visit the Hamafukutsuru sake brewery, a modern production facility of sake. Here, you can take a self guided tour with views into the modern facilities of this sake producer. You can also do a tasting of various sakes to understand the depth of flavor of this alcohol. There are other sake producers throughout this region that you can explore as well but these two sites will give you a great background into sake.
Discover Nankinmachi - Kobe Chinatown
This compact area is known as the Chinatown of Kobe having been developed by Chinese merchants after the 1860s. Today, you will see influence from China, including large gates and restaurants that serve Chinese street food.
Trying Kobe Beef
The name Kobe is often tied to the high-end beef that is produced and certified from Japan. These premium cuts of beef are some of the most expensive around the world but in the town of Kobe, you can find delicious Kobe beef meals for much less than what you find in the United States. Some of these places allow you to try various cuts and types of beef so you can compare the flavor of different beef products from Japan in addition to Kobe beef. The certified Kobe beef will come with a plaque and certificate ensuring the quality of the meat.
Walk the Kobe Waterfront of Meriken Park
Kobe is located right on the water and is an important port for Japan. The city has built the Meriken Park to celebrate the maritime culture of the city and allow visitors and residents alike to enjoy the waterfront. Here, you will find a memorial to the 1995 earthquake that damaged this area of Kobe (with a piece of the waterfront left unrepaired). Architecturally, the main structures that dominate the park are the Maritime Museum with its unique structure that evokes the shape of sails and the iconic Kobe Port Tower that has become a symbol of the city of Kobe. The tower has various observation decks and a cafe at the very top with views overlooking the port and the city.
