Should I spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Kobe?

Should you spend 1, 2, or 3 days in Kobe?

Many travelers spend one to two days in Kobe during their visit. After all, the multicultural city has plenty to explore such as the restaurant scene, shopping, and the famous sights and museums.

Kobe is a port city on the Osaka Bay. It's often overlooked by tourists, but those who pass through will enjoy the harbor front neighborhoods and the views of the surrounding mountains. The city also has a cable car and hot springs.

Do you have one or two days to visit Kobe? Here's our comprehensive breakdown of how much time you might need for your trip along with some suggestions for things to do.

Is one day enough time in Kobe?

Kobe is a great place to visit if you want to avoid the tourist crowds. It has some interesting activities and attractions. So with one day, you'll probably feel rushed to see the main attractions around the city. You really need more time to appreciate everything that the multicultural city has to offer. Many visitors prefer to have one to two days to fully enjoy the city even though it's not huge. If you have one day or less, we still have some great ideas for what to do while you're in town.

How to spend a day in Kobe

Shopping in Kobe is very popular, and it's easy to see why. Spend time exploring the many shops and boutiques to find the perfect gift, souvenir, or outfit. It's fun and convenient to shop here, as the best shopping districts are easy to access from the train stations. Sannomiya is a hub of transportation and shopping in the city, but also check out Kobe Harborland for its diverse stores and high energy.

The restaurant and food scene here is top notch, so make sure you spend time at one of the local restaurants where you can taste the delicious cuisine. Most people immediately think of Kobe beef when they think of this city, but there are also many other specialties around town. You'll find good sushi as well as akashiyaki, which are octopus dumplings. The city long served as a major port for Japan, so there is a strong Chinese influence over the cuisine. In particular, you should try the chuka ryori (a Chinese dumpling).

A few tour suggestions include:

Sake Tasting at Local Breweries in Kobe ($87)
1-Day Kobe Highlights Tour including Sake Tasting ($174)

The public transit in Kobe is fast and efficient. Over the course of a few days, you should be able to explore the city quite easily and affordably. While there is a subway system, it's not particularly useful to tourists. There is a bus service that operates a line that targets tourists.

Is a weekend (two to three days) enough time in Kobe?

Many weekend travelers visit Kobe, as 2 days is a good amount of time to explore this medium-sized city and check out the restaurant scene, shopping, and the famous sights and museums. If you're planning a weekend getaway here, we have a few suggestions of things to do below.

Kobe, Japan

How to spend 2 days in Kobe

With a weekend (two to three days) in Kobe, you'll have a bit more time to enjoy everything that the city has to offer.

Perhaps the most famous spot in Kobe is Kobe Harborland, so make sure you set aside some time to check it out. It might not be at the top of your list, but it's worth experiencing during your trip.

The nightlife scene is very popular here. After dark, head out to one of the many venues around town. The nightlife scene is a bit subdued, but that doesn't mean you won't find local bars, karaoke, and live music venues where you can hang out. Many visitors enjoy having a chill night out with a drink in a laid back setting.

More Info

If you're looking for more information about Kobe, we have even more advice to help you plan your journey.