Meriken Park & Kobe Port Tower

The waterfront park jutting into Kobe harbor, home to the 108-metre Kobe Port Tower (completed 1963, reopened April 2024 after renovation) and the sail-shaped Kobe Maritime Museum. The BE KOBE sign, the preserved earthquake-damaged quayside memorial, and open lawns facing the bay make it the city's favorite promenade, free and open around the clock.

Meriken Park & Kobe Port Tower is a Landmark in Kobe. You will find it at Hatobacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo.

Central Kobe is compact and walkable, with Sannomiya as the transport and dining hub. The City Loop tourist bus circles the main sights, the subway and JR lines run east–west, and the Shin-Kobe Ropeway climbs to the Nunobiki Herb Garden.

Reaching Kobe: Kobe Airport sits on an artificial island about 7 km south of the city, the Port Liner reaches Sannomiya in about 18 minutes. Kansai International Airport is across the bay: the Bay Shuttle high-speed ferry takes about 30 minutes to Kobe Airport, and limousine buses take about an hour. Shin-Kobe Station is on the Sanyo Shinkansen, about 15 minutes from Shin-Osaka. JR and Hankyu lines connect Sannomiya with Osaka-Umeda in about 30 minutes.

Worth knowing: Sannomiya is the hub for transport, dining and shopping, most sights radiate from there. The Shin-Kobe Ropeway is the way up to the Nunobiki Herb Garden; no hiking required. Meriken Park's BE KOBE sign and the earthquake memorial quayside are free and open around the clock, dusk is the prettiest hour. One IC card covers JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, subway and the Port Liner.