Your Japan Host, TOKYU HOTELS, presents Kobe

With 70 properties offered by TOKYU HOTELS, they have pretty much got Japan covered. Within their focus of bringing people and communities together, they wish to make Japan more broadly accessible to the international market, ensuring visitors have the best possible experiences, both in and out of the hotel.

To support this effort, TOKYU HOTELS & Japan-san are working together to provide a series of articles showcasing ideal accommodation & locations for international visitors within the TOKYU HOTELS portfolio.

We begin the series with Kobe city - a quieter, time-warp version of its bustling neighbour Osaka. This accessible, food-loving city oozes a retro charm fast disappearing in modern urban Japan, where international travellers are a still a great novelty and greeted with warm enthusiasm. This can be felt in Kobe’s downtown Sannomiya area, which offers great nightlife with jazz hotspots, Irish pubs, intimate & characterful bars and izakaya, primarily occupied by locals eager to strike up conversation international visitors.

Alt-base for the World Expo

April 13th marked the opening day of the World Expo in Osaka. It is projected to attract 28 million visitors through the duration of the Expo, which runs until October 13th. For a city where the vibrancy is already turned up to 11, visitors may wish to consider Kobe as a more low-key alt-base for accessing the Expo given Osaka is just 20 minutes from Kobe’s Sannomiya station on the JR Kobe line.

Outstanding Value

There is also significant value for money in opting for Kobe, with the pricing of hotels 15-20% that of neighbouring Osaka. This is likely to be more pronounced during the Expo period.

Kobe Sannomiya Tokyu REI Hotel is ideal for taking advantage of the convenience and value. It’s just 2 minutes’ walk from Sannomiya station and extremely competitively priced – sometimes as low as 7,990 yen / £45 per room depending on seasonality. For this, guests can enjoy exceptional hospitality and service with upper-midscale facilities. They can also gain a greater sense of the unique flavours of Kobe through locally sourced ingredients and traditional cuisine served at breakfast. 

Family Friendly

Although the authentic Japanese urban nightlife vibe is a big part of the appeal of Kobe, Sannomiya is also perfectly positioned near the major family-friendly attractions of Kobe city. A few of the standouts include:

• Meriken Park: A vibrant and scenic waterfront known for its iconic Kobe Port Tower, the poignant Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park and fascinating Maritime Museum. It's also hub for modern art installations and offers stunning panoramic views of Kobe's harbour.

• Kobe Harborland: A lively shopping and entertainment district, featuring attractions like the Mosaic Ferris Wheel and beautifully illuminated waterfront views.

• Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens – Accessed via a cable car climb of 1460 metres, this scenic botanical garden has over 75,000 herbs and flowers with the incredible coastal cityscape of Kobe as the backdrop.

Japan for Epicureans

Kobe is about abundance & luxurious indulgence. It’s THE place to savour the finest iconic Japanese gastronomy: wagyu & sake. You are at the apex of quality for both – with Kobe beef as the premium variety of wagyu and Nada as the undisputed centre of Sake production. It’s in the place with the best “terroir” and production methods honed over centuries of trial and error and intense competition. Kobe’s culinary tradition was built on the synergy between its food and drink paired to perfection, not just with each other, but the spirit and character of the locality.

This year, Kobe tourism is launching a new product exclusive to the travel trade to bet showcases its gastronomy. Led by a culinary specialist guide, guests will explore the terroir and learn the history of Nada sake, visit a sake farmer out in the paddy fields of Harima, and then enjoy a pairing dinner at one of the guide’s preferred certified Kobe beef restaurants.

New Itinerary possibilities     

Kobe is the perfect golden-route add on, opening up a great range of novel itinerary patterns – whether it’s about taking advantage to its position next to Kyoto, Osaka and Himeji for day excursions, or breaking up journeys further afield to the likes of Hiroshima or Kyushu. One aspect to consider for 2025 is its position as a gateway to the Seto Isles. The Art Islands (Naoshima etc) and Shikoku are increasingly making their way into itineraries, particularly during the Setouchi Triennale.  Kobe makes for an excellent connection point to the islands with its Akashi Kaikyo Bridge allowing access to Tokushima (Shikoku) in 90 minutes via a scenic drive across Awaji Island.

Kobe’s fantastic access to Kansai International Airport via train (90 mins), shuttle (75 mins), car (60 mins) or even the Bay Shuttle (30 mins from Kobe airport), makes this a viable option for the “sayonara stay” in Japan.

For more information on Kobe and the options presented in this feature, contact Japan-san. For information on the Kobe Sannomiya Tokyu REI Hotel, please contact the sales team at kobesannomiya-r.ro@tokyuhotel.co.jp