Port guide: Kobe, Japan

This mid-sized port gets overlooked thanks to neighbours Kyoto, Nara and Osaka but is one of Japan’s most energetic and attractive urban destinations.

The busy port city of Kobe.Credit: iStock

Who goes there

Japan is a popular cruise destination visited by many cruise lines such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America and Norwegian, as well as those that operate smaller vessels such as Azamara and Oceania. Ships are sailing either Japan-intensive cruises or cruises that link other Asian ports. Expedition lines such as Ponant and Scenic also visit; some of their itineraries link Japan with Taiwan or small Pacific islands.

Sail on in

By Japanese standards Kobe is a mid-sized city, but has an interesting history as an international port, and still considerable energy as a manufacturing centre. The arrival won’t wow you, but you’ll enjoy the sight of the working port and the tiers of buildings that rise up the hillsides. Locals like perching on the observation decks of the cruise terminals to wave at passengers.

Berth rites

Kobe has two terminals, a small one called Naka Pier and the main Kobe Port Terminal, which can berth six ships at once. Both have customs and quarantine facilities, although few cruises begin or end in Kobe, and are plain and functional like so many Japanese public buildings. Both have a convenient location from which you can walk into the city centre or enjoy waterfront promenades.

Going ashore

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park, left untouched since the earthquake as a solemn reminder.Credit: iStock

The city centre is packed with shops, malls and restaurants and has all the Japanese buzz and kitsch that makes simply wandering around so enjoyable. Nankin-machi district, commonly called Chinatown, was settled by Chinese traders in the 1860s and today is a magnet for locals looking for cheap meals. It has become a gaudy tourist attraction and is often so crowded you need to elbow your way along streets decked out with gaudy dragons, but take it in the right spirit and you’ll have fun. Meriken Park on the waterfront has a memorial and information panels for the 1995 Kobe earthquake that destroyed 240,000 buildings.

Don’t miss

Although quite an uphill hoof (unless you take the bus), Kitano-cho is one of Japan’s more unusual districts thanks to the international traders that lived here from the 19th century. You’ll find a disconcerting European look to the leafy streets and villas, several of which are open to visitors as small museums or cafes.

Get active

Promenades for walking or jogging extend right from the cruise terminal and, if you’re prepared for a big walk, you can see all downtown Kobe on foot, which will include some lung-expanding hill climbs. This is also a great city for spectator sports if matches happen to be on while you’re in port; Kobe has good rugby and soccer teams.

Best bites

A lot of Kobe beef served overseas – and indeed in Japan – is anything but, so take the opportunity to lunch on the real deal at one of the hotpot or teppanyaki restaurants that display certification. You can also have it sashimi style or (providing you’re willing to fork out) as a steak. Kobe beef is sweet and so marbled with fat that it almost melts on the tongue.

Further afield

Kobe is near Japan’s two historical (but inland) capitals, Kyoto and Nara, which are the focus of excursions for those who haven’t been before. Some cruise lines will also take you to Osaka or scenic Awajishima, the largest island in the Seto (inland) Sea accessed over the world’s longest suspension bridge. Another option is Mount Rokko for views over the city and its splendid botanic gardens, an excursion often combined with a visit to the Sake Brewery Museum.