Where to stay in Kobe, Japan: a neighbourhood guide to the best areas & hotels

If you're planning to spend some time in Kansai on your Japan trip, you're probably looking at hotels in Osaka and Kyoto. Kobe is still largely overlooked as a Kansai base, but tourists are slowly getting wise to the city's charms, convenience and (often cheaper) accommodation. It's a great choice - especially if you want to experience a smaller city with a much more local feel.

We've lived in several Kobe neighbourhoods and you'll have to trust us on this one: the one you pick can make a huge difference to your stay. Read on for our guide to where to stay in Kobe and what booking mistakes to avoid.

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Kobe hotels: a quick geographic reality check

If you look at any map of Kobe, you'll immediately notice how long and skinny the city is. It's not much more than a kilometre wide in some places - squashed in between the sea and the mountains, to the extent that the two islands you see there in the bay were built in an effort to increase land area.

There are a couple of general things you need to keep in mind when booking accommodation in Kobe:

Lots of hills

Kobe's location on this narrow strip of habitable land at the base of the Rokko mountains means that there are a lot of relatively steep slopes, especially in the areas north of the railway lines running east to west. Hotels in Kobe are concentrated around the Sannomiya and Motomachi areas so, with the exception of the Shin-Kobe/Kitano district, this won't necessarily be a problem. But you might find a lovely airbnb in a cute residential area and only discover once you get there that it's a 10-minute uphill slog from the nearest railway station. We lived for a while in Okamoto in the very east of the city - considered to be a very nice area. And it really is. But the walk (what felt like) straight up the side of the mountain from the station was a killer, especially with shopping and after a day of sightseeing.

Central Kobe is your no. 1 choice

Unless you have special interests that dictate being in a particular area of Kobe (for example, being near the sake breweries in Nada, so you can just roll back easily to your hotel after a tasting sesh), staying in the central districts are preferable because the city's long, thin physical dimensions mean that being on the outskirts of town can add 20 minutes or more to every commute from your accommodation to Kansai's attractions. A personal anecdote: I studied at a Kobe university that had Kobe in its name but was way out in the 'burbs. A professor once told me that the university practically had to offer counselling to countless disappointed students who applied to the university from little countryside towns thinking they were going to enjoy big city life for 4 years, only to find upon arrival that they were a 45-minute bus and train ride from downtown Sannomiya.

Not all train lines are equal

Kobe is incredibly well-connected. It sits on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, the JR Kobe line, the Hankyu Kobe line and the Hanshin line. Like anywhere else, being close to a train station is the dream. But in Kobe especially, it matters which line you are close to, especially if you are planning lots of day trips to other destinations in Kansai. The Hankyu line is very handy (and cheap) for getting to Osaka, but you'll have to change to go to Kyoto, adding time to your journey and you're not likely to get a seat after you change. Hankyu doesn't go further west than Hanakuma in the west of the city centre, so is no good for Himeji, for example. Hanshin runs between Himeji and Osaka but is slow and will add a lot of time to your journeys. JR is generally the best line for getting to Himeji, Osaka and Kyoto fast. But even here (and with the Hankyu line too), you'll want to make sure that your accommodation is near a station at which the express trains stop: the local trains will cost you a lot of time, even just between Kobe and Osaka.

The best areas to stay in Kobe

Sannomiya

For us the absolute winner for connectivity, shopping, nightlife, restaurants... Sannomiya is a clear all-rounder. All trains stop here (aside from the Shinkansen), so you've got super-easy access to Himeji, Kurashiki, Suma Beach and Akashi in the west and Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Uji in the east. Sannomiya is also a major bus hub for the City Loop bus and longer-distance limousine coaches to the airports or bus tours. Most Kobe attractions are within easy walking distance of Sannomiya.

The area on the north side of JR Sannomiya Station is very different in character to the area south of the station. The south side of Sannomiya is much quieter with loads of covered and underground shopping arcades. The north side is livelier with thousands of bars, restaurants and nightlife.

For good, solid business hotels in great locations, we love the Toyoko Inn Sannomiya Ekimae (just 50 metres from central exit of JR Sannomiya Station; breakfast included!) and the Sotetsu Fresa Inn Kobe Sannomiya (the Sotetsu chain is always reliable and this one is just 3 min's walk from the station). $20 more per night will get you a double room at the remm plus Kobe Sannomiya (a great 4* place practically built into Sannomiya Station with spectacular views from the higher floors) or the Daiwa Roynet Hotel KOBE-SANNOMIYA PREMIER (I've always loved this place for it's proximity to my favourite shopping mall in Kobe, Center Gai).

Motomachi

Motomachi is so close to Sannomiya anyway that it probably goes without saying that this is another great place to stay in Kobe. One word to the wise, though: the fastest express trains (shin-kaisoku) don't stop at Motomachi, so you might find yourself walking over to Sannomiya or changing there at least. Staying in Motomachi means you're near Chinatown and the Motomachi shopping arcade, the Daimaru department store and the Meriken Park waterfront area.

As onsen fans, we love the Dormy Inn Kobe Motomachi, which is right next door to Nankinmachi, just a short walk to Meriken Park and about 150 metres from Motomachi Station - plus it's got an onsen right there in the hotel!

Meriken Park and Harborland

Whereas Sannomiya and Motomachi are the business and party end of Kobe, Meriken Park and Harborland are where your accommodation is part of the event. Considered to be the perfect setting for a romantic getaway, this area down at the waterfront is a wee bit harder to get to (Motomachi and Kobe Stations are just a short walk away but you're definitely not in the heart of the action anymore), but feels like a retreat. Harborland is a good shopping area, too, and there are plenty of restaurants down here as well. It's just not as convenient for sightseeing around the wider Kansai area - but a really lovely idea for a special night or two.

The classic choices in this neighbourhood are the iconic Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel (a true Kobe landmark and right beside one Kobe's two cruise terminals), the Okura (practically Kobe's no. 1 address - amazing views, shuttle service and a pool!) and the Kobe Marriott (right beside Kobe Station, just a few minutes away from the Harborland shopping and entertainment centre).

Where not to stay in Kobe

Shin-Kobe Station

Unless you have a very early start on the Shinkansen the next morning, we wouldn't necessarily advise staying near Shin-Kobe. Although the ANA Crowne Plaza is another Kobe icon and built right into Shin-Kobe Station, you're quite far away from all the Kobe action up here and a good 20-minute, not especially pretty walk from Sannomiya (yes, there's a subway linking Shin-Kobe and Sannomiya but you'll have to change in Sannomiya to go anywhere else and it adds to your daily transport costs). The Nunobiki Ropeway is right next door and you get some lovely views from the hotel out over the city but you're simply better placed in Sannomiya.

Port Island /Rokko Island

We lived on Port Island for a year or so and it has a special place in our hearts but it's pretty much dead at night, there's little in the way of shopping or restaurants and you're dependent on the Port Liner to get you in and out from the city centre (the ticket price can add up and the last train is earlier than you might hope). Rokko Island is a similar situation, but is in some ways even more inconvenient because it's further, and essentially two train rides, away from Sannomiya.

Stay on Port Island only if you're catching a flight early in the morning from Kobe Airport, which is down at the southern end of the island.

Where to stay in Kobe: FAQ

Is it better to stay in Kobe or Osaka?

As a smaller, more manageable city, Kobe is a great choice for a quieter, more laid-back stay. There is still plenty to see, do, shop, eat and drink and you're very well connected within the Kansai area, the the vibe is much less touristy than in Osaka. The one advantage that Osaka is that it is more central: Kobe will add around 30 minutes more on to your train journeys to Kyoto, Nara, Uji, etc.

How many nights should I spend in Kobe?

If you are exploring Kobe as part of a wider Japan itinerary, 1-2 nights is perfect: this will be enough time to see most of the highlights. If you are using Kobe as a base to explore Kansai, you can easily stay a week here and still run out of time. You've got Kobe itself plus day trips to Himeji, Hiroshima, Arima Onsen, Osaka, Nara, Uji, Kyoto, Koya-san... the list goes on.

Where best to stay in Kobe?

The best place to stay in Kobe is the area around Sannomiya Station. This is the transportation hub for Kobe, with access to the JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, municipal subway and Port Liner lines. It's also where you'll find the best dining and entertainment options.

Is Kobe foreigner-friendly?

Very. After all, it was one of the first ports to open up to the west and so has a long history of welcoming foreign guests. It's considered one of Japan's most cosmopolitan cities, with a large ex-pat community, foreign schools, one of Japan's three Chinatowns and real international flair.

Is Kobe an onsen town?

Not really. But Arima Onsen, in the mountains just behind Kobe, is Japan's oldest onsen town and is just a bus ride away from Kobe city centre.

Why stay in Kobe?

Kobe has excellent rail connections to Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and beyond, so makes a great base for exploring the Kansai area. But it's not as touristy as Osaka or Kyoto, is less crowded, smaller (very walkable), is considered one of the most pleasant Japanese cities to live in, has plenty to do and see and has a a wide range of accommodation. It is also a cheaper base than Osaka or Kyoto.

Thinking about visiting Kobe? These other posts in our Kobe hub might interest you:

• Find out why Kobe is exploding on social media as the ideal day trip from Osaka

• Plan an outing or an overnight stay at one of Japan's most venerated onsen towns, Arima Onsen

• Take time out in Kobe's waterfront Meriken Park, with top views from Port Tower

• Docking in Kobe on a Japan cruise? Our guide to Kobe as a cruise port tells you how to get to and from the cruise terminal, how to get around the city and what the best shore excursions are.

• Get the best views in the city from the Nunobiki Herb Park and check out the Nunobiki waterfall on the way.

• Find out about Kobe Airport and how to connect to other regions of Japan by air

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