Kobe is an absolute gem of a city. Laid back, cultured and packed full things to do.
So, if you have a limited amount of time, there is one way to see the best of the city and that’s with the City Loop bus. A one-day pass will cost 660 yen for an adult, and for that the bus will travel the entire loop in just over one hour passing through the most popular parts of the city. You can hop off and hop on whenever you want, provided you wait at designated City Loop stops. 

Here are some of the highlights along the route.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway 

To see Kobe in all its glory, there’s no better way than riding the Shin Kobe ropeway. Not only will it give you plenty of fantastic photogenic views, but you can also explore the beautiful Herb Gardens at the top of Mount Maya. The carriages themselves whisk you away at great speed, and lift you up at a remarkably steep angle, through the verdant landscape of Kobe and over some wonderful scenery such as Nunobiki no Taki waterfall and the Gohonmatsu Entei (Nunobiki Gohonmatsu Dam).
After a few minutes, you will be high enough to see the urban sprawl of the city next to the pristine port.  

At the top you can soak in the spectacular views at a European-style rest house where drinks and snacks are available. You can then wander through the Herb Gardens and smell the intoxicating flowers and herbs on display. There’s a scenic path that goes all the way down to the bottom of the trail for anyone with energy to burn, If, however, you want to rest your legs you can simply take a ropeway carriage back down to the bottom.
When you leave the area, the stunning historic Kitano-cho district is minutes away on foot, and worth checking out for its Western-style mansions, interesting museums and the grandest Starbucks outlet you’re likely to see.

Nankinmachi (Chinatown) 

Kobe’s Chinatown district, although smaller than Yokohama’s, packs in enough atmosphere to keep fans of Chinese culture and cuisine satisfied. The long stretch of road is filled with restaurants, shops and street vendors vying for your attention. At the weekend, this area is crammed with people looking for a place to eat or to simply take photos of their lively surroundings. You’ll most likely find people converging towards the centre area of the area, which has a small pavilion surrounded by sculptures that represent the 12 animals of the Chinese Zodiac.  

One reason this place is so popular is because of the Chinese pork bun outlet, Rousyouki. It’s so tasty that a long queue forms outside the restaurant every weekend at lunchtime. It’s worth checking out, just to see what all the fuss is about.

Nakatottei Pier (Kobe Port Tower)

Kobe is synonymous with its port tower. It’s used a lot in Kobe’s tourist merchandise and looms over the horizon standing at 108m tall, making it the cities most recognisable landmark since it was built in 1963. The tower is surrounded by water and makes a nice change from the normal hustle and bustle of the city. It’s also a pleasant place to take a stroll because it features some interesting designs such as a giant fish sculpture by renowned architect Frank Gehry, the surreal Kobe Maritime Museum and futuristic Kobe Meriken Park Hotel.

Inside the port tower you pay a small fee to go to the viewing section at the top. Once there, you get a 360-degree view of the city, which shows the city in all its exciting glory. You also get to do a sky-walk. Before you get excited about what this may involve, it’s simply a glass panel on the floor that reveals the drop beneath you, showing how high up you are. 

Sanomiya 

Sanomiya is the heartbeat of Kobe. It’s the busiest most bustling area, and makes for a fun place to spend a whole day or evening. If time is tight, however, there are a few things you can do which don’t involve the usual restaurant, cafe or shop visit. 

Ikuta shrine, built at the beginning of the 3rd century, is situated just off a side street from a Tokyu Hands department store. 

It’s slightly surreal to find a place of peace and tranquillity right next to a busy place of commerce, but as soon as you walk into the grounds, the noise level reduces and all you can hear are the hushed sound of visitors and the buzzing insects among the trees and bushes. Ikuta is seen as a guardian of health. As a result, people come here to pray for good health and happiness.
There is also a stream that leads to a small pool of water next to Kibune Jinja shrine, which enshrines a water deity. As a result, visitors are offered the opportunity to purchase a mizuura mikuji, which is a ‘water’ paper fortune. This fortune can only be read when placed in the sacred water, and once dry the words disappear again. 

To complete this ritual you tie this piece of paper to a rope structure beside the water. It’s all very spiritual, and provides a welcome respite from the charged atmosphere of the city center.

If you fancy seeing all this city activity from above, you can walk to Kobe City Hall, a five-minute walk from Sannomiya Station, and take an elevator to the 24th floor. Here you will see some spectacular bird’s-eye view of the city – and all for free! It’s worth going at sunset because you can see a beautiful orange glow drench the whole horizon.

Further info 

Each City Loop bus has a tour guide who explains exclusively in Japanese the sights you pass and stop at. There are no audio or written translations, so you might as well use this opportunity to brush up on your Japanese listening skills!