Kobe's Essence: From Shrines to Skyline

Discover Kobe's blend of tradition and modernity in this 4-hour tour. Visit the historic Ikuta Shrine, stroll through a serene Japanese garden, explore hidden gems, vibrant shopping streets, and finish with stunning waterfront views at Meriken Park.

￥8,250 per person

*price is for 4 pax

• Private tour

• Up to 8 PAX

• Recommended start time: 2:00 pm

• Duration: 4 hours

• Free for children under 12 years old

Kobe

Walking Tour

Public Transportation

• English

• Spanish

• Catalan

Private Tour

• Filipino

• Bisaya

• Japanese

Description

Let’s embark on an exciting journey through the heart of Kobe, where tradition meets modernity in a vibrant and unforgettable way. Our adventure begins at the historic Ikuta Shrine, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines, nestled peacefully in the center of the bustling city. Here, you’ll experience the tranquility and spiritual atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the urban surroundings, offering a serene start to your journey.

From there, we’ll venture into a hidden gem: a traditional Japanese garden tucked away in the heart of Kobe. This oasis of calm, with its meticulously designed landscapes, offers a quiet retreat where you can unwind and appreciate the delicate beauty of Japanese garden art, a perfect counterpoint to the city’s lively streets.

Next, we’ll explore some of Kobe’s hidden treasures. These lesser-known spots provide a glimpse into the city’s unique culture and charm that most tourists might miss. You’ll uncover the soul of Kobe through these intimate, off-the-beaten-path experiences.

As we transition from the quiet corners of the city to its lively center, we’ll roam through vibrant shopping streets filled with energy and excitement. Motomachi Shotengai and other bustling areas offer the perfect opportunity to experience the local culture firsthand, where you can browse for souvenirs, sample delicious street food, and interact with the friendly locals.

Our journey culminates at Meriken Park, a striking waterfront area that blends modern art, architecture, and stunning views of Kobe’s harbor. Stroll along the water’s edge, admire the famous Kobe Port Tower, and take in the picturesque skyline as the sun sets over the city.

And to complete your Kobe experience, we offer assistance in reserving a spot at a renowned Kobe beef restaurant, where you can indulge in the city’s most famous delicacy. Please note that the price of the meal is not included in the tour, but we’ll make sure you have a seamless reservation to enjoy this unforgettable culinary experience.

Itinerary

Ikuta Shrine

Ikuta Shrine is a peaceful Shinto shrine in Kobe, known for its serene atmosphere and traditional architecture. It offers a tranquil retreat amidst the city, with lush surroundings and a history that dates back over 1,800 years.

Sorakuen Garden

Sorakuen Garden is a serene Japanese landscape garden in Kobe, featuring ponds, stone bridges, and lush greenery. It's a peaceful escape within the city, offering visitors a tranquil stroll through its beautifully designed natural scenery.

Shrine in the Mountains

Hidden gem #1 is a small, tranquil shrine tucked away from the busy streets of Kobe. With its peaceful atmosphere and scenic surroundings, it offers a quiet spot to reflect and connect with local history and spirituality. This hidden gem is a glimpse into Kobe's lesser-known sightseeing spots, making it a special stop on the tour.

Sightseeing Spot

A scenic spot offering panoramic views of Kobe’s skyline and harbour. It's a perfect place to enjoy the city's beauty, especially at sunset, and is a quiet escape from the more crowded tourist areas. This hidden gem adds a touch of romance and serenity to the tour.

Kobe's Chinatown

Nankinmachi, Kobe’s Chinatown, is a bustling area known for its vibrant streets, colourful architecture, and diverse food options. It’s a district where you can enjoy authentic Chinese cuisine, explore unique shops, and soak up the festive atmosphere.

Motomachi Shopping Street

A lively, charming area with a blend of traditional and modern shops. Known for its unique boutiques, cafes, and vibrant atmosphere, it’s a great place to explore local fashion, souvenirs, and delicious treats.

Meriken Park

Meriken Park is a scenic waterfront area in Kobe, featuring modern landmarks, open green spaces, and beautiful views of the harbour. It’s a relaxing spot to stroll, enjoy outdoor art installations, and take in the city’s maritime charm.

Optional: Kobe Beef Restaurant

Experience the culinary delight of Kobe beef with an optional visit to a top Kobe beef restaurant. We can arrange a reservation for you to savour this world-renowned, tender, and flavorful beef, whether for lunch or dinner. It’s the perfect way to indulge in a truly authentic local dining experience.

Entrance Ticket Prices

• Sorakuen Garden ￥300

Estimated Transportation Expenses

On this tour, we will use a taxi to reach the hidden gem spots. The average cost per person is around ￥1,000.

What's Not Included?

Entrance ticket prices, transportation costs, and estimated meal expenses

What's Included?

Guide in your chosen language and a 4-hour private tour

Meeting Point

Meeting point is at San Kita Amore Park.

How to get there

When you arrive at JR Sannomiya Station, exit at the east gate, turn left, and cross the pedestrian towards Hankyu Sannomiya.

When arriving at Hankyu Sannomiya, go through the east exit and you'll find the meeting point.

https://maps.app.goo.gl/o1KHFepCxjLQzcgZ7

Landmark/s

There is a Matsumoto Kiyoshi next to the park.

If you wish to be picked up and dropped off at the hotel feel free to inform us.

Do you love this tour but have questions or want to customize it?

No problem! Click the button below, and let’s work together to make this tour perfect for you.

Reviews

14 reviews

★★★★★

Peri was a wonderful guide whose knowledge and information provided us with a very good understanding of Kobe. His attention to our needs and great personality serve him well in his chosen profession. Thank you Peri, we highly recommend you.

★★★★★

Michael - Canada

March 21, 2025

Excellent guide

My wife and I highly recommend a tour with Pere. He gave us a wonderful insight into Kobe and Japanese culture. We strolled around Kobe trying a few street food snacks before enjoying a delicious Kobe beef teppanyaki meal and a sake museum tour/tasting.

★★★★★

Rupert - England

February 26, 2025

Great tour and insight of Kobe

Alyssa spoke English fluently, she did what we wanted to do and was lovely. Highly recommend her.

★★★★★

Donna - USA

February 9, 2025

An afternoon in Kobe

Was an amazing tour with Pere. He showed us all the main spots in Kobe and booked us an amazing Kobe Beef experience. He also helped with recommendaitons for the rest of our trip.

★★★★★

Hussein - England

January 8, 2025

10/10

We had just some hours to visit Kobe. Allysa adapted quickly and gracefully to our demands and waited patiently for us to arrive in Kobe. She took us to the most famous spots in Kobe, explain the history and traditions and took us to the Shrine, the harbour, the Motomachi shopping street passing by Chinatown. She left us in a restaurant and helped us to order. Everything was easy and well explained. Go and book a tour with her!

★★★★★

Henar - Denmark/Spain

November 19, 2024

Kobe Private Tour

We did two tours with Peri—one focused on seeing beautiful, less touristy spots, exactly what we wanted, followed by an incredible meal of authentic Kobe beef. Absolutely fantastic! The second tour was a street food experience, and once again, Peri nailed it. Thank you so much, Peri! We hope to see you one day in Spain. A big hug!

★★★★★

Freddy - Spain

November 7, 2024

Private tour in Kobe

Although it took 2 hours longer than it should have for us to clear immigration from the ship Peri was there and stayed in contact on WhatsApp with us the whole time which was reassuring to know he hadn’t assumed we were just a “No Show”. Obviously the 2 hour delay getting off the ship meant that we then had to shorten our time together but he laid out our options and timings and let us choose our priorities for the time we had left. We then went on to have a great time going up mount Maya followed by a Japanese locals restaurant in Kobe. It was in a place where we probably wouldn’t have gone as tourists on our own, but we had a great time trying local specialities of the area and some Sake before returning to our cruise ship. It seems that we saw more and had a much better time than those on the Ship’s organised tours.

★★★★★

Peter and Barbara - United Kingdom

November 9, 2024

Walking with Peri in Kobe

It was a fantastic day. Our guide, Arisa, was excellent. Although we had much less time than planned for our visit to Kobe (due to disembarkation problems with Royal Caribbean's Spectrum of the Seas), we managed to see most of the places on our customised itinerary and get a real impression of the city and its surroundings.

Allysa also booked us dinner at an amazing Kobe beef teppanyaki restaurant. The food, the culinary demonstration and the price were simply fantastic.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to Kobe, Arima Onsen and Mount Rokko. 😊

★★★★★

Ira - United Kingdom

November 9, 2024

Tour in Kobe

Having Peri as our tour guide was the best decision at Japan. He was with the best attitude all the days he showed us how to move on the subway he backed up every move we make he was always willing to change plans as much as we needed and was always with the best attitude youu can imagine, besides that he was not only a tour guide he became our friend, he was also our photographer, our translation guide our chauffeur and was always aware and in contact with us whenever we got separated, he showed us how to behave and how to enjoy as much as possible our trip. I positively recommend him. If I was to be at Japan, a second time I will choose him again for sure with no doubt. He also showed us how to use our iPhone at Japan with the new apps and cards that needed to be used for the subway and other transportation. I even show up to my friends back in Mexico, all the things that Peri did for and with us so if you ever go to Japan, you will never regret on having Peri as your tour guide/friend/photographer/support guide. Please contact me if you should Want to have more information about my recommendation.

★★★★★

David Rivera de la Parra - México

October 24, 2024

4-day Tour in Osaka, Kioto, Uji & Kobe

I highly recommend Kansai Local Tours! Peri is a guide with extensive knowledge of Japanese cities and culture, always ready to answer any questions and adjust the pace to your needs. A thousand thanks!

★★★★★

Juan Carlos Juarez - México

October 7, 2024

4-day tour in Kyoto, Uji, Kobe, Himeji, and Osaka.

It has been a pleasure and a privilege to meet you! We had an amazing time and learned so much thanks to you! THANK YOU A MILLION TIMES!

★★★★★

Amelia Juarez - México

October 7, 2024

4-day tour in Kyoto, Uji, Kobe, Himeji, and Osaka.

It was great going around Kobe with Allysa. She was very knowledgeable about the area and gave us lots of hints and tips for our stay. Plus showing us Kobe's hidden gem (Sorakuen garden) Will definitely use your services again!!

★★★★★

Ester - Birmingham, United Kingdom

September 30, 2024

Great Introduction to Kobe

We had a great day in Kobe! Not only did we go to visit the most iconic places in the city, but Peri accompanied us to more hidden, beautiful and uncrowded areas of the city. My recommendation is to tell him what you are interested in and he will take care of everything. I also recommend that you don't miss the opportunity to eat Kobe beef!

★★★★★

Laura - Spain

April 19, 2024

Wonderful day in Kobe

We spent a great day with Pere seeing the sites of Kobe. He met us at the ship and proceeded to take us to many great sites in the city including a lunch featuring Kobe beef and Shabu Shabu. The communication and planing leading up to the day was awesome and really removed the stress of non familiar surroundings. Pere was very responsive and provided a day including all the sites we discussed. My recommendation is to give him an overview of what you want to see and let him set the agenda. The time spent in Kobe was great and we really enjoyed the city, the sites and Pere. He was a wealth of information that we really appreciated. If you want a great day in Kobe I recommend working with Pere for an outstanding experience.

★★★★★

Michael

April 2, 2024

Kobe City Tour