Kobe Day Trip from Osaka

Kobe Day Trip FAQ

Kobe is located in the Kansai region, just a 30-minute train ride from Osaka.

Q. How long should you spend in Kobe?
Kobe has fewer attractions compared to nearby Osaka and Kyoto, making it ideal for a day trip. If you plan to stay overnight, consider hotels in the Sannomiya area, such as Daiwa Roynet Hotel KOBE or The Royal Park Canvas.

Q. How to get from Osaka to Kobe?
You can take JR, Hankyu, or Hanshin trains. Each line has different stations in Osaka and Kobe, but they are very close to each other. Hanshin and Hankyu also offer set tickets, details are provided below.

• JR from “Osaka” to “Sannomiya” takes about 21 minutes and costs 420 yen, details can be found here
• Hanshin from “Osaka Umeda” to “Kobe Sannomiya” takes about 34 minutes and costs 330 yen, details can be found here
• Hankyu from “Osaka Umeda” to “Kobe Sannomiya” takes about 27 minutes and costs 330 yen, details can be found here

Kobe Day Trip Itinerary and Attractions

Kobe Day Trip Itinerary

• If you like animals or are traveling with children, consider visiting Kobe Animal Kingdom in the morning and Arima Onsen in the afternoon.
• If you enjoy plants, consider visiting Nunobiki Herb Garden in the morning and Arima Onsen in the afternoon.
• Kobe Animal Kingdom and Arima Onsen offer set tickets that include round-trip transportation and admission tickets. Details are provided below.

  Sample Itinerary:

1. Depart from Osaka > Take the train, transfer once > Arrive at Kobe Animal Kingdom (Duration: 1 hour)
2. Explore Kobe Animal Kingdom and have lunch (Duration: 2 - 3 hours)
3. Depart from Kobe Animal Kingdom , take the train, transfer three times > Arrive at Arima Onsen (Duration: 57 minutes)
4. Enjoy the hot springs at ‘Taiko no Yu’ and stroll around the onsen town (Duration: 2 - 3 hours)
5. Return to Osaka (Duration: 1 hour 10 minutes)

Kobe Map:

Kobe Animal Kingdom

This is an open zoo where you can interact closely with various small animals, making it perfect for family visits. See here for a list of animal species.

Hours: 10am - 5pm/5:30pm, Closed on Thursdays
Admission: Adults 2200 yen, Children 1200 yen
Set Tickets: Adults 2800 yen, Children 1500 yen, Includes Kobe Animal Kingdom admission, Hanshin Railway round-trip fare, and Port Liner round-trip fare, details can be found here
Duration: 2 - 3 hours
Website: https://en.kobe-oukoku.com/
Transportation:

1. Take the train from Osaka Umeda Station to Kobe Sannomiya, a journey of 27 minutes costing 330 yen.
2. Transfer to the Portliner train from Kobe Sannomiya to Keisan Kagaku Center Station, where Kobe Animal Kingdom is located. The journey takes 14 minutes and costs 290 yen. Set Tickets mentioned above cover all transportation costs. If you are not starting from Osaka, you can also purchase another type of transportation set tickets at Kobe Sannomiya Station, see here.

Selected Video: 神戸どうぶつ王国_2023年繫体字PV

Map: https://en.kobe-oukoku.com/parkguide/

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

Japan’s largest herb garden, accessible by cable car. At the summit, there are exhibits on herbs and essential oils, greenhouses, foot baths, lounge chairs, observation decks, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop.

Hours: Depending on the season, details can be found here
Flowering season: The most beautiful in May and June, details can be found here
Admission: One-way cable car fare for adults is 1400 yen, round-trip is 2000 yen, children pay half price
Duration: 2 - 3 hours (If you prefer, you can also take the cable car up the mountain and then walk downhill for about one hour after sightseeing)
Website: https://www.kobeherb.com/en/
Transportation: Get off at Shin-Kobe Station on the subway, then walk 5 minutes. When using Google Maps for walking directions, it is recommended to set the destination to Shinsakuradani Bridge. The default route is longer.
photo by note thanun

Selected Video: Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway

Map: https://www.kobeherb.com/en/garden-information/

Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen is the most popular hot spring area in the Kansai region.

Duration: 2 - 3 hours
What to do:

1. Walk directly to ‘Taiko no Yu’ from the station (there is also a free shuttle bus outside the station).
2. Enjoy the hot springs at ‘Taiko no Yu’.
3. On the way back, explore the hot spring town, buy snacks or souvenirs.

Transportation: Departing from Kobe’s Sannomiya Station, transfer twice (conveniently at the same station), and get off at “Arimaonsen Station (Kobe Electric Railway).” The total journey takes about 45 minutes, with a fare of 690 yen. For details, details can be found here. (You can also choose a direct bus, but you won't be able to use the set tickets introduced below)

Set Tickets: Adults 2800 yen, Includes ‘Taiko no Yu’ admission, Hanshin Railway round-trip fare, Kobe Subway round-trip fare and Kobe Electric Railway round-trip fare, details can be found here

Taiko no Yu: Taiko no Yu is the largest day-trip hot spring in the Arima area, featuring 6 outdoor baths, 4 indoor baths, and 1 cold bath. It is very suitable for international tourists (staff speak English, and there are gold and silver baths available for soaking).
Hours: 10am - 10pm
Admission: Adults 2750 yen, Children 1239 yen
Website: https://www.taikounoyu.com/howto/

  Thank you for reading, and may you have a wonderful journey!
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