Private Kobe Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle

Inclusions / Exclusions

Mobile ticket
Offered in: Japanese, English
Private vehicle
Customizable Tour of your choice of 3-4 sites from 'What to expect' list'
Licensed Local English Speaking Guide

Entrance fees, Lunch, and Other personal expenses
You cannot combine multiple tour groups.
Guide Entry fees are only covered for sights listed under What to Expect.

Overview

Explore the both modern and traditional sides of Kobe with your government-licensed guide on this full-day tour. Enjoy the ease of travelling in a private vehicle. Come and discover the beautiful and architecturally stunning city of Kobe with us! Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kobe is one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. Immerse yourself in the city's distinct atmosphere and dining options! From seafood to sake to sweets, Kobe has it all! We hope to guide you in Kobe soon! Note: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary.

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Your guide and driver will pick you up at your hotel in Kobe City or your preferred location around Kobe Port or Kobe Airport. Please use email for any communication before the tour. ... Read more ▼

Itinerary

Mt. Rokko

Mount Rokko (六甲山, Rokkōsan, 931 meters) is the highest peak in the Rokko mountain range, which provides the pleasant green backdrop to the city of Kobe. Panoramic views of the heavily urbanized Hanshin region (Kobe and Osaka) can be enjoyed from the mountain and are particularly spectacular around sunset.

30 minutes
Shin-Kobe Trail

Shin-Kobe Ropeway (新神戸ロープウェー) is one of three services that lifts tourists up the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain chain. The ropeway departs from next to Shin-Kobe Station, Kobe's shinkansen station. As it ascends, it passes by the Nunobiki Waterfall and the Nunobiki Herb Garden, giving a nice aerial view of both. The highlight of the ride lies in the observation deck located just beside the top station, which offers spectacular views of Kobe and is a popular night view spot.

30 minutes
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

On January 17, 1995 at 5:46 am, the city of Kobe was hit by the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, resulting in the death of more than 5000 people and the destruction of tens of thousands of homes. The Earthquake Memorial Museum, part of the Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (人と防災未来センター, Hito to Bōsai Mirai Center), was opened in 2002 to commemorate the tragic event and to educate visitors about earthquakes and disaster prevention. The museum includes a large screen theater with realistic images of the earthquake's destructiveness, a documentary film about the recovery process, lots of information about the earthquake and various interactive games about disaster prevention.

30 minutes
Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland (神戸ハーバーランド) is a shopping and entertainment district between JR Kobe Station and the waterfront of Kobe's port area. The district offers a large selection of shops, restaurants, cafes and other amusements, which, together with the romantic evening atmosphere, have made it a popular spot for couples and tourists alike. The most prominent shopping complex in Kobe Harborland is Umie which consists of three parts: Mosaic, South Mall and North Mall. Mosaic stretches along the waterfront and offers a wide selection of restaurants. Many of the eateries overlook the harbor with views of Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Maritime Museum across the water, which are especially nice in the evenings when they are illuminated.

30 minutes
Kitano Ijinkan-gai

Kitano-cho (北野町, Kitanochō) is a city district at the foot of the Rokko mountain range where many foreign merchants and diplomats settled after the Port of Kobe was opened to foreign trade in the second half of the 19th century. More than a dozen of the former mansions, known as Ijinkan, remain in the area and are open to the public as museums. Most of the houses charge an admission fee between 550 to 750 yen, while combination tickets are available to see multiple houses. The entire district is pleasant to walk through and offers a variety of cafes, restaurants and boutiques, making it a favorite among young Japanese couples

1 hour
Chinatown (Nankinmachi)

Nankinmachi (南京町) is a compact Chinatown in central Kobe and a center of the Chinese community in the Kansai Region. The area was developed by Chinese merchants who settled near Kobe Port after the port was opened to foreign trade in 1868. As the Chinatown developed, it became known as Nankinmachi after Nanjing, the former Chinese capital. Nankinmachi is a popular tourist attraction and shopping and dining district. Two main streets run through the district, meeting each other at a small plaza in the center. They are packed with shops, restaurants and food stands that sell popular items such as steamed buns (manju), ramen, tapioca drinks and various other Chinese dishes, many of which have been Japanized to a certain degree.

30 minutes
Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

Kobe's Nada (灘) district is Japan's top sake producing region. It has long been famous for its sake due to the availability of high quality rice, suitable water and favorable weather conditions in the area. Its proximity to Kobe Port and Osaka has also facilitated physical distribution since olden times. Many sake breweries operate in the Nada district, which stretches approximately three kilometers east to west. Some open stores and/or exhibition rooms to the public and allow guests to taste their sake. A couple of them also maintain a museum introducing the process of sake brewing.

30 minutes
Kobe Shu-shin-kan Breweries

Shushinkan has a large shop selling sake and sake-related products, as well as a restaurant serving Japanese cuisine in combination with sake. Free guided tours of the sake warehouse are held once per day except in December. Sake tasting is available as well.

30 minutes
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is, with a length of almost four kilometers, the world's longest suspension bridge. Opened in 1998, it spans the Akashi Strait (Akashi Kaikyo) between Kobe and Awaji Island and is part of the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, one of three expressways which connect Honshu with Shikoku. The Bridge Exhibition Center at the foot of the Kobe side of the bridge provides well-presented information about the planning and construction of the bridge and about other suspension bridges around the world, although the detailed explanations are available in Japanese only.

30 minutes
Kiku-Masamune Shuzo Kinenkan

Kikumasamune Sake Museum is housed in a nice wooden-plaster building. Wooden tools, containers and machinery are exhibited in a room accompanied by atmospheric lighting and traditional music. Well-written pamphlets are available in nine languages.

30 minutes
Sawa no Tsuru Museum

Sawanotsuru Sake Museum was opened in 1978 with the aim of commemorating the sake-brewing heritage of the Nada district. It was destroyed by the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 and was subsequently rebuilt in 1999. Visitors can learn about traditional brewing methods and the ingredients involved. English pamphlets are available.

30 minutes

Additional Info

Specialized infant seats are available
Service animals allowed
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair accessible
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
Only one reservation per group allowed. You cannot combine multiple reservations into one group.
There are only a limited number of car seats and booster seats. Rear-facing car seats are not available. You must contact us directly if you need them.

Free Cancellation

June 10100% refund

June 11No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

Reviews

5.0

3 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

5 stars

3
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We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her We had a great experience touring New York City with Jonathan. He's a great tour guide and he made it very memorable and enjoyable. The tour was also super informative and I'm glad to have had a great tour guide during my visit in NYC. Would definitely recommend this tour to anyone looking for a tour her

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 3 reviews with 5 stars

All our best spots in a day

Published on Feb, 2025

Yama was terrific from the time we booked until we said goodbye in Kobe. The ride was so roomy and comfortable. We researched the city and submitted a list of our wants. Yama created a custom itinerary and sent it to us. We approved it and he kept in touch. When one part of our tour became unavailable due to maintenance, he notified us right away and provided a work around. The tour was professional and thorough. He took pictures of our group during the tour and sent them to us right away. He made every stop very interesting and we left with wonderful memories.

A great day touring Kobe with a wonderful guide.

Published on Feb, 2025

Yama-san was our wonderful, energetic Kobe guide. Born and raised in Kobe, he had lots of “native” info. He was also very prepared. Before our tour, he communicated ideas about our itinerary in excellent English. On discovering the herb garden was closed, he smartly suggested visiting two sake breweries instead. He also gave clear, detailed directions from our hotel in Osaka to our meeting place at the train station in Kobe and was there to greet us on our train’s arrival. Yama-san immediately led us to our very nice driver of a large, comfortable van. We headed to the impressive Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Maiko Marine Promenade, boasting the second longest suspension bridge in the world. Yama-san described the building of the bridge and also his childhood years before that, when he’d fished there with his father. We then went to Chinatown where we walked up and down the colorful, crowded street (fortuitously during the Chinese Lunar New Year). We next visited Kitano Ijinkan town. Yama-san summarized its history, showing us examples of how wealthy businessman and diplomats lived in the early to mid-20th century, including a former US Consul’s home. That's where he talked about the devastating 1995 Kobe earthquake that destroyed many of the Ijinkan homes, and more tragically, killed over 6,000 people. He was at home that morning and relayed personal details of that day. From there, we drove to two sake breweries which we found extremely interesting and thoroughly enjoyed. We learned the intricate process of how sake used to be made and how that has changed with modern technology. Happily, we got to sample saki at both breweries and bought some to bring home as a memory of our day in Kobe with Yama-san. Mark and Suzan, Miami

Nice day in Kobe

Published on Jul, 2024

Norio was a terrific guide. Despite the misty weather, we had a great tour. We really loved our visit to the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, and the view from Mount Rokko would be just amazing on a clear weather day. If you take this tour, ask for Norio!

Nice day in Kobe

Published on Jul, 2024

Kobe fun!

Published on Jul, 2024

Great trip to Kobe and Hiromi was a delightful tour guide to spend the day with! Lots to see and do in Kobe and learn about the history.

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Private Kobe Tour with Licensed Guide and Vehicle | 6 hours

Inclusions / Exclusions

Overview

Pickup points

Open in Google Maps

Itinerary

Mt. Rokko

Shin-Kobe Trail

Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park

Kobe Harborland

Kitano Ijinkan-gai

Chinatown (Nankinmachi)

Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

Kobe Shu-shin-kan Breweries

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

Kiku-Masamune Shuzo Kinenkan

Sawa no Tsuru Museum

Sample Menu

Additional Info

Free Cancellation

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