Yes, Kobe beef is incredible. But reducing this city to a single cut of meat is like reducing Paris to the Eiffel Tower. Kobe is a port city wedged between mountains and sea with 150 years of cosmopolitan heritage, free sake tastings, Japan's best night view, and a waterfall you can walk to from the bullet train station.
Here's what to do after (or instead of) the beef.
The Nada district produces a quarter of Japan's sake. Three brewery museums offer free entry and free tastings: Hakutsuru, Kiku-Masamune, and Sawanotsuru. You'll learn about the Miyamizu water that makes Nada sake special and sample 10-15 varieties without spending a yen. Buy bottles at brewery prices (30-50% off retail). Take the Hanshin line from Sannomiya, 15-20 minutes.
15-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Shinkansen Station. One of Japan's most accessible urban waterfalls — four cascading tiers in a forested gorge. Free. Continue uphill or take the ropeway (1,800 JPY round trip) to Nunobiki Herb Gardens at 400m elevation with lavender and rose gardens and panoramic views.
One of Japan's three great Chinatowns, dating to 1868. A compact grid of 100+ restaurants and shops centered on a pedestrian street. The nikuman (steamed pork buns, 400 JPY) are the essential Kobe street food. Xiaolongbao and Peking duck wraps round out the options. 5 minutes from Motomachi Station.
Rated one of Japan's top 3 night views. The Rokko Cable Car (600 JPY one-way) plus ropeway reaches the 931m summit. Free viewing platform at Tenran Observatory. Kobe's '10 million dollar view' stretches from Osaka to the airport island. In winter, the Garden Terrace hosts a light festival. Allow 2-3 hours round trip.
A hillside neighborhood of Western-style mansions (ijinkan) built by foreign traders in the late 1800s. Weathercock House and Moegi House are the most visited (300-500 JPY each). Quaint cafes and boutiques line European-feeling streets. 15-minute uphill walk from Sannomiya.
The waterfront area with the red Port Tower (700 JPY observation deck), Maritime Museum (900 JPY), and the BE KOBE monument. The Great Hanshin Earthquake Memorial (free) preserves a section of collapsed wharf from 1995. Best at sunset and after dark when everything is illuminated.
If 15,000 JPY teppanyaki isn't in the budget: Kobe beef curry (1,200-1,800 JPY at multiple restaurants), Kobe beef croquettes from Nankinmachi street vendors (200-400 JPY), or Kobe beef hamburger steak sets (1,500-2,500 JPY). All use certified Kobe beef at a fraction of the teppanyaki price.
The green retro-style City Loop Bus (260 JPY/ride, 700 JPY day pass) circles all major tourist spots every 15-20 minutes. Sannomiya → Kitano-cho → Shin-Kobe → Nunobiki → Harbor → Nankinmachi → Sannomiya. Perfect for orientation on day one.
Kobe proves that a city doesn't need size to deliver depth. It's compact enough to walk, diverse enough to surprise, and generous enough to give away its sake for free. Add it to any Kansai itinerary — Osaka and Kyoto are right next door.
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