Kobe unforgettable private tours with locals

Essential city info, articles & travel tips from our local hosts

Perched on a leafy hillside gently sloping down to the sea, Kobe – a scenic jewel in Japan’s spiritual heart, the Kansai region – is a beautiful balancing act between city, sea, and mountain. The north is packed with buzzing bars and restaurants serving perfectly marbled Kobe beef; the south is home to covered shopping streets, neon-lit nightlife, and Harborland – the portside entertainment district and the place that gave birth to modern Kobe. The Port of Kobe was one of the first in Japan to open to foreigners, and snapshots of its richly internationalized history take the form of opulent Ijinkan (western-style mansions from the early 1900s) and century-old stores still standing proudly alongside shiny new fashion boutiques. When it comes to natural treasures, you’ll be spoilt for things to do – hike pristine trails to landscaped gardens high in the mountains, soak in the natural hot springs, or take the cable car up the iconic Rokko mountain range for breathtaking views all the way to Osaka.