One night in Kobe: harbour or gardens?
Choose a Port Tower view and Harborland walk, or a ropeway journey and Nunobiki’s daytime gardens, for one night in Kobe. Stay in Sannomiya on either plan.
On the final day, walk the harbour, return to Sannomiya and take the subway to Shin-Kobe. Shorten the walk if time is tight before your departure train.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Meriken Park and Port Tower, then Harborland
Choose this for one night in Kobe, with harbour views from above and a waterfront walk. Visit Port Tower and Meriken Park on day 1, then Harborland on day 2 before returning to Sannomiya and taking the subway to Shin-Kobe.
Meriken Park and Port Tower, then Harborland →2 days / 1 night BHerb gardens and harbour
Walk a mountain-top garden on day 1 and Meriken Park’s waterfront on day 2. Stay in Sannomiya and return there on the final day before taking the subway to Shin-Kobe.
Herb gardens and harbour →Meriken Park and Port Tower, then Harborland
Choose this for one night in Kobe, with harbour views from above and a waterfront walk. Visit Port Tower and Meriken Park on day 1, then Harborland on day 2 before returning to Sannomiya and taking the subway to Shin-Kobe.
Day 1 · After lunch, Sannomiya to Port Tower
See Port Tower’s views after lunch, then walk in Meriken Park. Select your tower admission time and check the walk from your Sannomiya accommodation to the southbound stop.
- Sannomiya accommodation → Southbound stop 13 → Port Tower stop 17
After lunch, go to City Loop stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound). Distinguish it from northbound stop 8 and check the operator’s boarding map for the current stop name. Take the City Loop to stop 17, Port Tower.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Stop 17 → Level 1 tower ticket and information desk
Stop 17 is beside the tower. Walk to the tower marked on the official Harborland map and confirm access to the observation floors at the Level 1 ticket and information desk.
Harborland official April 2026 mapPort Tower tickets, prices and Level 1 guidance
- Port Tower → Observation floors and Meriken Park walk
Observation-floor tickets and rooftop-inclusive tickets differ. Standard hours are 09:00–23:00, with admission until 22:30. Tickets specify a date and time; no same-day tickets are available for sold-out sessions. The rooftop is reached only by stairs from observation Level 5. It may open in rain, but umbrellas are prohibited. Rain or strong winds can close it without notice; check operations for your date. Afterwards, walk along Meriken Park’s waterfront and pause for a rest. Follow on-site access controls and skip restricted sections.
Port Tower tickets, prices and Level 1 guidanceOfficial Port Tower siteKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken ParkPort Tower rooftop level, stairs and rainy-weather guidance
- Port Tower and Meriken Park → Kamomeria stop 0 → Sannomiya accommodation
Find Kamomeria Central Terminal to the west on the official map. Take the City Loop from stop 0 to stop 7, Sannomiya Center Gai East Entrance. Distinguish the Port Loop stop, allowing time to walk from the park and wait. Return to your accommodation and have dinner in Sannomiya. If staying for night views, choose a later return service.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken Park
Day 2 · Morning in Harborland
Walk Harborland’s waterfront, then return to Sannomiya and continue to Shin-Kobe. Treat the bus change at Kamomeria and the final subway transfer as separate stages.
- Sannomiya southbound stop 13 → Kamomeria stop 0
Take the City Loop from stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound), to Kamomeria stop 0. Distinguish northbound stop 8 and check the next boarding point separately.
Operator’s current boarding pointsShinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026
- Kamomeria stop 0 → Harborland stop 1
At Kamomeria stop 0, board the next City Loop to Harborland stop 1. This is a bus change, with each boarding charged separately. Show your two-day pass at both boardings if using one.
Operator’s current boarding pointsShinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026City Loop fares, passes and sales points
- Harborland stop 1 → Mosaic and waterfront → return to stop 1
The official map places Harborland stop 1 by umie North Mall. Walk towards Benten Bridge to see Mosaic and the Takahama quay waterfront, then return to the same stop 1. Check individual shop hours if passing through buildings or eating. Cruises and the Ferris wheel are excluded from the basic costs.
Harborland official April 2026 mapOperator’s current boarding points
- Harborland stop 1 → Sannomiya stop 7
Take the City Loop from Harborland stop 1 to stop 7, Sannomiya Center Gai East Entrance. Allow time to walk to the stop and wait for the bus.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Subway Sannomiya → Shin-Kobe
Enter the Subway Sannomiya ticket gates on Basement 1 and use platform 1 on Basement 2 for a train towards Shin-Kobe and Tanigami. Get off at Shin-Kobe. Distinguish this from Kaigan line Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae. Allow platform walking and waiting in addition to the roughly two-minute ride.
Sannomiya subway platforms and timetableKobe subway journey times
- Shin-Kobe subway station → JR Shinkansen platform
Follow JR Shinkansen signs at Shin-Kobe to the ticket gates on Level 2 and platforms on Level 3. Platform 2 serves Shin-Osaka and Tokyo; platform 1 serves Okayama and Kyushu. Add ticket collection, lift queues and walking with luggage to JR’s standard ten-minute transfer. Shorten or skip the last visit if you cannot comfortably catch your reserved train. An airport departure also needs separate terminal travel and flight check-in.
Included: City Loop two-day pass and rooftop-inclusive Port Tower admission.
Extra costs and conditions: No facility discounts applied. Sannomiya–Shin-Kobe subway, Shinkansen, airports, flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage and additional paid facilities are excluded.
Verified costs: adult City Loop two-day pass JPY 1,200 + rooftop-inclusive tower admission for high school students and over JPY 1,200 = JPY 2,400. Observation floors only give JPY 1,200 + 1,000 = JPY 2,200. Buy the two-day pass from an official sales point or digitally before your first ride. Only paper one-day passes are sold on board. This example uses two rides on day 1 and three on day 2, including the Kamomeria change: five total. Individual fares are JPY 300 × 5 = 1,500, giving JPY 2,700 with rooftop-inclusive tower admission or JPY 2,500 for the observation floors only.
City Loop fares, passes and sales pointsOfficial Port Tower site
Herb gardens and harbour
Walk a mountain-top garden on day 1 and Meriken Park’s waterfront on day 2. Stay in Sannomiya and return there on the final day before taking the subway to Shin-Kobe.
Day 1 · Sannomiya to the herb gardens
Take the northbound bus from Sannomiya to the herb gardens. After the ropeway and daytime garden visit, return to the same Sannomiya accommodation.
- Sannomiya accommodation → Northbound stop 8 → Herb Gardens stop 11
Check herb-garden operations before leaving. If strong winds or lightning suspend the ropeway, switch to a city meal and rest. Take the City Loop from stop 8, Subway Sannomiya Station (northbound), to stop 11, Herb Gardens/Ropeway, then walk to the lower ropeway station. Distinguish harbour-bound southbound stop 13. Check the walk from your accommodation and that day’s buses.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsHerb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised fares
- Stop 11 → Ropeway and mountain-top garden
From stop 11, go to the lower ropeway station, buy a return ticket and explore the mountain-top garden. Add ticketing, queues and garden time to the roughly ten-minute ropeway ride. Descend in the afternoon after visiting and return to Sannomiya. Check admission cut-off and the final downward departure on the official calendar.
Herb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised faresHerb-garden access
- Lower ropeway station → Stop 11 → Sannomiya accommodation
Descend by ropeway, then take the City Loop from stop 11, Herb Gardens/Ropeway, to stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound). Ropeway ticketing, queues, sightseeing and bus waiting are additional time.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsHerb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised faresHerb-garden access
Day 2 · Meriken Park walk, then Shin-Kobe
See Meriken Park’s waterfront and Port Tower’s exterior, then return to Sannomiya. Paid observation admission is excluded; finish the walk in time for your Shin-Kobe departure.
- Sannomiya accommodation → Southbound stop 13 → Meriken Park
Take the City Loop from stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound), to Meriken Park stop 16. Distinguish northbound stop 8. Walk past Port Tower’s exterior and the park waterfront. Paid tower admission is excluded. Skip the waterfront walk if on-site controls prevent access.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken Park
- Meriken Park → Kamomeria stop 0 → Sannomiya stop 7
After walking, take the City Loop from Meriken Park stop 16 to Kamomeria stop 0. Board the next City Loop for stop 7, Sannomiya Center Gai East Entrance. Change buses at Kamomeria and show your two-day pass at each boarding.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Bus arrival in Sannomiya and subway station → Subway Sannomiya → Shin-Kobe
Enter the Subway Sannomiya ticket gates on Basement 1 and use platform 1 on Basement 2 for a train towards Shin-Kobe and Tanigami. Get off at Shin-Kobe. Distinguish this from Kaigan line Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae. Allow platform walking and waiting in addition to the roughly two-minute ride. Follow JR Shinkansen signs at Shin-Kobe to the ticket gates on Level 2 and platforms on Level 3. Platform 2 serves Shin-Osaka and Tokyo; platform 1 serves Okayama and Kyushu. Add ticket collection, lift queues and walking with luggage to JR’s standard ten-minute transfer. Shorten or skip the last visit if you cannot comfortably catch your reserved train. An airport departure also needs separate terminal travel and flight check-in.
Sannomiya subway platforms and timetableJR Shin-Kobe layout and standard transferKobe subway journey times
Included: City Loop two-day pass, return herb-garden ropeway and garden admission.
Extra costs and conditions: Subway, Shinkansen, meals, accommodation, luggage storage and airport travel are excluded.
Verified adult costs: herb-garden return JPY 2,500 + City Loop two-day pass JPY 1,200 = JPY 3,700. This uses two bus rides for day 1’s return trip and three on day 2. Five individual rides cost JPY 300 × 5 = 1,500, making JPY 4,000 total. Buy the two-day pass in advance at a sales point or digitally; only paper one-day passes are sold on board. Recheck separate Christmas pricing and suspensions for your date.
City Loop fares, passes and sales pointsHerb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised fares
Frequently asked questions
Which two-day plan suits me: harbour or herb gardens?
The harbour plan visits Port Tower’s observation deck and Meriken Park first and Harborland next day. The herb-garden plan visits daytime gardens first, then Meriken Park and Port Tower’s exterior. Choose harbour for tower views and Harborland, or herb gardens for the ropeway and gardens.
Port Tower tickets, prices and Level 1 guidanceKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken ParkHarborland official April 2026 mapHerb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised fares
Can I buy the City Loop two-day pass on board?
Only paper one-day passes are sold on board. Buy this itinerary’s two-day pass at an official sales point or digitally before the first boarding. It covers consecutive days and excludes Sannomiya–Shin-Kobe subway.
Does the herb-garden plan also enter Port Tower’s observation deck?
It visits daytime gardens first, then Meriken Park’s waterfront and Port Tower’s exterior. Paid tower viewing is excluded. Add separate time and admission if you also want tower views.
Kobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken ParkHerb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised faresPort Tower tickets, prices and Level 1 guidance
Sources and dates checked
- Operator’s current boarding points ·
- Kobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken Park ·
- Port Tower tickets, prices and Level 1 guidance ·
- Official Port Tower site ·
- Herb gardens: 2026–2027 operations and April 2026 revised fares ·
- Herb-garden access ·
- Official JR service/fare search: enter your travel date ·
- Harborland official April 2026 map ·
- Sannomiya subway platforms and timetable ·
- JR Shin-Kobe layout and standard transfer ·
- Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026 ·
- City Loop fares, passes and sales points ·
- Kobe subway journey times ·
- Port Tower rooftop level, stairs and rainy-weather guidance ·