Two days in Kobe: harbour or gardens?
Choose one Kobe night with Port Tower views and a Harborland walk, or a ropeway ride to Nunobiki’s daytime gardens. Both routes stay in Sannomiya.
On the final day, walk the harbour, return to Sannomiya and take the subway to Shin-Kobe Station. Shorten the walk if time before your train is tight.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Day 1: Meriken Park and Port Tower; day 2: Harborland
Choose this route for one night in Kobe, with harbour views from above and a waterfront walk. Visit Port Tower and Meriken Park on day 1. Walk Harborland’s waterfront on day 2, then return to Sannomiya and take the subway to Shin-Kobe Station.
Day 1: Meriken Park and Port Tower; day 2: Harborland →2 days, 1 night BHerb gardens and harbour
Visit the hilltop gardens on day 1 and Meriken Park’s waterfront on day 2. Stay in Sannomiya; on your last day, return there before taking the subway to Shin-Kobe Station.
Herb gardens and harbour →Day 1: Meriken Park and Port Tower; day 2: Harborland
Choose this route for one night in Kobe, with harbour views from above and a waterfront walk. Visit Port Tower and Meriken Park on day 1. Walk Harborland’s waterfront on day 2, then return to Sannomiya and take the subway to Shin-Kobe Station.
Day 1 afternoon: Sannomiya to Port Tower
Visit Port Tower’s observation floors after lunch, then walk Meriken Park. Choose your tower entry time and check the walk from your Sannomiya hotel 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 current stop name on the operator’s boarding map. Take City Loop to stop 17, Port Tower.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Stop 17 → Ground-floor tower ticket and information desk
Stop 17 is beside the tower. Find the tower on the official Harborland map, walk there and check the route to the observation floors at the ground-floor ticket and information desk.
Official Harborland map, April 2026Port Tower tickets, prices and ground-floor guidance
- Port Tower → Observation floors and Meriken Park walk
Observation-only tickets and rooftop-inclusive tickets differ. Regular hours are 09:00–23:00, with gate entry until 22:30. Tickets specify a date and time; no same-day tickets are available for sold-out slots. The rooftop is accessible only by stairs from observation floor 5. It may open in rain, but umbrellas are prohibited. Rain or strong winds may close it without notice, so check that day’s operation. Afterwards, rest along Meriken Park’s waterfront. Follow on-site access controls and skip restricted waterfront sections.
Port Tower tickets, prices and ground-floor guidanceOfficial tower pageKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken ParkOfficial Port Tower rooftop floor, stairs and rain guidance
- Port Tower and Meriken Park → Kamomeria stop 0; Sannomiya accommodation
Find Kamomeria Central Terminal to the west on the official map. Take City Loop from stop 0 to stop 7, Sannomiya Center Gai East Entrance. Distinguish it from the Port Loop stop and allow time to walk from the park and wait. Return to your hotel and eat dinner in Sannomiya. If you add night views, choose a suitable return service.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken Park
Day 2 morning: Harborland
Walk Harborland’s waterfront, return to Sannomiya and continue to Shin-Kobe. The bus change at Kamomeria and the final subway transfer are separate steps.
- Sannomiya southbound stop 13 → Kamomeria stop 0
Take City Loop from stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound), to stop 0, Kamomeria. Distinguish it from northbound stop 8 and check your 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 bus to Harborland stop 1. You change buses at Kamomeria; each boarding incurs a separate fare. Show your two-day pass each time if using one.
Operator’s current boarding pointsShinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026City Loop fares, passes and sellers
- Harborland stop 1 → Mosaic, waterfront and return to stop 1
The official map places Harborland stop 1 near umie North Mall. Walk towards Benten Bridge to see Mosaic and the Takahama Wharf waterfront, then return to the same stop. Check individual business hours if passing through buildings or eating there. Cruises and the Ferris wheel are excluded from the basic cost.
Official Harborland map, April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Harborland stop 1 → Sannomiya stop 7
Take City Loop from Harborland stop 1 to stop 7, Sannomiya Center Gai East Entrance. Allow time to reach the stop and wait for the bus.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Subway Sannomiya → Shin-Kobe
Enter Subway Sannomiya Station through the B1 gates. On B2, board at platform 1 towards Shin-Kobe/Tanigami and get off at Shin-Kobe. This is different from Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station on the Kaigan Line. Allow time to reach the platform and wait, in addition to the roughly two-minute ride.
Sannomiya subway platforms and timetablesKobe subway station-to-station ride times
- Shin-Kobe subway station → JR Shinkansen platforms
At Shin-Kobe, follow JR Shinkansen signs to the second-floor gates and third-floor platforms. Platform 2 serves Shin-Osaka/Tokyo; platform 1 serves Okayama/Kyushu. Add ticket collection, elevator waits and walking with luggage to JR’s standard 10-minute transfer allowance. Shorten or skip the final stop if it puts your reserved train at risk. An airport departure requires separate terminal travel and flight check-in.
What’s included: City Loop two-day pass and rooftop-inclusive Port Tower admission
Extra costs and conditions: No attraction discount applied. The subtotal excludes Sannomiya–Shin-Kobe subway travel, Shinkansen, airport travel, flights, accommodation, meals, luggage storage and other paid attractions.
Checked cost: adult City Loop two-day pass ¥1,200 + rooftop-inclusive tower admission for high school age and older ¥1,200 = ¥2,400. Observation-only admission gives ¥1,200 + ¥1,000 = ¥2,200. Prepare the two-day pass through an official seller or digitally before your first ride. Only paper one-day passes are sold on board. This example uses two boardings on day 1 and three on day 2, including the bus change at Kamomeria: five in total. Individual fares would be ¥300 × 5 = ¥1,500, making the total with tower admission ¥2,700/¥2,500.
Herb gardens and harbour
Visit the hilltop gardens on day 1 and Meriken Park’s waterfront on day 2. Stay in Sannomiya; on your last day, return there before taking the subway to Shin-Kobe Station.
Day 1: Sannomiya to the herb gardens
Take a northbound bus from Sannomiya to the herb gardens. After the ropeway and daytime garden visit, return to the same Sannomiya hotel.
- Sannomiya accommodation → Northbound stop 8; herb gardens stop 11
Check garden operation before departure. If strong winds or lightning suspend the ropeway, switch to a meal and rest in town. Take City Loop from stop 8, Subway Sannomiya Station (northbound), to stop 11, Herb Gardens/Ropeway, then walk to the lower ropeway station. Distinguish it from harbour-bound southbound stop 13. Check the walk from your hotel and that day’s bus times.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsHerb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised prices
- Stop 11 → Ropeway and hilltop gardens
From stop 11, go to the lower ropeway station, buy a return ticket and explore the hilltop gardens. Allow ticketing, waiting and garden time in addition to the roughly 10-minute ride. Descend in the afternoon and return to Sannomiya. Check the official operating calendar for your date’s last entry and final downhill service.
Herb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised pricesHerb gardens access
- Lower ropeway station → Stop 11; Sannomiya accommodation
Descend by ropeway, then take City Loop from stop 11, Herb Gardens/Ropeway, to stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound). Ropeway ticketing, waits, sightseeing and bus waits require separate time.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding pointsHerb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised pricesHerb gardens access
Day 2: Meriken Park walk, then Shin-Kobe
Walk Meriken Park’s waterfront, see Port Tower from outside and return to Sannomiya. No paid observation deck is included; finish the walk in time for your Shin-Kobe departure.
- Sannomiya accommodation → Southbound stop 13; Meriken Park
Take City Loop from stop 13, Subway Sannomiya Station (southbound), to Meriken Park stop 16. Distinguish it from northbound stop 8. Walk past Port Tower’s exterior and along the park waterfront. Paid tower entry 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; return to Sannomiya stop 7
After walking, take City Loop from Meriken Park stop 16 to Kamomeria stop 0. Change to the next City Loop bus for stop 7, Sannomiya Center Gai East Entrance. Show your two-day pass on each boarding.
Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026Operator’s current boarding points
- Sannomiya bus stop and subway station → Subway Sannomiya to Shin-Kobe
Enter Subway Sannomiya Station through the B1 gates. On B2, board at platform 1 towards Shin-Kobe/Tanigami and get off at Shin-Kobe. Distinguish it from Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae on the Kaigan Line. Add platform access and waiting to the roughly two-minute ride. At Shin-Kobe, follow JR Shinkansen signs to second-floor gates and third-floor platforms. Platform 2 serves Shin-Osaka/Tokyo; platform 1 serves Okayama/Kyushu. Add ticket collection, elevator waits and walking with luggage to JR’s standard 10-minute transfer allowance. Shorten or skip the last visit if needed to catch your reserved train. Airport departures require separate terminal travel and flight check-in.
Sannomiya subway platforms and timetablesJR Shin-Kobe layout and standard transfer timeKobe subway station-to-station ride times
What’s included: City Loop two-day pass, return herb gardens ropeway and garden admission
Extra costs and conditions: Subway, Shinkansen, meals, accommodation, luggage storage and airport travel are excluded.
Checked cost: return herb gardens ticket ¥2,500 + City Loop two-day pass ¥1,200 = ¥3,700 per adult. This assumes two boardings on day 1’s return trip and three on day 2. Five individual fares cost ¥300 × 5 = ¥1,500, for a total of ¥4,000. Obtain the two-day pass from a seller or digitally in advance; only paper one-day passes are sold on board. Recheck separate Christmas prices and suspensions for your date.
City Loop fares, passes and sellersHerb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised prices
Frequently asked questions
For two days, should I choose the harbour or herb gardens route?
The harbour route visits Port Tower’s observation floors and Meriken Park on day 1, then Harborland on day 2. The herb gardens route visits daytime gardens on day 1, then Meriken Park’s waterfront and Port Tower’s exterior on day 2. Choose the harbour route for tower views and Harborland, or the herb gardens route for the ropeway and gardens.
Port Tower tickets, prices and ground-floor guidanceKobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken ParkOfficial Harborland map, April 2026Herb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised prices
Can I buy a City Loop two-day pass on the bus?
Only paper one-day passes are sold on board. Obtain this route’s two-day pass from an official seller or digitally before your first ride. It covers consecutive days and excludes Sannomiya–Shin-Kobe subway travel.
Does the herb gardens route enter Port Tower’s observation floors?
It visits daytime gardens on day 1 and walks Meriken Park’s waterfront and Port Tower’s exterior on day 2. Paid Port Tower observation floors are excluded. Add separate visit time and admission if you want tower views too.
Kobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken ParkHerb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised pricesPort Tower tickets, prices and ground-floor guidance
Sources and dates checked
- Operator’s current boarding points ·
- Kobe Tourism Bureau: Meriken Park ·
- Port Tower tickets, prices and ground-floor guidance ·
- Official tower page ·
- Herb gardens 2026–2027 operation and April 2026 revised prices ·
- Herb gardens access ·
- Official JR time/fare search: enter your travel date ·
- Official Harborland map, April 2026 ·
- Sannomiya subway platforms and timetables ·
- JR Shin-Kobe layout and standard transfer time ·
- Shinki Bus weekday timetable revised 1 April 2026 ·
- City Loop fares, passes and sellers ·
- Kobe subway station-to-station ride times ·
- Official Port Tower rooftop floor, stairs and rain guidance ·