Kobe Airport to Sannomiya: Port Liner and terminal transfers

International Terminal 2: Arrival hall and station are separate

Terminal 2 · 第2ターミナル

1. Quarantine/immigration → Baggage pickup → Customs and exit to the arrival lobby on the 1st floor.
2. Follow the signs for ‘ポートライナー’·‘第1ターミナル’ and go out through the east exterior entrance and take the pedestrian path towards Terminal 1. Do not cross the roadway and follow the on-site crosswalk and walking instructions.
3. After approaching Kobe Airport Station on the Terminal 1 side, use the elevator/escalator and the 2nd floor station passageway to get to the ticket gate. It is not structured to have an indoor connecting passageway from the international arrival hall to the station.
4. If you have a lot of luggage, check the sign for the free airport island loop bus in front of the terminal. Get off at Terminal 1 and go up to the 2nd floor to access the station. Separate lines from the paid buses bound for Sannomiya.

The free loop bus departs from Terminal 2 from 08:21 to 19:51 according to the official table. Between 09:00 and 12:00, it is announced every hour at 11, 21, 31, and 51 minutes past the hour, but other times have different intervals and should not be considered fixed. The blue time goes directly to Terminal 1 (approximately 3 minutes boarding), and the black time goes through the Marine Access Terminal. Buses via Marine Access Terminal may wait for more than 10 minutes due to time adjustments.

Waiting and getting off and moving to the station are separate.

You can ride the circular bus in a wheelchair, but if it is crowded, you may not be able to use it. If walking is difficult due to rain, wind, or suitcases, check the remaining buses and inquire at the information center for access methods. Do not schedule the last bus after 19:51, assuming it is a Terminal 2 loop bus.

International arrival procedures ↗ · Video of the operator’s walking, elevator, and circulation bus ↗ · Free circular bus full timetable/route ↗ · Airport official floor map ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Domestic Terminal 1: Go to the station through the passageway on the 2nd floor.

Terminal 1 · 第1ターミナル
Kobe Airport Station · 神戸空港駅 (P09)

1. After arriving at the domestic flight, pass through the baggage claim area on the 1st floor and come out to the arrival lobby.
2. Follow the ‘ポートライナー’ sign and take the elevator or escalator to the 2nd floor.
3. Cross the Terminal 1 North Station connecting passage and go to the Kobe Airport Station ticket gate. Since you cannot board the train directly from the domestic arrivals floor, please add additional floor travel time.

Domestic arrival procedures ↗ · Kobe Airport Station premises map ↗ · Airport floor map ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Port Liner ticket, payment, large suitcase

1. Purchase a 340 yen adult ticket to Sannomiya from the vending machine. A regular child ticket is 170 yen. If you have a compatible transport IC card such as Suica, ICOCA, or PASMO, check the balance and touch it at the ticket gate when getting on or off.
2. Touch payment using credit, debit or prepaid cards and smartphones is also possible. Please use the bank card reader in the designated wide aisle at each ticket gate, and use the same card and device to enter and leave the train gates. Visa, Mastercard, JCB, etc. must be checked at the on-site display to see if they are compatible. In this method, the standard adult fare applies to children as well.
3. Take the train bound for ‘Sannomiya’ and get off at the last stop, Sannomiya (P01). Departing from the airport to the city, it passes through the Computational Science Center, Medical Center, Citizens Square, Minatojima, and Nakakoen. Do not confuse it with the circulatory system that circles Kitafuto.

The Port Liner ride takes approximately 18 minutes. It does not include immigration, baggage claim, the walk from Terminal 2 to the station, ticketing, waiting for the train, or walking after getting off. This is not a transportation service that requires reserved seats or a dedicated luggage compartment.

The operator's carry-on baggage standards are 250cm or less on all three sides, 30kg or less, and a maximum of 2 pieces, with no additional baggage charges. It must not interfere with traffic, so please manage it yourself without blocking the door or passageway.

There are storage lockers at Sannomiya Station, but you must check on-site whether they can accommodate large luggage or if there are any available spaces.

For the return journey, take a train displaying ‘神戸空港’ (Kobe Airport) from Sannomiya. Not all routes to Kitafuto, Nakakoen, and Computational Science Center go to the airport.

Official fare ↗ · Transport IC card ↗ · Bank card touch payment ↗ · Carry-on baggage conditions ↗ · Airport departure destination/timetable ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Compare the necessary fees and transportation to your accommodation

The times below are the times after boarding the train or bus. Add entry procedures + terminal → station access + ticketing/waiting + transfer + walking to accommodation separately in your itinerary. Bus times vary depending on congestion, and even on the same route, stopping and getting off stops are different.

Fares/Conditions: Port Liner · Bus to city · JR official search · Subway (Checked 2026-10-05)

Sannomiya accommodation: After getting off, check which station/exit you are near.

Sannomiya Station · 三宮駅 (Port Liner P01)
JR Sannomiya Station · 三ノ宮駅
Kobe-sannomiya Station · 神戸三宮駅
Kobe-Sannomiya Station · 神戸三宮駅

1. From the arrival terminal, approach Kobe Airport Station using the method above → Prepare ticket and transport IC card → Take the Port Liner bound for Sannomiya.
2. Sannomiya Station 3rd floor platform → Go down to the 2nd floor ticket gate and exit through the Port Liner ticket gate. When transferring to another company's train, separate fares and ticket gates are used.
3. JR transfer: Take the exit toward ‘JR・地下鉄・阪神・阪急’ on the inner map and follow the signs for the adjacent JR East Gate (東口). The Motomachi/Kobe direction is the westbound direction of the JR Kobe Line.
4. Hankyu transfer: From the same westbound exit, go towards Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station on the west side of JR Station and follow the ‘阪急’ signs. Hankyu is a separate elevated station and there is no need to enter the JR ticket gate.
5. Hanshin transfer: Take the opposite exit towards ‘阪神（東口）’ and go down toward the Hanshin East ticket gate. Hanshin is an underground station. Please use the bypass elevator during the south elevator outage.
6. Walk to the accommodation in the east, west, and north directions based on the address. The different Sannomiya stations have separate entrances. Choose the route to your hotel address rather than treating them as one entrance.

Elevator construction: Port Liner Sannomiya Station South Elevator is scheduled to be discontinued from 13:00 on September 4, 2026 to November 30. A detour using another ground-level connecting elevator on the station connecting deck or the elevator on the M-INT KOBE · ミント神戸 side has been made public. Construction periods and passageways may change, so please check the notice below.

Port Liner Sannomiya exit/floor map ↗ · JR east ticket gate interior map ↗ · South elevator suspension/detour map ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

How to take a bus to the city from the international terminal

1. For Terminal 1, go to platform 5 outside the first floor, and for Terminal 2, go to the Shinki Bus downtown platform on the east side. Check the direction of ‘三宮・新神戸’ (Sannomiya / Shin-Kobe) and the vehicle’s destination. Free loop buses, sightseeing City Loop, and other express buses should not be considered the same.
2. For regular Shinki buses bound for downtown, you get on and off through the front door without a reservation and pay when you get off. Please prepare cash or a compatible transport IC card such as Suica, ICOCA, or PiTaPa. Do not apply Port Liner's bank card touch payment terms to the bus.
3. Regular bus services to the city cost 340 yen for adults and 170 yen for children. During the day, the Shinki Bus goes to Kobe Sannomiya, and the late bus goes to Shin-Kobe via the subway Sannomiya Station. You must check the actual drop-off stop on the timetable for the bus you will board.
4. If you get off at Sannomiya Station on the subway, it is on the north side of JR Station and towards Flower Road. For hotels or transfers to JR/Hankyu, check the station signs and addresses. This is not a bus that arrives in front of the Port Liner 2nd floor ticket gate.

The revised timetable on April 1, 2026 shows the last regular bus departing at 21:40 for both terminals → Subway Sannomiya Station at 22:00 → Shin-Kobe at 22:11. Use the timetable for the appropriate weekday, weekend or public holiday.

If all seats are full, you cannot ride, and there is no guarantee that you will be able to wait for a flight delay. Please inquire with the operator regarding the size, number, and loading method of large luggage.

When returning to the airport, the subway station for Sannomiya Station is N13 heading south, so do not assume that it is the same as the exit when coming from the airport. City-bound buses cannot be used solely to travel between Terminals 1 and 2. To move to the terminal, use the free circular bus.

Reservation, payment, route information ↗ · Current operator timetable PDF ↗ · Terminal 2 boarding location ↗ · 340 yen fee ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Motomachi/Nankinmachi Accommodation: 1 JR stop + walk south

Motomachi Station · 元町駅
Nankinmachi · 南京町
Chang'an Gate · 長安門

1. Airport → Get off at Port Liner Sannomiya → Follow the directions above and go to the east ticket gate of JR Sannomiya Station.
2. Buy a 150 yen JR ticket or prepare a transport IC card and take the JR Kobe Line local train toward Nishiakashi/Himeji. It takes about 1 minute to the next station, Motomachi. Special Rapid services do not stop at Motomachi, so you need to check which stations it stops at.
3. Exit south from the East Gate of Motomachi Station and walk toward the Motomachi Shopping Street. To get to Nankinmachi East Chang’an Gate, head south and follow the Nankinmachi signs and directions below. Official information: It takes about 5 minutes from the station to Nankinmachi.
4. If your accommodation is west of Nankinmachi or on the coast, you don't necessarily need to stop by Chang'an Gate. Please check the walking route after getting off at the accommodation address.

Total from the airport is 340 + 150 = 490 yen. You can also take a train toward Motomachi from Hanshin Kobe Sannomiya, but the ticket gates, trains, and timetables are different from JR. The fares and last train in this guide are based on JR transfers.

JR ‘三ノ宮’ → ‘元町’ Check fares and stops ↗ · Nankinmachi official transportation/map ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Meriken Park: Walk toward the coast from Motomachi Station

Meriken Park · メリケンパーク

If you take the above route from Airport → Port Liner → JR Motomachi, the total cost is 490 yen. Exit south from the east ticket gate of Motomachi Station, go down toward Nankinmachi/Meriken Road, and follow the directions for crossing the coastal highway to the north entrance of the park.

Tourist information is about a 15-minute walk from JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station. The map pin is for the northern entry point, not the center of the park or the waterfront sculpture.

If you are sightseeing with large luggage, check the map for crossing and walking routes without stairs. Please check first whether you can leave your luggage in a locker at the station or at your accommodation, but available storage space is not guaranteed. If it is late, please calculate the distance to return to your accommodation and the check-in deadline as well.

Official tourism agency access and guidance ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Kobe Station/Harborland Accommodation: From JR Kobe Station central ticket gate towards the sea

Kobe Station · 神戸駅
Kobe Harborland · 神戸ハーバーランド
Kobe Harborland umie · 神戸ハーバーランドumie

1. Airport → Port Liner Sannomiya → Go to the east ticket gate of JR Sannomiya Station.
2. Take the JR Kobe Line local train bound for Nishiakashi/Himeji and get off at Kobe Station. Approximately 3 minutes, 150 yen, total 490 yen from the airport. Please distinguish between Kobe Station and Shin-Kobe Station.
3. From the central ticket gate, exit to the right towards the sea and follow the signs for Harborland. The official guide to Umie is about a 5-minute walk from the station, but you will need to walk additionally to get to your hotel or the MOSAIC shopping area.
4. If it is raining or the suitcase is large, compare the underground passage route, gas light street route, and overpass route in the official Harbor Land guide. There is no need to enter the turnstile at Harborland subway station.

JR ‘三ノ宮’ → ‘神戸’ fare/time ↗ · Central ticket gate/South approach ↗ · Harborland barrier-free walking guide ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Shin-Kobe/Shinkansen: Do not go to JR Kobe Station

Sannomiya Station · 三宮駅 (S03)
Shin-Kobe Station · 新神戸駅 (S02)

1. From Port Liner Sannomiya Station, take the JR/地下鉄 exit and follow the signs to the east ticket gate of Sannomiya Station on the subway Seishin/Yamate Line (西神・山手線) on the north side of JR Station. “Sannomiya/Hanadokeimae” on the southern coastline is another subway station.
2. Enter with a 210 yen ticket or transport IC card and take the train bound for Shin-Kobe/Tanigami at Platform 1 on the 2nd basement level.
3. Get off at the next station, Shin-Kobe, and follow the signs for ‘新幹線’ (Shinkansen) to go up towards the JR Shinkansen. The subway and Shinkansen have separate ticket gates, and Shinkansen fares and limited express fares are separate.

The transportation cost from the airport to Shin-Kobe subway is 340 + 210 = 550 yen. Count back from the Shinkansen departure time you reserved for entry, the walk from Terminal 2 to the station, walking between two stations, waiting for the train, and accessing the Shinkansen ticket gate. There are also direct buses to Shin-Kobe for the city, but you need to check the transit and arrival times for the bus you plan to board.

Sannomiya subway floor number, platform 1, timetable ↗ · Sannomiya → Shin-Kobe 210 yen fare ↗ · Shin-Kobe direct bus timetable ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

Airport access, transfer to Sannomiya, map of the last section of the city

This is a conceptual diagram of the movement route on the actual background map. Dashed lines show point-to-point connections and are not actual road, rail, or pedestrian alignments. Please check the airport's official floor map for the terminal's interior route.

Blue: Port Liner · Pink: Bus to city · Ochre: JR · Purple: Subway · Green: Access/Transfer/Walk

1. Outside the arrival hall of International Terminal 2Terminal 2 · 第2ターミナル · 34.6380263, 135.2263397
2. North approach to Domestic Terminal 1Terminal 1 · 第1ターミナル · 34.6370595, 135.2286293
3. Port Liner Kobe Airport StationKobe Airport Station · 神戸空港駅 · 34.6372668, 135.2291094
4. Terminal 2 Shinki Bus StopTerminal 2 downtown bus stop · 34.63788263303819, 135.22678565994732
5. Get off at Port Liner SannomiyaSannomiya Station · 三宮駅 · 34.6945647, 135.195217
6. Access to JR Sannomiya east ticket gateJR Sannomiya Station · 三ノ宮駅 · 34.69482, 135.19524
7. Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya StationKobe-sannomiya Station · 神戸三宮駅 · 34.6931604, 135.1928649
8. East approach to Hanshin Kobe-SannomiyaKobe-Sannomiya Station · 神戸三宮駅 · 34.6936572, 135.195429
9. Subway Sannomiya East ApproachSannomiya Station · 三宮駅 · 34.69462, 135.19457
10. Get off at Sannomiya Station subway stationSannomiya Subway Station · 地下鉄三宮駅前 · 34.69503, 135.19365
11. South approach east of Motomachi StationMotomachi Station · 元町駅 · 34.6895, 135.18848
12. Nankinmachi East Changan GateNankinmachi · 南京町 · 34.68833, 135.18939
13. Meriken Park North EntranceMeriken Park · メリケンパーク · 34.68483, 135.18944
14. South of Kobe Station central ticket gateKobe Station · 神戸駅 · 34.67967, 135.17878
15. Northern approach to Harborland umieKobe Harborland umie · 神戸ハーバーランドumie · 34.68182, 135.18283
16. Transfer to the subway or Shinkansen at Shin-Kobe StationShin-Kobe Station · 新神戸駅 · 34.70605, 135.1956

Background: Geospatial Information Authority of Japan (GSI) maps and terms of use. The location is an external access reference point compared with OpenStreetMap data (ODbL) and official maps of airports, railways, and tourism organizations. Do not use coordinates to find indoor entrances or passageways during construction, but follow on-site signs. Official floor maps, videos, and photos are not copied but are linked to the original. Japan Geographical Information Institute Map and Terms of Use · OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)

Delayed arrivals: allow time to reach the station before the last train

• Last departure from Port Liner Airport 23:45: Weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays are all the same. The currently released Kobe Airport Station timetable is a revised table on March 28, 2016. 2026-10-05 Confirmed on the operator’s page. The earlier, later ones are at 23:08 and 23:22.
• Last 21:40 for both terminals for regular city buses: Based on the operator's weekday and weekend schedule revised on April 1, 2026. After exiting the arrival lobby, you must approach the actual boarding area. Please check the current operator table first, rather than the old coverage period until September, which remains on the airport page.
• Terminal 2 Free Circular Bus Last 19:51: If you want to take the Port Liner after that, you must reserve additional time to walk outside or travel to the station floor. Just because your plane lands before 23:45 does not mean you can catch the train.
• JR Motomachi-Kobe connection: Based on the confirmation of the operation date of October 4th and 5th in the revised table on October 3, 2026, the last regular train to the west of Sannomiya is at 00:42, past midnight, bound for Nishi-Akashi. The time is on the next calendar date based on the date of travel. Get off at Port Liner, go to the ticket gate, add ticket, and check the JR timetable for the day.
• Subway Shin-Kobe connection: The last departure from Sannomiya towards Shin-Kobe and Tanigami in the revised table on March 15, 2025 is 00:35 on weekdays (Shin-Kobe terminal) and 00:05 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. The 23:45 departure from the airport arrives in Sannomiya around midnight, so don't assume it will connect to the 00:05 subway on weekends. The last train of the Shinkansen is separate from the last train of the city subway and must be confirmed based on the train you reserved.

Immigration inspection and baggage collection times may be long, and there is no guarantee that trains or buses will wait for passengers on delayed flights. When aiming for the last train on an international flight, count the walking after the loop bus and the station elevator trip.

When public transportation is over: Arrival terminal taxi stand/reservation agency

Go to the official taxi stand outside Terminals 1 and 2 and show the exact address rather than the name of your accommodation to confirm dispatch. Pre-booked vehicles must be confirmed at the company's official reservation window after checking UKB, arrival terminal, flight, waiting in case of delayed landing, number of luggage, and available time for overnight pickup.

Do not assume that the Terminal 1 rental-car counter will offer a late-night alternative.

Taxi fares vary depending on accommodation location and usage time. Please provide your accommodation address when booking and confirm the estimated total amount. Check with the company about the night surcharge, toll, waiting fee, and cancellation conditions of the meter or reservation quote.

The airport information center is 078-304-7777, operating information is 07:00~23:00, and it is not a 24-hour dispatch window. 078-304-7777

If you arrive at the accommodation late, check the check-in deadline, contact information, remaining distance from the station to the accommodation, and suitcase transfer. Even if you take a taxi, let the driver know where the main entrance to your accommodation is and where the vehicle can stop.

Where to check during strong winds, typhoons, and heavy rain

Do not judge service suspension based on the weather alone, but check the airport same-day information, Port Liner operation notice, Shinki Bus operation notice, JR Kinki area operation information, and Kobe subway operation information. Airport same-day information · Notice of port liner operation · Notice of Shinki Bus operation · JR Kinki area operation information · Kobe subway operation information

Airport departure train timetable ↗ · Bus Latest PDF ↗ · JR westbound timetable ↗ · Subway timetable for Shin-Kobe ↗ · Taxi stand ↗ · Information Center Operating Hours ↗ (Checked 2026-10-05)

For ticket and vehicle reservations, please check the official information.

Please check ticket fares, operating times, and vehicle reservation conditions in the official operator information below. The buttons are regular official links. Port Liner tickets, sightseeing passes, private vehicles, and rental cars have different scopes of use and reservation conditions. You must check with each product whether the port liner is included in the pass.

Kansai International Airport · 関西国際空港 (KIX) is a different airport from Kobe Airport. The Bay Shuttle is a transfer between the two airports and is not a ferry to Sannomiya.

Check the departure airport and direction to avoid purchasing a product departing from Kansai Airport or a Kobe sightseeing tour with a transfer within Kobe Airport.

Kobe Airport transfer FAQs

Official sources and confirmation dates

Official information checked: 2026-10-05. The sources below cover fares, last departures, terminals and walking access. Recheck your date for temporary timetable changes, works and congestion.

• Airport International Terminal 2 Arrival Procedure ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Airport domestic terminal 1 arrival procedure ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Airport official terminal/floor map ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Operator Station ↔ Terminal 2 walking, elevator, circular bus video ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Free Airport Island Circular Bus Route/Timetable ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Kobe Airport Station premises map and elevator ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Portliner official fares ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Port Liner timetable departing from Kobe Airport ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Portliner nationwide reciprocal transport IC card ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Portliner credit/check card touch payment ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Portliner carry-on baggage conditions ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Port Liner Sannomiya Station grounds map and exit ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Sannomiya South Elevator Suspension/Detour Notice ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Shinki Bus Kobe Airport route, reservation, and payment information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Shinki Bus official timetable revised on April 1, 2026 ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Terminal 2 downtown bus boarding location ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Kobe City Marine Air Shuttle Fee ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• JR Sannomiya Station map and timetable ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• JR official time/fare search ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• JR Kobe Line Nishiakashi/Himeji direction timetable ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Subway Sannomiya Station yard map and Shin-Kobe direction timetable ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Official subway fare table departing from Sannomiya ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Nankinmachi official transportation information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Kobe tourist institution Meriken Park access information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Harborland’s official pedestrian and barrier-free information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Umie Official JR Kobe Station Access Guide ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Airport official taxi stand ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Airport official rental car reservation and sales office information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Airport information center/contact information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• Port Liner same-day operation information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05
• JR West Kinki area same-day service information ↗ · Checked 2026-10-05