Japan Guide
Kansai
Arrival
Shinkansen trains stop at Shin-Kōbe Station at the foot of Rokkō-san, around 1km north of Sannomiya Station in downtown Kōbe. As well as JR trains, those on the Hankyū and Hanshin lines also stop at Sannomiya Station, and are the cheaper way of connecting with Ōsaka and Kyoto to the east if you're not using a JR pass. The fastest way of getting directly to Kōbe from Kansai International Airport is by limousine bus (1hr; ¥1800). Ferries from Shikoku, Kyūshū and Awaji-shima arrive at Naka Pier next to the Port Tower, ten minutes' walk south of Motomachi Station, and at Rokkō Island Ferry Terminal, east of the city. From here you can take the Rokkō Liner monorail to JR Sumiyoshi or Hanshin Uozaki stations, from where it's ten minutes to either JR Sannomiya or Hanshin Sannomiya stations. To get to the new Kōbe Airport, which is attached to Port Island, take the Port Liner monorail from Sannomiya (16 minutes; ¥320).