Transportation
- Regional Travel
- Hankyu or Hanshin Railway to Osaka (30 mins, ¥330); Shinkansen to Tokyo (2.5 hrs)
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- GO App (Japan Taxi) - DiDi is also available in Kobe
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Kobelin (Kobe City Bike Share) - ¥165 for 30 minutes
- Best Beach Nearby
- Suma Beach (15 mins via JR Train from Sannomiya)
- Top Regional Airline
- Skymark Airlines (Based at Kobe Airport UKB)
- Top International Airline
- ANA (All Nippon Airways) or JAL (Japan Airlines) via Kansai International KIX
- Highway Access
- Hanshin Expressway and Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- JR Sannomiya Station / Shin-Kobe Station (Shinkansen Bullet Train)
- Public Transport Passes
- Kobe City Bus/Subway 1-Day Pass (¥1,040); ICOCA card for generic use
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Kobe University Hospital or Kobe Kaisei Hospital (English speaking staff)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Yoga Studio Yoga-Pia (Sannomiya) - ¥3,000 drop-in
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Anytime Fitness Sannomiya (¥8,500/month) or Konami Sports Club
- Laundry Services
- Baluko Laundry Place (Sannomiya) - Modern self-service laundry
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- UberEats or Wolt
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Kobe Beef (Try at Steakland Kobe, lunch deals approx. ¥3,500)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Modernark Pharm Cafe (Kitano) or Thallo (Vegetarian/Vegan friendly)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Kobe Frantz (Pudding) or Patisserie Mont Plus (Motomachi)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Daiso (¥100 store) or Don Quijote (Sannomiya)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Amazon.co.jp or Rakuten
- Grocery Delivery
- Rakuten Seiyu Netsuper or Aeon Net Super
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Sannomiya's North Side (Izakayas and hidden bars)
- Local Brewery
- Rokko Beer Taproom or Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum (Nada District)
- Wine Bars
- Cave de Terre (Motomachi) - Extensive local and import selection
- Street Food Stalls
- Nankinmachi (Chinatown) - Pork buns from Roushoki
- Popular International Cuisine
- Naan Inn (Halal/Indian) or Pizzeria Azzurri (Italian/Neapolitan)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Kobe Port Tower and Meriken Park
- Museums & Art Venues
- Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art (Tadao Ando architecture)
- Historical Sites
- Kitano Ijinkan-gai (Former foreign residences)
- Religious Sites
- Ikuta Shrine (One of the oldest in Japan, Sannomiya)
- Annual Events
- Kobe Luminarie (December light festival); Kobe Port Festival (July)
- Cultural Districts
- Nankinmachi (Chinatown) or Nada Sake District
- Theater Venues
- Kobe Kokusai Kaikan (International House)
- Local Markets
- Motomachi Shopping Arcade (Shotengai)
- Music Scene
- Sone (Legendary Jazz bar in Kitano)
- Street Art
- Murals around Meriken Park and the Kobe Waterfront Art project
- Cooking Classes
- Eat Kobe (Kobe Beef and Gyoza classes)
- Art Galleries
- BB Plaza Museum of Art (Nada)
- Historic Buildings
- Weathercock House (Kazami-no-yakata) in Kitano
- Local Heritage
- Sake making traditions in Nada Gogo
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Mount Rokko (Hiking and cable car views)
- National Parks Nearby
- Setonaikai National Park
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Kobe Waterfront Trail (Meriken Park to Harborland)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Kikuseidai on Mt. Maya (One of the Top 3 nighttime views in Japan)
- Birdwatching Locations
- Kobe Kachoen (Animal and Flower Garden)
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Arima Onsen designated river areas (Strict regulations apply)
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Yamato Transport (Kuroneko) or Japan Post
- Tech Repair Services
- Apple Store Kyoto (Nearest official) or PC Depot Kobe
- Table Tennis Spots
- Kobe Municipal Gymnasium
- Language Classes
- Kobe International Community Center (KICC) - Cheap/Free Japanese lessons
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Kobe City Library (Near Sannomiya)
- Community Centers
- Hyogo International Association
- Gaming Lounges
- Media Cafe Popeye (Internet/Manga cafe with gaming kits)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Round 1 Sannomiya (Arcade/Bowling/Pachinko nearby)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥850,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥21,250,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥450,000 per m² (e.g., 25 m² = ¥11,250,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥750,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥33,750,000)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for Permanent Residents; Territorial for non-permanent
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 45% (Personal Income Tax) + 10% (Inhabitant Tax)
- VAT
- 10% Consumption Tax (8% for some food items)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict rules for companies in low-tax jurisdictions
- Property Tax
- Fixed Assets Tax at 1.4% of assessed value annually
- Property Transaction Tax
- Real Estate Acquisition Tax approx. 3-4%
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- No specific DN tax breaks; high tax for long-term residents
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥400,000 per m² (e.g., 45 m² = ¥18,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. ¥700,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥49,000,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. ¥350,000 per m² (e.g., 70 m² = ¥24,500,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Effective rate approx. 30.62% (varies by company size)
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- 20.315% (Standard for residents)
Essentials
- City
- Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
- Population
- Approximately 1.5 million
- Internet Speed
- Average 120 Mbps (Fiber widely available; 5G coverage extensive)
- Currency & Banking
- Japanese Yen (JPY). 1 USD ≈ 150 JPY, 1 EUR ≈ 162 JPY
- Tap Water
- Drinkable (Kobe's water is famous for its quality from the Rokko Mountains)
- Power
- 100V, 60Hz. 🔌 Type A/B sockets (Flat two-pin)
- SIM Card
- Mobal, Sakura Mobile, or Ubigi (eSim). Available at Kansai Airport
- Banking for Expats
- Sony Bank (English friendly), Shinsei Bank, or Revolut
- Accommodation
- Weekly Mansions (e.g., Live Max), Airbnb, or Monthly Apartments via KaguAruoo
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, widely accepted via PayPay, Suica/IC cards, and Credit Cards
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Hotel Meriken Park Oriental, or Oakwood Hotel Suites Kobe
- Budget Accommodation
- Guesthouse Maya (Nada) - Approx. ¥4,500/night; Kobe Capsule Hotel - ¥3,000/night
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Sannomiya and Motomachi (Central shopping, dining, and transit hub)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Kitano (International vibe, quiet uphill streets) or Nada (Local feel, craft breweries)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- BIZcomfort Kobe Motomachi (¥2,200/day) or .Roots Coworking Sannomiya
- Best Cafe for Work
- Starbucks Coffee Kobe Kitano Ijinkan (Historic building) or Blue Bottle Coffee Kobe
- Networking Events
- Kobe Startup Hub events; Meetup.com 'Kobe International Party'
- Social Events for Expats
- Events at the Kobe Club (Kitano) or 'Kobe Foreigners' Facebook Group meetups