Top Kobe Cultural Tours

Discovering a new city, especially one like beautiful Kobe, is exciting but it's even more fun when you get to do it with a friend by your side. That is exactly what it will feel like as you explore Kobe with one of our hosts from the area. Visit Ikuta Shrine, one of Japan's oldest Shinto shrines, or amble up Mt. Rokko. You could also venture beyond Mount Rokko to the outdoor hot springs of Arima Onsen. Kobe is a hive of activity, from fine dining to downtown shopping, animal petting, so get ready for an adventure. adventure awaits. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

This is a virtual tour using Zoom, online conference system. This unique 1h tour brings you to one of the most beautiful and popular cities in Japan, Kobe and surrounding hot spring resort, Arima. The friendly host will make your experience more interactive. We use not only photos or videos but also handmade materials or actual goods from guides' living room, that makes you feel livelier. You can ask them anything about Japan, Kobe and other popular tourists spots by chat or by talk session between and after the tour. This tour will provide helpful hints for your future trip to Japan. PLEASE NOTE the tour time is Japan standard time. Make adjustment to your time when booking. We'll send you Zoom URL invitation and you can enter the room easily.

Customize your sightseeing itinerary on this private walking tour of Kobe, Japan’s historic port city. Choose from multiple options, including a scenic cruise along Kobe Bay, a visit to the top of panoramic Kobe Port Tower, and admission to Kawasaki World, a transportation-themed museum. Tours include free time for lunch, so you can grab a bite of the city’s famed Kobe steak.

Make the most of a short time on land with this private shore excursion to Kobe. Instead of rushing around with a large group, slow down and appreciate the quieter side of Kobe. Visit the Herb Gardens, the Nunobiki Ropeway, and more. Sake lovers will enjoy checking out a sake brewery, to learn more about this Japanese drink. Foodies can also opt to dine at a restaurant serving Kobe beef.

City tours are great for first-time visits but often have rigid itineraries and tight schedules. This tour offers the chance to design a completely custom family-friendly itinerary with a local host assigned to you based on your interests. Highlights can include riding a cable car up Mount Rokko, visiting Arima Onsen Hot Springs, or checking out the Oji Zoo. Once the tour begins, you’re free to change destinations as you see fit.

This Kobe tour is a great pick for travelers who want the freedom to be able to customize their own itinerary. No need to worry about doing hours of research—before the tour, a list of potential sights are sent to you, which you can choose from to help finalize your itinerary. Then, on the day of the tour, enjoy the luxury of a private adventure for just your group.

Arima Onsen (hot spring) is famous as the oldest hot spring resort in Japan. The high quality of the spring water still attracts people, and many tourists from Japan and abroad come to spend a relaxing time in the old-fashioned streets. In this tour, you can experience the deeper Arima culture by strolling around the hot spring town. There are two main types of onsen sources in Arima Onsen: the reddish-brown "Kinsen" (Gold hot spring) and the carbonated "Ginsen" (silver hot spring). It is said to be very rare to find two hot springs with completely different ingredients gushing out in the same area. At some of the spots, you can see the source gushing out, touch it, and drink it. We will introduce you to the mechanism of the source, and visit stores that sell Japan's first cider, which developed from carbonated water, and specialty rice crackers, to show you all the charm of Arima Onsen. Join this tour of the highlights of Arima Onsen and experience Japan's hot spring culture!

Kobe is known worldwide for its eponymous beef, but there’s more to this city’s food scene than this prized meat. On this private tour, you’ll be matched with a food-loving local host who will devise a food-focused itinerary that suits your taste and eating style. Sample multiple foods, as well as beer, sake, and Japanese soft drinks.

You’ll spend the day with one of our hosts discovering the true nature of Kobe - and there is plenty of nature to see, the city is wedged between sweeping coastlines and vast mountain ranges after all. Explore the thriving Kobe Motomachi Shopping Street and indulge in authentic cuisine in Nankinmachi, Kobe’s Chinatown. Scale the Kobe Port Tower, where you can see the city's sweeping skyline highlighted by the neon, and discover hidden gems along the way, like the smaller shrines and historic streets that many visitors miss - but not you! Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

This is a great pick for first-time visitors to Kobe or those wanting to explore its highlights in a day. Save time itinerary planning and join a guide on an adventure that showcases a mix of nature spots, shrines, museums, and great shopping and foodie spots. Highlights along the way include Nunobiki Falls, Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, Ikuta Shrine, and Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum.

Cruise passengers with limited time on land will enjoy the convenience of this private tour of Nara from Osaka or Kobe. Learn all about Japanese history and culture at this ancient capital, full of UNESCO-listed temples and shrines, traditional Japanese gardens, and one of the biggest Buddha statues in the country. You’ll be picked up from the port or your hotel and returned there at the end of the day.

In the north, the mountain. In the south, the sea... In the middle, you! Visiting this so beautiful city. We will discover together Kobe, from the north to the south. History, fashion and modernity are melting in this so picturesque city.

Hike Mt. Rokko with a National Licensed Guide Interpreter, who is also a tea ceremony instructor. The walk includes visits to Buddhist temples and a waterfall. The highlights of the tour are "Zen Meditation" and "Tea Ceremony" experience out in nature. You can feel the Japanese traditional philosophy of "Being one with nature" throughout the tour. ・5 hours of hiking at Mt. Rokko, one of the most famous mountains in Japan, located close to Kyoto and Osaka. ・Stopping at attractive places: unexplored temples and a representative waterfall in Kobe. ・Experiences of “Zen Meditation” and “Tea Ceremony”! You can feel the Japanese traditional philosophy of “Being one with nature”. ・Tea ceremony master, who is also a National Licensed Guide Interpreter, will guide you. ・You will have an unforgettable trip of off-the-beaten-track Japan that other tourists cannot have.

It's impossible to see all Kobe's must-sees in a day! The important thing is that you get to experience the highlights that are unmissable to you so hand your bucket-list over to one of our hosts and get exploring! Whether you want to explore iconic monuments, check out the scenic gardens and beautiful waterfalls or sink your teeth into the famous Kobe beef- the choice is yours. From leisurely strolls along the Maiko Marine Promenade to hikes up Mount Rokko and food sampling in Kobe Motomachi- aka the street of shopping- adventure awaits. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

At 5:46 a.m. on January 17, 1995, an earthquake of unimaginable magnitude occurred, which no one had expected. Today, Kobe is known as a sophisticated city, but there is a long story behind. The theme of this tour is to know the strength of the people who experienced the earthquake and the history of reconstruction. You will learn about the scale of the actual earthquake and its devastation, and you will be able to see the difference between the way Kobe was then and how it is now. Furthermore, the major tourist spots in Kobe are also symbols of the reconstruction, so this tour will not only take you to famous tourist spots but will also give you a deeper understanding of the history of the city. Japan is an earthquake-prone island nation, and we never know when we will be struck by such a disaster again. Take a trip with your private guide to reflect on the trajectory of the earthquake and recovery.

Make your own adventure in Kobe, one of Japan’s most historic port cities, during this fully-customizable private tour by chartered vehicle. Travel aboard your own limo, bus or van as you soak up some of Kobe's most picturesque views and unique attractions. Among the sights and activities you might choose are the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum, Nunobiki Herb Garden and Ropeway or a scenic Kobe sightseeing port cruise. The choice is up to you. A driver, private vehicle and round-trip hotel transport are all included.

Kobe is famous as one of the major cities in the Kansai region. Did you know that you can also enjoy the beautiful coastal scenery that has been featured in international guidebooks? The area around Akashi Kaikyo, just a 30-minute train ride from the center of Kobe, is full of special spots that only the locals know about. The people of this area have lived with the sea for a long time, hence maritime transportation was crucial for their lives. The city has also historically attracted many tourists, as the view of the Akashi Strait from the coast has appeared in many of Japan's most famous literary works. In this tour, we will introduce you to such places where you can enjoy the scenery and life along the coast of Kobe! This plan is for those who want to enjoy the charm of the Seto Inland Sea as well as the central city of Kobe!

From Kobe Port your host could lead the way to Sannomiya, the center of Kobe’s youth culture, or a little more inland to retro Shinkaichi’s quirky shopping areas and quaint cafes. You could discover Nankinmachi (Kobe’s Chinatown), barbecue your own Kobe beef, or pray for love at the 3rd-century Ikuta Shrine. The city’s natural beauty isn’t hard to find – at the famous Rokko mountain range you could hike pristine forest trails, soak in the Arima hot springs, or take the Rokko cable car to the summit for views all the way to Osaka!  Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

This private and customizable tour for Kobe is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

This private and customizable tour for Kobe is perfect for guests who would like to have their own itinerary planned based on their interests and preferences, allowing guests to experience the city at their own pace.

Take the train to Osaka with your local host to soak up the city’s history at Osaka Castle and Sumiyoshi-taisha – one of the oldest shrines in Japan – or dive into its kaleidoscopic modern culture in the central entertainment districts of Dōtonbori and Namba, where animatronic signs and buzzing restaurants line the canals. Maybe you’ll experience Osaka’s food culture, feasting on takoyaki at a ramshackle izakaya in Hozenji Yokocho alleyway, or simply grabbing street eats in retro shopping district Shinsekai on your way to Tsūtenkaku Tower. Within 24 hours after booking you'll receive a short questionnaire about your personality and interests. Based on your responses, you'll be assigned a like-minded host. Your host will communicate with you directly to suggest an itinerary to help you discover what makes the city unique. You will also agree on a meeting time and place. Your itinerary is flexible, so during the experience, you can always change your mind about what you want to do.

Kobe is a port city that has prospered through trade with other countries since ancient times. It has nurtured a wide range of industries such as world-famous sports brands, construction technology, and even Japanese sake. In this tour, you will learn about the industries that were born in Kobe. First, you will visit the UCC Coffee Museum, where you will learn the little-known secret of how Japan has changed the way to drink coffee. After that, you can enjoy the shoes of world-famous athletes and how they are made at the ASICS Sports Museum. The sake industry is also popular in Kobe. You will visit the Sawanotsuru Museum, to learn how it is made and taste some of the unique Japanese sake. Finally, you will be exposed to architectural techniques that have been refined to today. Learning about the traditional techniques used in Japanese shrines and temples will make your stay in Japan more enjoyable. Let's learn more about such techniques and traditions by tasting with all five senses!

This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Kobe! Perched on a hillside sloping down to the sea, Kobe is one of Japan's most attractive and cosmopolitan cities. Compact and designed for walking, it is easily visited as a day trip from Osaka or Kyoto. Immerse yourself in the city's distinct atmosphere and dining options! Let us know what you would like to experience and we will customize a four-hour tour that's best for you! Note*1: Please select your must-see spots from a list in the tour information to create your customized itinerary. Note*2: The National Government Licensed Guide Interpreter certification is issued by the Japanese government requires a good knowledge and understanding of Japanese culture and history.

Shodoshima is the second-largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and one of the region’s most popular destinations for travelers looking to explore the Inland Sea archipelago. The island is noted for its distinctive food culture, which reflects Shodoshima’s comparatively mild climate and its location near major shipping lanes. Traditional specialties include soy sauce and long, thin somen noodles, while olives are a more recent addition. ・Move to Shodoshima island by Jumbo Ferry from Kobe (Round trip, tickets included) ・Sightseeing by private taxi with driver ( 6 hours ) at Shodoshima island. *Communication with Pocket Talk ・Visit the following sightseeing spots： ◆Kankakei Vallay Ropeway ◆Nakayama Senmaida ◆Angel Road ◆Shodoshima Olive Park etc.