Enjoy the area around Shin-Kobe! Top 11 Recommended Tourist Spots

Shin-Kobe Station, a stop on the Shinkansen, has plenty of sightseeing spots nearby. From the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens to the Kobe Trick Art Museum and the Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, there's something for everyone, whether you're visiting with children or as a couple! Despite being in a city, the area is rich in nature, making it a relaxing place to unwind. Here are 11 of the most charming sightseeing spots around Shin-Kobe!

1. Kobe Trick Art Mysterious Consulate Museum

It was originally built as Mr. Hilton's private residence during the Meiji period and was used as the Panamanian consulate after the war. It stands on a stone wall, and the white exterior walls and green pillars create a very bright atmosphere. At first glance, the foreign-style house has such a modern impression that it is hard to believe it was built during the Meiji period. In one part of the Panamanian consulate, trick art, which was brought over from Europe, is on display.

It is a rare amusement spot in a foreign-style house and a mysterious space where both adults and children can enjoy themselves. It is also called an art museum where you can see, touch, and play, and if you can enter the painting and take a photo, your friends and family will surely be amazed. Therefore, of course, a camera is a must, and it is a recommended tourist spot for those who want to take lots of photos as a memento.

2. Kobe Oji Zoo

Surprisingly, it seems that it is rare to find a zoo that keeps both giant pandas and koalas at the same time, but this is an old-fashioned zoo where you can see a variety of other animals. It is a great place for children to play, and is equipped with a nursing room and children's toilets. The size is neither too big nor too small, so you can spend a whole day exploring the park, including the small amusement park. You can also experience interacting with sheep and ducks.

It may be difficult to do so outdoors during the cold and hot seasons, but you can also see the cherry blossoms at night during the cherry blossom season. It is surprisingly cheap, with admission fees of 600 yen for adults and free for junior high school students, despite being located near the station. On weekends, it is crowded with children and the parking lot is also crowded, so it is recommended to take the train.

3. Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum

Located near Shin-Kobe Station, which is also a bullet train station, is this tool museum run by Takenaka Corporation. It's a small building, so many people miss it, so be careful. As it's run by carpenters, the museum is filled with the scent of wood and has a quiet atmosphere that is very relaxing.

This is a facility where you can learn about the evolution of carpentry tools, how wood becomes lumber, and how wood was processed in the past. You can actually try things out, watch video commentaries, and tours with staff commentary are held at set times, so it's designed to be enjoyable even for beginners.

In addition to Japanese tools, you can see carpentry tools from around the world, and the total number of exhibits is about 30,000. There are also craft experiences that children can participate in, so it's a spot where parents and children can enjoy learning while they go.

4. Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden

Located at the top of a mountain, it is only a few minutes away by ropeway, so it is a relaxing spot where you can see the cityscape of Shin-Kobe and the surrounding nature. At night, the night view from the top of the mountain is wonderful, so it is also recommended for couples to use it for a date. It is more like a full-scale botanical garden than a herb garden, and you can enjoy various flowers depending on the season.

Many people, especially women, come to relax and forget about their daily lives by taking a leisurely stroll while enjoying nature and flowers, or eating homemade sweets. There are also plenty of events for children to enjoy, such as parent-child cooking classes, rental play equipment, treasure hunt games, and craft experiences. At Kaze no Oka Square, you can run and play in nature, or have a picnic.

5. Italian Pavilion and Plato Decorative Arts Museum

The Plato Decorative Arts Museum is one of the Western-style houses and was built in the early Taisho period. It is classified as a historical traditional building and is the perfect place for those who want to see beautiful things. Antique furniture from the 18th century is on display, and paintings from that time are displayed in everyday life spaces. When you visit the museum, a butler will greet you and give you a very easy-to-understand explanation, which is said to be very good. It feels like you are visiting a luxurious mansion.

There is a pool and terrace in the courtyard, where you can enjoy a cafe or a light meal. The luxury brand cosmetic bottles, the abundant tableware, and the art pieces are wonderful, and in some places you can touch some items. It is a perfect Western-style house for adults to spend a quiet and relaxing time.

6. Ikuta Shrine

Ikuta Shrine, known as a power spot for love and matchmaking, is loved by many people as an oasis in the city. One of the most famous power spots is Ikuta Forest. Many poets have visited this place and composed waka poems, and it is well known that Sei Shonagon wrote "The shrine is Ikuta" at the Makura no Kusaichi market. Ikuta Pond is also famous as a power spot, with ducks, mandarin ducks, carp, and other animals swimming gracefully.

Many visitors come to the shrine in the morning, and some even stop by on their way to work. The shrine has a dazzling red torii gate and is easily accessible, making it popular with foreigners. If you find a four-leaf clover in the grass on the shrine grounds, it may be a good luck charm.

7. Kobe Harborland

Since its opening in 1990, Kobe Harborland has expanded with various facilities and developed to the present day with a focus on dramatic lighting. It is a lively facility that can be enjoyed by couples, families, and friends, and the night view in particular creates a very romantic atmosphere.

It is a spot where you will never get bored even if you stay all day, as it has everything from shopping to gourmet food, amusement, and movies. Among its attractions are the Mosaic Ferris Wheel, which offers a 360-degree view of Kobe, and the Love Post, which is famous for sending love letters and travel news. It has been certified as a "sacred place for lovers" as it is the perfect place to propose. The Anpanman Children's Museum has also opened in Harborland to keep children entertained, so it is a place that children can enjoy.

8. Nunobiki Falls

Nunobiki Falls is a collective name for four waterfalls: Otaki, Metaki, Meotodaki, and Tsuzumidaki. It is famous as one of the three great sacred waterfalls in Japan. It has also been selected as one of the 100 best waterfalls in Japan, and the beautiful appearance of the waterfall, which looks like a cloth hanging down, is the origin of its name. The route from Nunobiki Falls to the Miharashi Observatory and Nunobiki Reservoir is also a hiking course for exploring famous places and is very popular as you can experience history and literature while surrounded by greenery.

If you go on a sunny day after heavy rain, you can see the magnificent waterfall overflowing from the reservoir due to the increased water volume of the waterfall, although the footing is dangerous. Gohonmatsu Kakure Falls is a rare sight that can only be seen at this time. It is also famous as a power spot and is a tourist spot where you can spend an elegant time bathed in negative ions.

9. Weathervane House

Weathervane House is a Western-style house built by Gottfried Thomas, a German who once lived in Kobe, as his own residence. It is the only Western-style house still standing in the area that has brick exterior walls, and is characterized by its solid and sturdy construction compared to other Western-style houses. The weathervane on top of the tower is also an indispensable symbol of the area. As its name suggests, the weathervane is used to tell the direction of the wind, but because of the cautious nature of the rooster, it has also been believed to have the power to ward off evil.

While you can enjoy this stylish Western-style house that is different from both authentic European mansions and Japanese mansions, looking inside will give you the impression that you can imagine what life was like for foreigners on that day. As it is on high ground, the view from the second floor is also great, so it is recommended.

10. Kawasaki World

It is a facility like an exhibition room for a general company called Kawasaki Heavy Industries, and is located inside the Kobe Maritime Museum. Admission tickets are sold as tickets that allow you to visit both the museum and the Kobe Maritime Museum. A wide range of exhibits are on display, starting with the company's history, and including motorcycles, boats, and jet skis. Kawasaki's past projects are also explained in an easy-to-understand manner, and you will once again be able to experience the greatness of Japanese technology.

You can test ride motorcycles and jet skis, and even try out simulations, so it is a spot that can be enjoyed not only by people who like vehicles but also by children and women. If you take your time looking around with children, it will take about half a day, but it is a recommended outing spot that can be used regardless of the weather.

11. Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution

This facility was built in the wake of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, with the hope of preventing and mitigating the effects of earthquakes and other disasters. Japan is a country prone to earthquakes, so it is fully expected that we will experience a major earthquake in the future. By providing easy-to-understand explanations of what we need to tell the young people who will live in the future, it is hoped that they will take steps to build disaster-resistant towns and prepare themselves for disasters.

You can experience the shaking of an earthquake, and each exhibit is displayed in a way that everyone from children to the elderly can understand. It is a truly world-leading new initiative to convey the records of Japan's major earthquakes to future generations. The building has a stylish exterior and is often chosen as a place for students to go on school trips and training.

Name: Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution, Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial.

Summary

Shin-Kobe Station has a bustling image, but in fact, there are many tourist spots within easy reach. When you travel to Kobe, try visiting the various facilities that suit your interests.