Getting to Kobe

Located across the bay from Osaka , Kobe is Japan's sixth largest city and the capital of Hyogo Prefecture.

Kobe is directly connected with Tokyo via the JR Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen line.

The journey between Tokyo and Shin-Kobe Station takes between 160 and 195 minutes depending on the train and is covered by the Japan Rail Pass if taking a Hikari train. There are also multiple ANA and Skymark Airlines flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kobe Airport. The cheapest way to get to Kobe is by overnight bus. There are a number of companies that offer the eight to nine-hour journey from Tokyo to the wider Osaka area, with prices varying from around 5,000 to 8,500 yen each way.

By Plane

Japan's main airport hubs are situated just outside the major cities of Tokyo and Osaka. Narita Airport  sits an hour-long express train ride from Tokyo in the neighboring prefecture of Chiba. Servicing most global destinations, along with a whole host of domestic flights, the airport is rightfully known as the gateway to Japan. For a better view of the airport, click here - Narita Airport: Narita Airport homepage 

By Boat

It is also possible to reach Japan by sea. The southern area of South Korea is surprisingly close to the Japanese archipelago, and ferries travel between cities such as Busan in South Korea and cities such as Kyushu and Osaka. The price of a ticket really depends on the longevity of your sea-legs. High-speed ferries can transport you from Hakata to Busan 3 hours 40 minutes for around 16,000 yen; however a journey to Osaka on the more laid-back Kampu Ferry takes a full twelve hours, but more wallet-friendly at under 10,000 yen.

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