Kobe Harborland

A one-time freight yard just outside Kobe’s city center is now a great spot to go for retail and entertainment choices.

Since 1992, Kobe Harborland has drawn tourists and local residents for fun and shopping in a waterfront location. See how inventive architects and developers have built modern structures where the JR Minatogawa freight yards once stood. Walk along the promenade to other attractions bordering Osaka Bay.

Shopping is a very popular pastime in Kobe Harborland. Start in the 225 stores of the AEON STYLE Umie Mall in the North Mall or South Mall. Find fashion, souvenirs and necessities in the shopping sections. Restaurants, a theater and romantic cafés make this a great spot for everyone from families enjoying a night out to couples on a first date.

The Umie area also includes Mosaic. Ride the Ferris wheel or gaze across the water at Kobe Port Tower rising 354 feet (108 meters). It is shaped like a tsuzumi, a traditional Japanese drum. Bring kids to the Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum and Mall to learn about the beloved red bean bread hero Anpanman.

One section of the waterfront area that reveals its historic past is Renga Soko, where 19th-century brick warehouses have been converted to bars and restaurants. Visit the high-rise Promena mall to shop or enjoy its artificial hot springs before having a meal at one of many fast-food or fine dining restaurants. The malls generally open from midmorning to midevening. Book accommodations in one of the Japanese or international hotels in the area and wander around on foot to explore local attractions.

Find Kobe Harborland in Japan’s Hyogo prefecture, about a 1-hour ride from Kyoto by public transportation. Walk here in about 5 minutes from JR Kobe Station.

The section of Kobe Harborland known as Gaslight Street is illuminated with old-fashioned gas lamps, making nighttime in the neighborhood look much as it did in the Meiji area. Walk northeast to the dock for cruises of Kobe Bay or continue on to Kobe Port Tower and the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial in Meriken Park.