Create your free account
Sign in to your account
Search over 1 million properties and 550 airlines worldwide
Members save 10% more on select hotels, cars, activities and vacation rentals. Sign up.
Free cancellation on most hotels. Because flexibility matters.
Meriken Park
The green lawns and courtyards of Meriken Park make it one of the most enjoyable places in Kobe for strolling along the waterfront. Look for notable examples of contemporary architecture, shopping and dining, as well as museums that explore this area’s maritime history.
The park’s name comes from Meriken Wharf, built by Japan in the late 19th century after the country opened its ports to the world. According to local lore, when Japanese people first met Americans, they misheard their nationality as “Meriken” and chose this as the name of the new wharf in Kobe. In the 1980s, the watery area between Meriken Wharf and the pier was filled to create Meriken Park.
Watch for Earthquake Memorial Park, a modest memorial dedicated to the victims of the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. This area was devastated by the earthquake. The memorial preserves a small section of the damaged wharf. View the display of photos in remembrance of this destructive event.
Explore the Kobe Maritime Museum and learn about the significance of this historic port. The white-steel framework on the museum’s exterior is designed to resemble a ship’s sails. The museum has models of ships, exhibits explaining port operations and retired ships on display both inside and outside the building.
Discover the interactive exhibits at Kawasaki Good Times World, a corporate museum adjacent to the Kobe Maritime Museum. This museum highlights the various machines produced by Kawasaki Heavy Industries over the years, including shinkansen (bullet) trains, planes, motorcycles, ships and helicopters. Don’t miss the hands-on exhibits, where visitors are free to pose on some of the well-known vehicles.
For a break from sightseeing, head to the small entertainment area found between Meriken Park and Kobe Harborland. Stop at one of the numerous restaurants and cafés and sip a drink while people-watching in this lively area. Take a scenic sightseeing cruise around Kobe Bay and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, with departure points found at the nearby Nakatottei Chuo Terminal.
Meriken Park is about a 10-minute walk from Motomachi Station. The museums charge admission.
Guide to Exploring around Meriken Park
Top Meriken Park Flight + Hotel Deals
Tue, Nov 17 - Tue, Nov 24
TYO-All Airports - Kansai Intl.
￥31,140
The price now is ￥18,963 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥39,355
The price now is ￥30,445 per personFlight + Hotel
Wed, Dec 16 - Tue, Dec 22
Haneda - Kansai Intl.
￥42,947
The price now is ￥34,330 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥34,980
The price now is ￥28,579 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥47,144
The price now is ￥39,242 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥54,580
The price now is ￥45,572 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥32,600
The price now is ￥27,262 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥32,140
The price now is ￥26,968 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥32,945
The price now is ￥27,664 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥31,930
The price now is ￥26,817 per personFlight + Hotel
Wed, Dec 16 - Tue, Dec 22
Haneda - Kansai Intl.
￥39,354
The price now is ￥33,138 per personFlight + Hotel
Thu, Dec 31 - Mon, Jan 4
Narita Intl. - Kansai Intl.
￥46,490
The price now is ￥39,242 per personFlight + Hotel
Best Lodging Options Near Meriken Park
Per night/room
Oct 18 - Oct 19
Kobe Meriken Park Oriental Hotel
5-6 Hatobacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo-kenLocated in Kobe City Centre, this luxury hotel is steps from Kobe Maritime Museum, Kobe Tower, and Meriken Park. Kobe Harborland and Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall are also within 15 minutes. Minatomotomachi Station is 8 minutes by foot and Hanakuma Station is 11 minutes.
Per night/room
Sep 27 - Sep 28
APA Hotel Kobe-Sannomiya Ekimae
2-11-26, Shimoyamatedori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, HyogoLocated in Sannomiya, this hotel is 1.1 mi (1.8 km) from Kobe Tower and within 3 mi (5 km) of Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall and Port of Kobe. Kobe University and Hanshin Koshien Stadium are also within 12 mi (20 km). Kyukyoryuchi Daimarumae Station is 7 minutes by foot and Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station is 8 minutes.
Per night/room
Sep 27 - Sep 28
KOBE LUMINOUS HOTEL SANNOMIYA
92 Edomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, HyogoLocated in Sannomiya, this hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Kobe City Hall, Kobe Tower, and Meriken Park. Kobe Harborland and Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall are also within 2 mi (3 km). Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station is only a 5-minute walk and Kyukyoryuchi Daimarumae Station is 6 minutes.
Per night/room
Oct 25 - Oct 26
Hotel Okura Kobe
2-1 Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo-kenLocated in Kobe City Centre, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial, Kobe Tower, and Meriken Park. Kawasaki Good Times World and Motomachi Shopping Street are also within 10 minutes. Minatomotomachi Station is 6 minutes by foot and Hanakuma Station is 9 minutes.
Per night/room
Sep 27 - Sep 28
CENTURION HOTEL GRAND KOBE STATION
2-3-7 Aioicho, Chuo-ku, Bay Area, Tyuou-ku, Kobe, HyogoLocated in Chuo Ward, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Minatogawa Shrine, Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall, and Kobe Harborland. Kobe Tower and Meriken Park are also within 1 mi (2 km). Kobe Station is only a 2-minute walk and Kosokukobe Station is 4 minutes.
Per night/room
Oct 7 - Oct 8
Hotel Trusty Kobe Kyukyoryuchi
63, Naniwamachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo-kenLocated in Kobe City Centre, this hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Ikuta Shrine, Kobe Tower, and Meriken Park. Sorakuen Garden and Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall are also within 1 mi (2 km). Kyukyoryuchi Daimarumae Station is only a 4-minute walk and Sannomiya Hanadokeimae Station is 7 minutes.
Per night/room
Oct 8 - Oct 9
Hotel La Suite Kobe Harborland
7-2 Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo-kenLocated in Kobe City Centre, this luxury hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Motomachi Shopping Street, Kobe Tower, and Meriken Park. Kobe Harborland and Kobe Anpanman Children's Museum & Mall are also within 10 minutes. Hanakuma Station is 6 minutes by foot and Minatomotomachi Station is 6 minutes.
Per night/room
Sep 27 - Sep 28
Candeo Hotels Kobe Torroad
3-8-8, Sannomiya-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, HyogoLocated in Kobe City Centre, this hotel is within 1 mi (2 km) of Kobe Tower, Meriken Park, and Kobe Harborland. Port of Kobe and Kobe University are also within 6 mi (10 km). Kyukyoryuchi Daimarumae Station and Motomachi Station are within a 5-minute walk.
Plan your trip to Meriken Park
