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How to Travel to Kobe From Osaka: The Fastest and Cheapest Methods
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Kobe is one of Japan’s leading port cities. The business district, centered around the Sannomiya area, is perfect for shopping and chock full of amazing food like Kobe beef. This article features a comprehensive guide on how to access Kobe from the neighboring metropolis of Osaka.
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Visit the Charming City of Kobe from Osaka!
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Kobe, a city in Hyogo Prefecture, is Japan’s leading port city. The beautiful streets are enthralling for their seamless blend of Western and Japanese cultures. It’s also where you can enjoy exquisite food like Kobe beef, one of Japan's three top wagyu brands, and much more!
Kobe is accessible from Osaka, a massively popular travel destination, in as little as 30 minutes. It’s a destination we hope you'll visit along with your travels to Osaka.
In this article, we'll introduce various methods of traveling to Kobe from Osaka.
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Table of Contents
1. Standard Method: Train Travel! But There are Other Convenient Ways
2. JR Line: The Easiest Route
3. Hankyu Railway: A Slightly Cheaper Option
4. Hanshin Electric Railway: The Third Railway Option
5. Shinkansen: Is It Worth it With a JR Pass?!
6. Convenient Buses From Universal Studios Japan and the Airport
7. Car: Useful for Road Trips and Transporting Large Luggage
8. Take the Bay Shuttle Between Airports
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Standard Method: Train Travel! But There are Other Convenient Ways
The most typical way to travel to Kobe from Osaka is by trains serviced by JR (Japan Railway), Hankyu Railway, or Hanshin Electric Railway. The route is simple without passengers having to make any transfers. However, taking the bus, driving a car, or boarding a ferry may be more convenient depending on your travel route and situation.
In this article, we'll introduce seven ways to access the city with the assumption that you will be heading to the heart of Kobe as your final destination and alight at Sannomiya or JR Kobe Station.
1. JR Line: Simple and Easiest Route to Understand
Photo by Pixta
The first transportation method is taking a JR train from Osaka Station. Board the special rapid bound for Himeji, which arrives and departs from platform 4. You will arrive at Sannomiya Station in Kobe in 25 minutes, which costs 460 yen.
2. Hankyu Railway: A Slightly Cheaper Option
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The second way is to take the limited express on the Hankyu Railway from Hankyu Umeda Station. Get off at Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station. It costs 330 yen and the travel time is 27 minutes. You can reach the city in nearly the same amount of time as the JR line with the fee being slightly cheaper.
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is also nearby JR Sannomiya Station and Kobe Municipal Subway Sannomiya Station. It is about 1.2 kilometers away from Shin-Kobe Station serviced by the Shinkansen (bullet train).
By the way, there are at least six stations that have the name “Umeda” in Osaka. Please read this MATCHA article to learn the differences between Hankyu Umeda Station and the other Umeda Stations.
3. Hanshin Electric Railway: The Third Railway Option
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The third method is taking a train on the Hanshin Electric Railway from Hanshin Osaka-Umeda Station, then alighting at Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station. The travel time is 31 minutes and costs 330 yen.
Kobe-Sannomiya Station, serviced by both Hanshin and Hankyu, and JR Sannomiya Station are connected to one another. However, let’s be cautious not to mix them up when boarding the train.
Additionally, Hanshin and Hankyu were originally rival companies. However, the two companies merged under the same group following the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995.
Hanshin typically services traditional downtown areas, while Hankyu is known to service trendy areas like Takarazuka. The Hankyu Hanshin 1-Day Pass (Japanese) (1,300 yen for adults) is a day pass that grants the holder unlimited rides for one day on both railways.
The Hanshin Tourist Pass is another option for international visitors. It grants unlimited rides for one day on Hanshin lines for 500 yen, so be sure to check it out!
4. Shinkansen: Is It Worth it With a Japan Rail Pass?!
Photo by Pixta
Osaka and Kobe are also connected by the Shinkansen (bullet train). If you take the Shinkansen, it will take 12 minutes from JR Shin-Osaka Station to JR Shin-Kobe Station. The cost is 1,530 yen (non-reserved seats).
At a glance, it may seem like the fastest method. However, it isn’t necessarily any faster than the other transportation routes. It takes about 15 minutes on foot to get from JR Shin-Kobe Station to JR Sannomiya Station and Kobe-Sannomiya Station on the Hanshin and Hankyu Railways.
However, the Shinkansen is a convenient mode of transportation for those running errands in the Shin-Osaka and Shin-Kobe Station areas.
If you are visiting from overseas and have a Japan Rail Pass or Kansai WIDE Area Pass, then you can use it for the Shinkansen. These passes allow the holder unlimited rides on Shinkansen trains with the exception of Nozomi trains.
5. Convenient Buses From Universal Studios Japan and the Airport
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You can also travel back and forth between Osaka and Kobe by bus.
Buses bound for Sannomiya in Kobe depart from Universal Studios Japan (USJ) and Itami Airport (Osaka International Airport) in Osaka. If you depart from USJ, the travel time to Sannomiya is about 40 minutes and costs 700 yen (Shinki Bus). If you depart from Itami Airport, then the travel time to Sannomiya is also 40 minutes and costs 1,070 yen (Airport Limousine Bus).
Taking the bus is a great option if you travel to Kobe from these places.
6. Car: Useful for Road Trips and Transporting Large Luggage
Photo by Pixta
You can also access Kobe from Osaka by driving. Travel time from Osaka Station to JR Sannomiya Station is about 45 minutes. Highway toll fees will be 1,320 yen, with gasoline expenses added on top of that.
At a glance, you may feel like a car has few financial benefits compared to trains. However, it would cost the same as the train or be slightly cheaper if you are traveling with four or more people.
Do you plan on traveling to other sightseeing destinations like Arima Onsen or Kinosaki Onsen? Are you planning to shop a lot and carry around large amounts of luggage? Then a car would be convenient in these situations.
There are several rental car shops in the Osaka and Kobe areas. If you’re looking to rent a car, then please check out price comparison websites like Klook. MATCHA also offers a 10% discount coupon for Nippon Rent-A-Car that is exclusive to international visitors. Be sure to check out this option if you’re visiting from overseas!
7. Take the Bay Shuttle Between Airports
Lastly, we’ll introduce a unique mode of transportation you’ll only find in the port city of Kobe.
You can travel between Kansai International Airport and Kobe Airport in 30 minutes by the Bay Shuttle, a high-speed ferry. Fares cost 1,880 yen one-way, but you’ll receive a discount by purchasing a roundtrip ticket priced at 3,060 yen.
A great amenity that Bay Shuttle provides is a free private parking lot at Kobe terminal. The complimentary parking is free regardless of the number of nights your vehicle is there during your trip. Why not take advantage of this parking lot if you’re traveling by car since parking fees cost over 1,000 yen per day?
Enjoy Your Osaka and Kobe Travels!
Osaka and Kobe are both charming cities with tons to see, eat, and experience! Choose the travel method that best fits your trip and make the most of your time in both Kansai cities!
This article is an updated April 2023 version of an article published on July 31, 2016.
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