Family-Friendly Attractions in Kobe

If you’re taking the kids on a trip to Kobe, there are plenty of things to keep them entertained, whatever the weather. Here are the top recommendations for fun, family-friendly attractions in Kobe.

KOBE TrickArt – image © Florentyna Leow

The following list offers a kingdom of animals, a mountain, and entertainment for children of all ages, complete with opening hours and details of how to get there.

The Kobe skyline, including Kobe Port Tower and Harborland

Kobe Harborland

Families with young children will appreciate and enjoy a day out at Kobe Harborland. Located between JR Kobe Station and the Kobe waterfront, this entertainment district by the sea is home to a number of attractions, including the Anpanman Museum – themed around a popular Japanese cartoon – the brick warehouses, a Ferris wheel, the Kobe Maritime Museum, a number of shopping malls, and cruise boats. It’s also a fun date spot, with many restaurants overlooking the harbour.

Japanese name: 神戸ハーバーランド
Japanese address: 〒650-0044 神戸市中央区東川崎町1
English address: 1 Kawasaki-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, 650-0044
Telephone: +81-78-360-3639
Opening hours: Varies by facility
Nearest transport: Subway: Directly connected to Harborland Station on the Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line. Train: Directly connected to Kobe Station on the JR Kobe Line.
District: Bay
Website (machine translation): Official Website
Admission: Varies by facility

:: Read reviews of Kobe Harborland on TripAdvisor.com

A view of Meriken Park: Michael Gordon / Shutterstock.com

Meriken Park

This waterfront park in Kobe’s port area is a lovely place for a sunny afternoon. It’s covered in lawns and open courtyards. Its most iconic sightseeing spot is the Kobe Port Tower. This red steel building is a modest 108 meters tall, and is rather pretty when illuminated at night. Meriken Park is the best spot from which to take some photos of the tower.

Japanese name: メリケンパーク
Japanese address: 〒650-0042 神戸市中央区波止場町2
English address: 2 Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, 650-0042
Telephone: +81-78-321-0085
Opening hours: 24h
Nearest transport: Subway: 7-minute walk from exit 2 of Minatomotomachi Station on the Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line.
District: Bay
Website: Official Website
Admission: Free

:: Read reviews of Meriken Park on TripAdvisor.com

Visiting Mount Rokko at night: Michael Gordon / Shutterstock.com

Mount Rokko

Kobe’s most famous mountain is a fun destination for families. For instance, you could take your kids to the Rokkosan pasture, where you can see and interact with farm animals like sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, horses, ponies, rabbits, and ducks. Take part in some experiences here – try your hand at horseback riding, making cheese, butter, and ice cream, or crafting with wool. Outdoorsy families may also enjoy the Rokkosan Field Athletics, a playground with obstacles and fun equipment. Plus, if you’re visiting in winter, you can go snowboarding or sledding with the kids in the snow park.

Japanese name: 六甲山
Japanese address: 神戸市灘区・東灘区・北区
English address: Nada-ku, Higashinada-ku and Kita-ku, Kobe-shi
Telephone: +81-78-894-2071 (Mt.Rokko cable Car & Tourism Company)
Opening hours: Varies by facility
Nearest transport: Funicular: Rokko Sanjo Station on the Rokko Cable Line.
District: Mount Rokko
Website: Official Website
Admission: Free

:: Read reviews of Mount Rokko on TripAdvisor.com

Capybara and giant turtle in the Animal Kingdom

Kobe Animal Kingdom

There are zoos, and then there’s Kobe Animal Kingdom, which is mainly located inside and around a greenhouse. Kids will love how interactive this animal and plant park is. Get up close with the animals, and in some cases, you’ll even get to touch and feed them. You’ll see all kinds of birds, felines, camels, horses, and more. Kids will particularly love the capybara and alpacas.

Japanese name: 神戸どうぶつ王国
Japanese address: 〒650-0047 神戸市中央区港島南町7-1-9
English address: 7-1-9 Minatojima-minami-machi, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, 650-0047
Telephone: +81-78-302-8899
Opening hours: March-November: Monday-Friday: 10am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm); Saturday, Sunday and national holidays: 10am-5:30pm (last entry 5pm). December-February: Monday-Friday: 10am-4:30pm (last entry 4pm); Saturday, Sunday and national holidays: 10am-5pm (last entry 4:30pm). Closed Thursday
Nearest transport: Train: In front of K Computer Mae Station on the Port Liner.
District: Bay
Website: Official Website
Admission: Adults: JPY1,800. Elementary school students: JPY1,000. 4 and 5 years old: JPY300. 65 years and older: JPY1,300

:: Read reviews of Kobe Animal Kingdom on TripAdvisor.com

KOBE TrickArt – image © Florentyna Leow

KOBE TrickArt

Located in the building of the former consulate of Panama in Kitano-cho, the former foreign settler’s residential area, this trick art museum full of optical illusions is great fun for kids and adults alike. We love the amusingly formal name of the museum. Of course, pretending to lift a giant steak or being trapped under a huge wineglass is part of the fun too.

Japanese name: 神戸トリックアート 不思議な領事館
Japanese address: 〒650-0002 神戸市中央区北野町2-10-7
English address: 2-10-7 Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, 650-0002
Telephone: 0120-888581 (only from Japan)
Opening hours: 9:30am-5pm (October-March, last entry 4:30pm). 9:30am-6pm (April-September, last entry 5:30pm)
Nearest transport: Subway: 8-minute walk from the south exit of Shinkobe Station on the Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line. Train: 15-minute walk from Sannomiya / Kobe Sannomiya Station.
District: Kitano-cho
Website: Official Website
Admission: Adults: JPY800. Elementary school students: JPY200

:: Read reviews of KOBE TrickArt on TripAdvisor.com

Kobe Travel Guide:

• Kobe Travel Guide Overview
• Things To Do In Kobe
• Places To Eat In Kobe
• Kobe Itineraries
• Family-friendly Attractions in Kobe
• Kobe Cherry Blossoms
• Kobe Fall Foliage
• Kobe Districts
• Kobe Ryokan
• Kobe Hotels
• Kobe Map
• How To Get To Kobe
• Getting Around Kobe
• Best Time To Go To Kobe

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