Traveling To Kobe

• Alternative Routes to Kobe Convention Center
• Kansai International Airport (KIX)
• Airport Limousine Bus
• Bay shuttle To The Port Island
• Port Liner To The Port Island

Alternative Routes to Kobe Convention Center

• Take a airplane to Kansai International Airport.
• Take JR or Nankai railway or Airport Limousine to the center of Osaka. Ground transportation tickets are available at Travel Desk in the airport. For more detail, click here.
• Stay at Osaka and visit Osaka and Kyoto.
• Take JR, Hankyu or Hanshin railway to Sannomiya station.
• Take Port Liner to Shimin Hiroba station.

Route #4 (Visit Tokyo before Kobe)

• Take a airplane to Narita International Airport.
• Take JR or Keisei railway or Airport Limousine bus to the center of Tokyo. For more detail, click here.
• Stay at Tokyo.
• Take a airplane or Shinkansen to Sannomiya station. For more detail, click here.
• Take Port Liner to Shimin Hiroba station.

Kansai International Airport (KIX)

Kansai International Airport is the nearest international airport to Kobe and situated on a man-made island about 50 km south of Osaka city.

Kansai Airport has only one terminal building. Various train and bus lines connect the airport with the nearby cities of Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe and surroundings.

There are two other airports (Osaka International Airport and Kobe Airport) nearby Kobe, but they handle only domestic flights at the moment.

Airport Limousine Bus

• Fare: 1900 yen, 75 minutes to Kobe.
• Operations every 20-30 minutes between 06:00am - 22:00pm.
• Timetable is here.

How To Purchase Bus Tickets

After arriving at the Kansai International Airport, come to the Bus stops or ticket counters outside of the terminal building.

Purchase bus tickets from the vending machine near your bus stop. At the ticket counters, you can obtain information of the departure time, fares and more, and purchase bus tickets by credit card. If you do not understand something, please ask Limousine Bus Information.

(1)Ticket vending machine.

(2)Touch the [ENGLISH] button in the upper right corner of the touch panel.

(3)Touch your destination [Sannomiya].

(4)Press the button showing your number of passengers. (Black: Adult, Red: Child)

(5)Insert bills and coins in the amount shown on the display. (Change is dispensed automatically.)

(6)Collect your tickets as they are printed.

From Kansai International Airport

Bus services from the Kansai International Airport depart from the International Arrival Lobby on the first floor. Tickets for buses can be purchased from vending machines located near the bus stops.

To Kansai International Airport

Purchase bus tickets from the vending machine or driver when getting on the bus to the airport. Bus services to the Kansai International Airport arrive at the 4th floor of the Airport Terminal. Check-in counters for international flights are located on the 4th floor, while those for domestic flights are on the 2nd floor. Airport buses are operated as joint services with various companies. (Same routes, same fares) Multiple bus companies serve the same route.

Sannnomiya Station and Bus Stop (Transit Point)

Sannomiya Station is the main rail hub for intercity Hankyu, Hanshin and JR trains to Osaka and Kyoto.

After arriving at the Sannomiya station, transfer to the Port Liner and get off at Shimin Hiroba station (about 10 minutes from Sannomiya Station).

Bay shuttle To The Port Island

• Fare: 1800 yen, 30 minutes to Kobe Port Island.
• Operations every 1 hour between 06:30am - 21:00pm.
• Timetable is here.

How To Get On Bay Shuttle

(1) Go to the Travel Desk.

There are staff members that can assist non-native Japanese speakers at the Travel Desk. The Travel Desk offers travel information and introduces accommodations in Kansai.

(2) Buy the ticket at the Ticket Counter.

(3) Go out from the door near the Ticket Counter. The free bus ride will take about 5 minutes to KANSAI Airport port terminal.

(4)Ride Bay Shuttle

BAY SHUTTLE is barrier-free and accessible to wheelchairs. It is fully equipped with 110 comfortable seats, a space for large baggage, vending machine and TV. It takes about 30 minutes to KOBE Airport Kaijyo Access Terminal.

(5) Get on the Connecting bus

There is a Bus Stop bound for Kobe Airport right after the pier. It takes about 3 minutes by bus to KOBE Airport. After getting off the bus, go inside KOBE Airport.

(6) Get inside of KOBE Airport.

Go upstairs to reach the entrance gate of PORT LINER. Elevator is on the left side right after the entrance. Look at the right side after getting off the elevator, you will find the yellow doorway.

(7) Get on Port Liner at the KOBE Airport Station

For those woh have purchased the Port Liner Set. You may use the ticket to board. It takes about 8 minutes to Shimin Hiroba station.

• How To Get On BAY SHUTTLE (PDF)

Port Liner To The Port Island

Port Island is an artificial island in Kobe. It was constructed between 1966 and 1981 at Port of Kobe. The Port Liner automated guideway transit system connects Port Island to Sannomiya Station and to Kobe Airport.

How To Purchase A Ticket

A regular ticket is valid for a trip on the date of purchase only. Making a stopover with this ticket is not allowed.

(1) Insert the currency (Japanese Yen only) into the ticket machine. Fare is 240 yen from Sannomiya sta. to Shimin Hiroba sta.

(2) Press the button [ English ].

(3) Press the button for your destination (Shimin Hiroba station). Those who make a return trip on the same day need to press the button [ Round-Trip Tickets ] and then press the button for their destination (station).

(4) The ticket machine will supply you with a ticket(two tickets for a round trip)and change (if applicable).

Port Island Map

• Port Island map (PDF) - Very Useful!