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Access

The following information is prepared on the basis of the website of Kobe Convention Center. Some linked pages are written only in Japanese language.

WHERE IN JAPAN: Kobe is located in Hyogo Prefecture, one of several prefectures in the mid-west of Japan that, together, are known as the 'Kansai Region'. This is Japan's premier tourism area for overseas visitors making Kobe an ideal base city for visiting world heritage sites, both to the east and to the west. The Port of Kobe and its man-made islands are located on the north shore of the Osaka Bay.

Major access routes

From Tokyo Narita

-Domestic Rail Transfer: See below for Shinkansen transfers from Tokyo to Kobe. Trains from Narita to Tokyo (Shinkansen) Station take about 60 minutes and cost approx. 3,000 Yen (by the Narita Express (N'EX) train). Buses from Narita to Tokyo take 80~110 minutes (depending on traffic conditions) and cost 3,000 Yen.
-Transfer by Domestic Air (Haneda to Kobe Airport ): Narita arrivals should first transfer to Tokyo's domestic airport Haneda for flights to Kobe. Bus transfers between Narita and Haneda take 75 minutes and cost 3,000 Yen. Flight time between Haneda and Kobe is about 60 minutes. (There are also flights to Osaka Itami if Kobe flights are full).
-Transfer by Domestic Air (Narita to Osaka Itami Airport): Narita is an international airport with a few domestic flights to Osaka Itami Airport. Flight time between Narita and Osaka Itami is about 60 minutes.

JR Shinkansen (Bullet) Train (Arriving at Shin-Kobe Station)

Bullet Trains to Shin-Kobe from Tokyo take about 2 hrs 50 minutes and cost approx. 15,000 Yen. Trains run about every 20 minutes. The last train bound for Kobe is at 20:30 (arriving 23:19) the first at 06:00 am. From Nagoya trains take 70 minutes and cost about 8,000 Yen. From Kyoto, about 30 minutes, costing about 3,500 Yen.
-Transfer by Taxi: 5 minutes and 660 Yen (to downtown Kobe, Sannomiya).
-Transfer by City Subway: 2 minutes and 200 Yen (to downtown Kobe, Sannomiya). Route Map

From Kansai Int'l Airport

Kansai International Airport (KIX) is the closest international gateway for Kobe and located around the Osaka Bay along a fast coastal highway. To transfer from KIX to Kobe:
-Transfer by Taxi: About 70 minutes and approx. 22,000 Yen (KIX to downtown Kobe, Sannomiya).
-Transfer by Limousine Bus: 65 minutes and 1,900 Yen (KIX to downtown Kobe, Sannomiya) (Operations every 10~20 minutes between 06:20 ~ 23:15). * Kansai Airport Limousine * Osaka Airport Limousine
-Transfer by Bay Shuttle Ferry: 29 minutes and 1,500 Yen (KIX to Kobe Marine Air) (Operations every 45~60 minutes between 07:15 ~ 22:00). The KIX ferry dock is a 2 minutes free bus transfer from the airport terminal.

From Nagoya Centria

Nagoya's international airport (Central Japan) is called "Centrair".
-Transfer by train: For Kobe, first take a train (Meitetsu Tokoname Line, http://www.meitetsu.co.jp/english/) to Meitetsu Nagoya Station which takes about 30 minutes and costs 850 Yen. Then cross over to JR Nagoya Station (about 5 min. walk). Shinkansen trains to Shin-Kobe take about 65 minutes and cost approx. 8,000 Yen.

From Kobe Airport

Location of Kobe Airport / Marine Air Island: Kobe Airport connects by road or rail to downtown Kobe (Sannomiya) through adjacent Port Island and its Convention Center.
-Transfer by Port Liner (Automated Guideway Transit): 18 minutes and 320 Yen to downtown Kobe 'Sannomiya' or 8 minutes and 240 Yen to Port Island convention hotels.
-Transfer by Taxi: Approx. 15 minutes and approx. 2,500 Yen to downtown or 5 minutes and approx. 1,500 Yen to hotels on Port Island.

From Osaka Itami Airport

-Transfer by Taxi: Approx. 30 minutes and approx. 12,000 Yen (to downtown Kobe, Sannomiya) or 50 minutes and approx. 15,000 Yen directly to hotels on Port Island.
-Transfer by Limousine Bus: Bound for Sannomiya Station this bus takes 40 minutes and costs 1,020 Yen with operations every 15~30 minutes.

By Local or Express Rail

From Osaka trains take about 20 minutes and cost about 400 Yen by JR lines.
From Kyoto trains take about 50 minutes and cost about 1,050 Yen.

About Sannomiya and Getting to Port Island (Kobe Convention Center)

Downtown Hotels: The main hotels for tourists are around the downtown area which is known as Sannomiya. Major rail lines and roads from other cities (and airports) converge on Sannomiya.
Convention Hotels: Other key hotels, especially for convention delegates, are in the center of nearby Port Island. These hotels are immediately next door to Kobe's conference, exhibition and event venues. Also connected to Port Island is the newly opened Kobe Airport Island called "Marine Air"
Road & Rail Access to Port Island: Sannomiya connects to Kobe Airport through Port Island. The middle of Port Island is home to the Kobe Convention Center. Access is easy by either taxi or 'Port Liner' overhead train.
Port Liner Trains: The Port Liner trains run approx. every 5 minutes between Kobe Airport and Sannomiya. All trains stop at the station next to the Convention Center, called "Shimin-Hiroba". From Sannomiya to Shimin-Hiroba costs 240 Yen and takes about 10 minutes either way. Coming from Kobe Airport, the cost is 240 Yen and takes 8 minutes. Route Map

Discount Ticket of Port Liner Monorail

You can buy discount tickets of the Port Liner Monorail at the Travel Information desk near the registration site on the 1st Floor.