Fall in love with romance here—Kobe’s must-ride Concerto cruise lets you enjoy Japan’s top three night views from the sea.

▲ The Kobe Concerto cruise ship.

Reported and photographed by reporter Tsai Wenjun / Japan

Just a 30-minute drive from Osaka, Kobe boasts one of Japan’s top three night views—the Million Dollar Night View. But you don’t have to climb up Mount Rokko or Mount Maya to see it. Board the luxurious cruise ship “Concerto,” where you can admire Kobe’s night scenery from the sea while enjoying romantic French cuisine. It’s a popular choice for couples on dates, overseas proposals, or celebrating special anniversaries.

▲ %You can purchase Concerto cruise tickets at the Mosaic seaside shopping plaza in Harborland.

The Concerto offers four daily departures, including lunch, afternoon tea, sunset, and night view cruises. Each voyage lasts about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Passengers can simply buy tickets at the ticket booth in Mosaic, the seaside shopping plaza in Harborland, and then board the ship. Departing from Kobe Port, the cruise sails toward the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge before returning to Kobe Port. However, if the waves are too rough, the route will be changed to a scenic tour around Kobe Port.

▲ Sitting on the outdoor deck of the Kobe Concerto cruise ship, you can enjoy a view of the Kobe Port night scenery.

The reason the Concerto has become a sacred spot for dates, proposals, and anniversaries among Kobe locals is that you can enjoy a French course meal while taking in the day and night views of the sea. The interior of the ship features a white color scheme, decorated with European-style ornaments and flowers, along with live music performances by musicians. Passengers can first take photos on the outdoor deck with the Kobe Port as the backdrop before heading to the restaurant for a meal. The unique romantic atmosphere makes this a must-do experience when visiting Kobe.

The lunch and dinner served on the cruise mainly offer French cuisine and teppanyaki set meals, with prices varying depending on the time of day. The manager of the Concerto stated that while advance reservations are recommended for dining on the ship, walk-ins are still welcome if there are available seats on the day. Additionally, the Concerto also offers afternoon tea sets, including cake and red wine options, allowing passengers to enjoy delicious food while admiring the ever-changing beautiful scenery outside the window.

If you’re not interested in dining, you can also simply purchase a cruise ticket to board the Concerto and admire this beautiful and fashionable city with its million-dollar night view from the sea. After disembarking, you can now also stroll along Kobe Port to visit Meriken Park to see the world’s largest Christmas tree, the largest Starbucks in western Japan, or even climb Kobe Tower for scenic views. There’s no shortage of things to do around Kobe Port alone.