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A flurry of winter activities lets you experience the beauty of Kobe in winter

Published: 2026-09-25 👁 101 views

Last updated 2026-09-25 — As one of the three major cities of the Kansai region alongside Osaka and Kyoto, Kobe boasts the beautiful Kobe Harborland, the nostalgic foreign-style district of Ikuta Ryokuchi, the bustling Motomachi former foreign settlement, the world’s longest suspension bridge—the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge—as well as delicious Kobe beef and Western-style cuisine...

As one of the three major cities of the Kansai region alongside Osaka and Kyoto, Kobe boasts the beautiful Kobe Harborland, the nostalgic foreign-style district of Ikuta Ryokuchi, the bustling Motomachi former foreign settlement, the world’s longest suspension bridge—the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge—as well as delicious Kobe beef and Western-style dishes. A 18-meter-tall "Tetsujin 28-go" statue, based on the work of manga artist Mitsuteru Yokoyama, was completed last year next to Shin-Nagata Station; the "Rokko Shidare" observation deck, designed by renowned architect Hiroshi Sambuichi, also opened in July this year, adding further appeal to Kobe as a tourist destination.

Kobe’s night view is highly acclaimed in Japan. (Image provided by Lu Wanlin)

Kobe’s night view is famously known as the "Million-Dollar Night View," and the annual December light festival "Kobe Luminarie" is one of Japan’s largest light festivals. This grand illumination event, created in memory of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, is themed “Sculpture of Light.” A magnificent arcade of lights stretches from the area around Daimaru Department Store in the former foreign settlement all the way to Yamate Park, illuminating Kobe’s winter nights. Since its inception in 1995, it has continued to attract large crowds every year. This year, the 16th "Kobe Luminarie" will be held from December 2 to 13. If you’re planning to visit Kobe during this period, it’s worth stopping by.

If you miss the "Kobe Luminarie," the Kobe Gas Lamp Street and Ikuta Ryokuchi area in the harbor district will continue their "KOBE Romantic Festa" lighting event from December to March. Additionally, the "Rokko Mountain Ice Festival," scheduled for early to late February, offers the chance to admire illuminated ice sculptures set against the night view of Kobe below.

Kobe - Ikuta Shrine.

Another tourist attraction in Kobe—the largest outlet in the Kansai region, "Kobe Sannomiya Premium Outlets"—will also collaborate with Arima Onsen from November 5 to January 31 next year to run the "Stay at Arima Onsen, Shop at Kobe Sannomiya Premium Outlets" campaign. During the promotion, guests staying at any of the 26 designated accommodations in Arima Onsen can enjoy an additional 20% discount on top of the existing outlet discounts at Kobe Sannomiya Premium Outlets. Moreover, those who spend 10,000 yen or more (cumulative during the campaign period) at Kobe Sannomiya Premium Outlets will receive an "Arima Onsen & Raku Coupon" that can be used for a future stay at Arima Onsen. In addition, the winter clearance sale at Kobe Sannomiya Premium Outlets will begin in late January 2011.