This article will show you why you might want to spend your last few days in Kobe as an alternative to Osaka, on your next trip around Kansai. How about going to the airport? You may be questioning. We have that covered, too, and it only takes 30 minutes!
Travel Guide/Hack
Kobe -> Kansai Airport
Dear Readers,
We only came to know about this option of choosing Kobe as the last city to stay in before a flight from Kansai International Airport on our trip number 10 or so to the Kansai region, and we will share with you how and why.
We will first begin with the number one concern:
going to the airport
There is a boat shuttle from Kobe airport to Kansai airport that takes only 30 minutes. As Kobe and Osaka are located in a bay, it simply means cutting through the water to the airport from Kobe is actually faster than taking a car from the city center in Osaka. Therefore, technically, it is easier and faster to travel from Kobe to Kansai airport than it is from the city center of Osaka.
In reality, though, this will mean you have to prepare time for the boat departure as well as some time to travel from the port to the terminal, which will, of course, take a little longer than getting dropped off by car right in front. However, from our experience, it is not much different, and we actually prefer the bay shuttle service.
For availability, there is a boat available every hour or so, from 5 am to around 10 pm.
The price for a one-way ticket is listed at 1880 JPY, but they are offering foreign travellers a special deal of only 500 JPY, which was also the price we got during our trip in early November last year.
Reservations for the ticket can be made online through the website up to 1 hour before departure or at the ticket counter. Emails and confirmation, as well as a qr code for boarding, will be sent via the email you provide. For the how-to and reservation, you can check directly on their website here!
Important: Do check if the ferry is in service; the provider should email you the confirmation on the day of or near your departure. Although it is unlikely, it is better to be sure, so you can plan your transportation accordingly.
What this also means is that this way of transportation is a lot cheaper than taking a taxi and a bit more comfortable than taking the train. We had our ferry booked for 21:00, and there were five people taking the ferry, including us, that day. The ferry also takes you from Kansai airport to Kobe, which we think might be what it is mainly used for, as there were a lot more people coming down, so if you are looking to come from Kansai Airport, this is probably the best means of transportation available.
Note: We are not sponsored by them in any way.
Now with the transportation concern out of the way lets dive more into why Kobe might be your choice.
A less busy destination
Regardless of the title, Kobe is still a busy city, but, compared to Osaka, you can expect a noticeably less crowded and less touristy environment.
In other words, it is a more balanced city, in a way. Kobe offers both the convenience of a bigger city, while also providing a less overwhelming feel. The city will also likely have whatever item is on your buying list somewhere, unless it is a specific shop or items, of course.
Both choices for city travel and being closer to nature
Being in a smaller city means you get easier access to an escape into nature or a quiet countryside town. The city is surrounded by mountains on one side and the sea on the other. A 15-minute train ride could take you to a quiet sub-countryside environment on the other side of Mount Maya, where you can enjoy a more peaceful and slower travel.
A breath of fresh air
Not utterly in a literal sense, but also in some ways. For someone who does not prefer a busy bustling city, light, sound, and extremely touristy places, Kobe feels like a breath of fresh air. This also means fewer tourist traps you might fall into. We also feel that it is cleaner and has a more pleasant layout, generally.
Attractions like Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Harbourland Umie, átoa aquarium, Mount Maya, Motomachi shopping street, and various other places to eat, see, and shop can easily keep you busy for two or three days.
With the bay shuttle service directly to Kansai Airport, the city can become a great place for your stay before departure, and may as well become your go-to last stop in Kansai, as it did for us. For those who are looking for a quieter trip, want to explore new places, or may simply be bored with Osaka, although it might be unlikely, we can wholeheartedly recommend choosing Kobe as a departure city before your flight.
With love for travelling,
Travel Tegami