Where to stay

Sannomiya is Kobe's most central neighborhood, a lively and action-packed place to stay. Visitors can enjoy cultural offerings such as the quirky Kobe Doll Museum, Sanseido Art Gallery, and Sannomiya Shrine. In Takarazuka, with views of the mountain, a range of Western and Japanese-style hotels are all within walking distance of sights such as Aramaki Rose Park, Satsukiyama Zoo, and Nakayama-dera Buddhist Shrine. Find a room in one of the large resort hotels with outdoor swimming pools in the Tarumi district of western Kobe. In this pleasant beachside neighborhood, the main attraction is the impressive Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the tallest suspension bridge in Japan.

Find excellent restaurants all over Kobe. For those who want to stay in the heart of one of the city's most fashionable dining districts, Kitano makes a great choice. Hotel options here are upscale, and a maze of cafés and restaurants is built into historic buildings. Motomachi is a foodie haven too, with the aroma of freshly prepared noodles wafting down the streets and luring visitors from their high-rise hotels. For something a bit different, stay in a hotel in Nankin-machi, Kobe's Chinatown, with a good selection of modern hotels within easy walking distance of the main street and its many restaurants.

Book a hotel in the Harborland district, where families will find plenty to keep them amused, from the large leisure and shopping complex to the tall Port Tower with views over the city. Also in this area is the Meriken Park district, whose Ferris wheel is a real highlight for children. Hotels here cater to families and are more affordable than those in some of the other regions. Although Himeji requires a train ride outside of Kobe, this enchanting town with its UNESCO World Heritage castle is a firm favorite with children and a more low-key choice for a place to stay.