The 3 Best Ways to Travel from Tokyo to Kobe

Taking the Shinkansen bullet train or a flight is the best way to get to Kobe from Tokyo. It's over 500 km (300 miles) west from Tokyo. For budget travelers, we recommend taking the overnight bus between the two cities.

Read on for more information about what those journeys look like to see which one is best for you, depending on whether you are looking for comfort, convenience, or the cheapest way to get to Kobe.

1.Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kobe: the Best Way

If you are visiting Japan, you have to try the Shinkansen bullet train at least once during your trip — these trains are world-renowned for their comfort, speed, punctuality, and convenience for a reason.

The journey from Tokyo to Kobe is a great one to do on the Shinkansen because it is the quickest way to do the journey (around 3 hours), and it gives you lots of amazing views along the way (including the stunning Mount Fuji, if the weather is good).

This is our top recommended method of transport between Tokyo and Kobe, so keep reading to find out more about getting tickets, whether you need to reserve online ahead of time, how much the trains cost, and which line you should take.

We recommend breaking up the journey (as most do) with a visit to Kyoto on the way west. The Tokyo-Kyoto journey only takes 2 hours by Nozomi bullet train.

Which trains are best: Nozomi, Hikari, or Kodama?

You can take any of three types of Shinkansen bullet trains from Tokyo to Kobe, with the main difference being the amount of stops they make along the way, and as a result the speed and the price of the ticket.

Your slowest train would be the Kodama train, which takes more stops, followed by the Hikari train which is faster, and your fastest train: the Nozomi, stopping only at major stations including Kobe. We wouldn't recommend taking the Kodama, but the other two trains are both very fast considering how far you are going!

Tokyo–Kobe Shinkansen Trains Summary Table

If you are traveling with a Japan Rail Pass, we suggest taking the Hikari train, but if you are not, we recommend taking the Nozomi train.

There are only small differences in the speeds and prices for these trains, but the fact that Hikari trains are included in the Japan Rail Pass (while Nozomi trains require an additional fee), can make the difference in your plans.

Train Schedules

Japanese rail networks are extremely extensive, with lots of options. The main things you need to know, are that the trains depart regularly, particularly the Nozomi trains. They are mostly commuter trains (hence the need for an additional fee if you are traveling on the Japan Rail Pass), but depart very frequently.

• Nozomi: depart regularly, every 6–10 minutes
• Hikari trains: depart approximately every half an hour.
• Kodama trains: these run every hour.

The other fact that is good to know is that the tickets are released 2–3 months before travel, and you are able to book them either in advance or on the day.

How to Buy Your Shinkansen Tickets?

Tickets for the Shinkansen trains can be bought either in advance online, or on the day at the station.

For more information about how to buy them and which ticket to buy, we suggest reading our article about traveling from Tokyo to Kyoto, as guidance for the Shinkansen train tickets is the same.

Is it Required to Purchase Tickets in Advance / Reserve Seats?

Whether or not you should get your tickets in advance when traveling from Tokyo to Kobe depends on the time of year that you are traveling.

• If you are going in the peak seasons of March to May as well as October to mid-December, to admire the cherry blossoms and fall foliage, we do recommend booking your tickets in advance and reserving a seat. We do also recommend reserving a seat with luggage space if you are taking a few pieces of luggage with you on the train.
• Outside peak tourist season, you can just reserve a seat on the day at the train station, or if you are traveling with the Japan Rail Pass you can also use this to sit in the non-reserved carriage.
• If you are hoping to see Mount Fuji along the way, which you will pass on this route, we suggest sitting on the right side of the train, or reserving a mountain-facing ticket. The information desk at the train station can also help you with this, but it is definitely one of the perks of taking the train (weather-permitting).

Which Station to Use in Tokyo?

Tokyo has two stations from which the Shinkansen trains depart (stopping first at Tokyo Station, and then at Shinagawa Station).

If you want best choice of seats in the non-reserved carriage, getting on at Tokyo Station will be your best bet since this is where the train starts, and this station also has lots of shops and restaurants.

However, if you are nearer to Shinagawa Station, or would prefer to navigate a slightly less crowded and relatively smaller station, Shinagawa Station is a great place to get on the train too.

How to Board your Shinkansen Train to Kobe?

Both stations support paper tickets as well as digital tickets with QR codes, which will depend on how you purchased your ticket. The signage at the station will indicate platform numbers, and the barriers will let you through when you insert your paper tickets or show your QR code in the scanner. Don't forget to take your ticket back out on the other side of the gate if you are using a paper ticket, as this might be checked again on the train.

If you are feeling overwhelmed or lost, there are always train station staff that can help you navigate boarding your train, too.

Train Luggage Allowance and Luggage Delivery Service

Each ticket comes with a set luggage allowance included: two pieces of luggage for which the total of the length, width, and height cannot exceed 250 cm (98 inches) and that are not allowed to weigh over 30 kilograms (66 pounds) per item.

To bring more luggage with you on your train ride, you must reserve a seat next to the oversized baggage area. There are certain items that don't require this reservation and you can take on board: including strollers, wheelchairs, or bicycles in their cases.

We do also recommend checking out whether you would prefer to ship your luggage to your destination ahead of time. This incredible service that is often used by travelers in Japan is called takuhaibin, and can be booked ahead either at your hotel in Tokyo or at the train station right before you set off.

Takuhaibin can literally lift a weight off your shoulders on your travels in Japan, especially if you have more than a suitcase each, or if you are traveling with children. However, the price of it (approximately US$20 per 25 kg (or 55 lbs) item of luggage from Tokyo to Kobe) makes it worth considering regardless, due to the amazing convenience of not having to take your luggage on the train.

Luggage will be delivered to your hotel generally the next day, so you would just have to take a few items with you for your first night in Kobe.

2. Flights from Tokyo to Kobe

Flying from Tokyo to Kobe

There are also flights between Tokyo's Haneda Airport and Kobe Airport, which take just over 1 hour and 10 minutes. There are multiple flights every day but we do recommend booking ahead because the route is only served by All Nippon Airways and Skymark Airlines.

Given that you will need to set aside some time to get to Haneda Airport to check-in, and then to wait at the airport ahead of your flight, we do believe that taking the Shinkansen is quicker, but not by that much. If you prefer flying, then this is a decent option and worth considering, particularly if you can get a good deal by booking ahead of time.

One-way tickets cost around US$80 if you book ahead, or can cost around US$130 in peak season, when booked closer to the date.

Flying from Tokyo to Osaka

Given Osaka's proximity to Kobe, it is also possible to fly into Osaka Kansai International Airport. There are many more airlines flying from Tokyo to Osaka when compared to Tokyo to Kobe, and Kobe is just a 30-minute taxi ride from Osaka Airport — about 90 USD for the 35 km (20 miles).

If you are looking for good deals on flights, but can't find any into Kobe's airport, it might be cheaper to fly from Tokyo to Osaka and then get a taxi to Kobe. The Tokyo to Osaka route is also served by budget airlines such as Spring Airlines and Peach.

Check out The Best Ways to Travel from Tokyo to Osaka

3. Overnight Bus from Tokyo to Kobe: the Cheapest Way

For budget travelers, there is also the option to take an overnight bus from Tokyo Station to Kobe Sannoymiya PMTP Building.

While definitely not the quickest (the journey takes around 8 hours, and can be delayed due to traffic) nor the most comfortable option, it is still worth a quick mention because tickets start at around US$30. This makes it the most budget-friendly way of getting between Tokyo and Kobe, particularly for travelers who are not in a rush.

There is a bus a day from the Willer Express, the Keio Dentetsu Bus, and the JamJam Liner each, and the journey is overnight. Due to the fact that there is just one bus a day, we do suggest booking ahead through the bus company websites directly.

None of the buses have beds on board, but there is the option to get a more spacious seat with a leg rest that reclines a little, and to rent a blanket, on the Willer Express and on the Keio Dentetsu Bus.

Exploring Japan with Asia Highlights

Japan is an incredible holiday destination offering up beautiful natural scenery, incredible food that is unmatched worldwide, and fascinating historical sights. However, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to planning your trip to Japan.

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Please don't hesitate to contact us today to start planning your adventures in Japan, or check out our customizable Japan tours for a starting point.

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