Cities and Towns in Hyogo
Highlights
Himeji Castle, Kobe Port
Located in the Kansai area just to the west of Osaka, Hyogo prefecture has two big draws – the cosmopolitan city of Kobe and the historical city of Himeji.
Getting there
Kobe
Kobe can be accessed by Shinkansen (high speed rail) via Shin-Kobe Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen Line. The trip from Shin-Osaka takes just 12 minutes. If coming from Tokyo, you’re looking at about three hours of travel time, and a change at Shin-Osaka Station from the Tokaido Shinkansen Line to the Sanyo Shinkansen Line will be required.
The regular train from Osaka to Kobe stations (both much more conveniently located than their Shinkansen counterparts) takes approximately 25 minutes and costs ¥410.
Getting to Kobe by air requires a flight to either Kansai International Airport or Osaka Itami Airport.
| Route | Airline | One-way Fare | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tokyo Haneda => Kobe | Skymark Airlines | US$45.00 | Jan 21, 2025 | Booking options |
| Tokyo Haneda => Kobe | ANA | US$48.00 | Mar 19, 2025 | Booking options |
 |
||||
Highway Buses also connect Kobe with cities to the east and west. Japan Bus Online has fare and schedule information.
Himeji
Located further to the west of Kobe, Himeji can be reached on the Sanyo Main Line in approximately 35 minutes from Kobe. On the Sanyo Shinkansen Line, Himeji is a 16 minute journey from Shin-Kobe and a 30 minute trip from Shin-Osaka.
