Kobe has many popular tourist spots, but there are only a few places you can enjoy with your children. Some people may be struggling to come up with a plan that the whole family can enjoy.
Kobe has a wide variety of attractions, including Japan's largest Obstacle, an experience facility perfect for children who love vehicles, and a museum where you can learn about history. In this article, we will introduce seven tourist spots in Kobe that are fun for families.
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Greenia
Greenia is one of the largest Obstacle parks in Japan, and is a place that can be enjoyed by both children and adults. As of May 2024, there are 174 land, air, and water Obstacle points. There are also Obstacle supervised by popular video creators Fishers, so you can have fun all day long while moving your body.
It is easily accessible by car, about 35 minutes from Kobe and about 60 minutes from Osaka city, and has a large parking lot that can accommodate 700 cars. You can also get there by taking Rokko Sanjo Bus or Rokko-Arima Ropeway.
Enjoy the adventure kingdom "Greenia" with your children
At the Adventure Kingdom Greenia, there are various attractions such as land Obstacle, aerial Obstacle, water Obstacle, and long zip slides, so you can enjoy an adventure in nature to your heart's content. Safety measures are also in place, such as wearing a harness when climbing to high places.
There is a restaurant with a wide variety of menus and a barbecue area where you can enjoy outdoor cooking, so you don't have to worry about meals. You can also purchase original Greenia goods and souvenirs at the goods shop. There are also many photo and movie spots, so be sure to visit to create memories with your family.
Popular areas for kids in Greenia
We will introduce popular areas that you can enjoy with your children.
Forest Adventure
Forest Adventure is an aerial Obstacle that utilizes the natural forest. It is set up 2 to 15 meters above the ground, but there is no need to worry about falling as you will be wearing a harness (safety equipment) to prevent you from falling.
You can enjoy a wide variety of courses, including "Zigzag Crossing," where you cross over wooden boards arranged in a zigzag pattern, "Grandpa Bridge," where you cross a suspension bridge, and "Tibetan Bridge," where you cross a V-shaped net. Calling out to each other as you go along with your children is sure to deepen family bonds.
Water Obstacle
The water Obstacle is an attraction set on a large pond. You'll get the thrill of falling into the water and the sense of accomplishment of completing the course.
There are thrilling athletic Obstacle waiting for children, such as the "Long, Long Water Monkey Bars" where they hang from the water and move forward using their arms, the "Giant Net Wall" where they hang on to a big net and move in any direction, and the "Floating Island" where they jump over small islands floating on the pond.
Variety Obstacle
Variety Obstacle is an area with a number of unique attractions. It is also a popular photo spot, so taking photos with your children will be a great way to create fond memories.
There are a variety of creative Obstacle, such as "Rolling Drum Crossing," where you roll a drum while holding on to a rope, "Jump into the Game," where you can play inside a mural, and "Slewing Wall," where you jump to the top of a high wall.
(Reference: "Greenia" / https://www.rokkosan.com/greenia/)
Familia Kobe Main Branch
Familia Kobe Main Store is a place where adults and children can find high-quality products together. In addition to shopping, you can also enjoy experiences and cafes with your children.
The store is a 5-minute walk from JR Motomachi Station or Hanshin Motomachi Station, or a 3-minute walk from the Kyukyoryuchi-Daimarumae Station on the Kaigan Line of the subway. If you are coming by car, you can also use the affiliated parking lot nearby.
Familia Kobe Main Store: Nurturing Children's Individuality
Familia Kobe Main Store is the perfect spot for those who want to hone their children's individuality and enrich their sensibilities. Not only do they sell items for children, but they also have a wide range of experience and learning programs. They also hold workshops that parents and children can participate in together, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out in advance.
Highlights of Familia Kobe Main Store
Below, we will introduce some of the highlights of Familia Main Store.
Atelier
"Atelier" is an area where you can learn about the background of manufacturing and enjoy making things freely. There are free workshops where you can enjoy making imaginative things by sticking fabric scraps that are left over when making familiar clothes on a worksheet and painting them.
LABO
LABO is a learning space born from the desire to make parenting more enjoyable. A variety of experiences are offered, such as the "1000 Days Program" to enrich the period from pregnancy to the age of two, and "KIDS LABO," a learning space for children from the age of two to preschool age.
WHITE BEAR CAFE
At WHITE BEAR CAFE, you can enjoy decaffeinated coffee and tea along with cakes and cookies. They also offer juice and porridge for children, so you can feel safe bringing along infants and small children.
(Reference: Familia Kobe Main Store / https://familiar.co.jp/a/shops/detail/kobe-honten)
Bando Kobe Science Museum
Permanent exhibits at the Bando Kobe Science Museum
The Bando Kobe Youth Science Museum is a science museum where you can learn about science and space through hands-on activities.
Take the Kobe New Transit Port Liner Line from Sannomiya Station towards Kitafuto, get off at Minamikoen Station and walk for about 3 minutes. There is no parking lot, so if you are coming by car, please use a nearby paid parking lot.
"Bando Kobe Science Museum" is fun for the whole family
At the Bando Kobe Youth Science Museum, children and adults alike can have a great time while casually experiencing science through exhibits and hands-on activities. In addition to the planetarium, other popular attractions include an astronomical observatory where you can watch experimental shows and observe the sun, and a science information room with about 20,000 science books.
Highlights of the Bando Kobe Science Museum
The highlights of the Bando Kobe Science Museum are as follows:
Dome Theater
The Dome Theater is the only planetarium in Kobe. It will reopen in July 2022 and is popular as the place closest to the stars. It is equipped with the latest projectors, allowing you to see a starry sky that looks just like the real thing.
Parents and children can experience space travel while being surrounded by realistic 360-degree images via the all-dome video system.
exhibition room
The Bando Kobe Science Museum has six exhibition rooms with different themes. Explore the exhibits with your children and learn through hands-on experience.
Specifically, there is the "First Exhibition Room," where you can enjoy flying an airplane or watching industrial robots in action, the "Second Exhibition Room," where you can learn about information handled by computers and AI, and the "Third Exhibition Room," where you can learn about the Earth and the solar system.
(Reference: "Bando Kobe Science Museum" / https://www.kobe-kagakukan.jp/)
Taiko no Yu
Taiko no Yu is one of the facilities in Arima Onsen. It is recommended to stop by while strolling around the hot spring town. It is about 30 minutes by train from Kobe or Sannomiya, so why not go and relax after a day of sightseeing?
Healing hot spring "Taiko no Yu"
Taiko no Yu has an open-air bath, a steam bath, a bedrock bath, and more. There are six open-air baths, and you can enjoy a variety of types of baths, including Goemon baths, rock baths, and therapeutic carbonated springs. It's a great way to enjoy a different bath from your everyday routine with your family.
Highlights of Taiko-no-Yu
We will introduce some of the highlights of Taiko no Yu.
Golden steam bath
The "Golden Steam Bath" is one of the most popular facilities. It was modeled after the "Golden Teahouse" built by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, and allows you to relax while feeling the atmosphere of the Momoyama period.
Bedrock bath
Taiko-no-Yu has two bedrock baths: Kinsen Makuyu Ganban Footbath and Ginsen Jinmaku Ganban Footbath. Kinsen Makuyu Ganban Footbath is an outdoor bedrock bath based on the theme of the private bath "Makuyu" from the Edo period.
Ginsen Jinmaku Ganban Footbath is an outdoor bedrock bath with a motif of a "jinmaku," a tent used to set up a battle camp. Please come and enjoy the different atmosphere of this bedrock bath.
Dining
Taiko-no-Yu also has a restaurant and a food court. The food stall-style food court offers set meals, rice bowls, noodles, and even soft serve ice cream, making it a great place to enjoy with your children.
(Reference: "Taiko no Yu" / https://www.taikounoyu.com/)
Glico Pia Kobe
Glico Pia Kobe is a facility where you can see the process of making sweets. There are many areas where families can play, so it's a great place to consider as one of your Kobe sightseeing spots. To get there, take the Shinki Bus from Seishin Chuo Station on the Kobe Municipal Subway, get off, and walk for about 1 minute.
Glico Pia Kobe: Experience making sweets
Glico Pia Kobe, which underwent a major renovation in 2018, has staff on hand to guide visitors through the exhibition and experience corners, allowing you to deepen your knowledge of confectionery making while having fun. There is also a program where you can make your own original Bisco using the Bisco dough straight from the factory, allowing you to enjoy the deliciousness of freshly made Bisco on the spot.
What to see at Glico Pia Kobe
Before heading to Glico Pia Kobe, be sure to check out what there is to see.
Pocky Factory
At the Pocky Factory, you can see the process that goes into making the popular snack, Pocky. You can see the various machines operating side by side through the glass, giving you a real feel for how snacks are made.
Digital Cooking
Digital Cooking is a corner where you can experience baking sweets in a game-like way. Make your own original sweets while watching the images projected on the digital screen. Thinking up original sweets together with your children will surely be a good memory.
Glico Pia Shop
In addition to the popular Pocky and Pretz, you can also purchase original Glico goods. Many limited edition and new products are also available, making them perfect souvenirs.
(Reference: "Glicopia Kobe" / https://www.glico.com/jp/enjoy/experience/glicopia/kobe/)
Kawasaki World
Kawasaki World is a facility where you can experience Kawasaki Heavy Industries' technology. It's a great place to visit with your children who love vehicles, so be sure to bring the family. It's a 10-minute walk from Minato Motomachi Station on the city subway Kaigan Line.
Learn about technology at Kawasaki World
Kawasaki World is located inside the Kobe Maritime Museum. It is a corporate museum of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, which has a history of over 120 years, and its main feature is that you can touch a variety of vehicles. Come and experience the wonder of technology and the importance of manufacturing while playing with your children.
Popular areas of Kawasaki World
We will introduce popular areas that you can enjoy with your children.
Kawasaki World Theater
Kawasaki World Theater is a corner that introduces helicopters, large ships, etc. on a wide screen. You can enjoy images of various vehicles that are active on land, sea, and air on a large screen of about 14 meters.
Motorcycle Gallery
The Motorcycle Gallery is an area where historic machines and racing cars are on display. Not only can you see popular bikes, but there is also a corner where you can actually ride them. Parents and children can get a taste of what it's like to be in a race.
Land Zone/Sea Zone
The land zone has a real 0-series Shinkansen train on display, while the sea zone has a large model of a cargo ship. There is also a train diorama where you can try driving, and a jet ski simulator, so even children of elementary school age and above can enjoy it.
(Reference: Kawasaki World / https://www.khi.co.jp/kawasakiworld/index.html)
Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum
The Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum is a facility where you can experience archaeology. There is also an area where you can enjoy excavating with your children, so be sure to visit. It takes about 15 minutes to walk along Deai-no-michi from the south exit of JR Tsuchiyama Station. There is a paid parking lot, so you can also visit by car.
Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum: An Archaeological Wonderland
The Archaeological Museum has a variety of areas, including hands-on exhibits where you can learn about excavations, themed exhibits where you can see life-size models, and outdoor exhibits that take you back in time to the Yayoi period. It's a great place to visit with your children, as you can learn about history not just by looking, but through experience.
Highlights of the Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum
Below, we will introduce the highlights of the Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum.
Ancient Experience
At the Archaeological Museum, experience sessions are held where you can learn about the culture and technology of ancient people. These sessions are held on any opening day, so if you're interested, why not join one?
Specific activities include making a magatama necklace from the Kofun period, making a stone knife, a rice harvesting tool from the Yayoi period, and making a fire using ancient tools. In order to participate, you will need to make a reservation at the reception on the day, so don't forget.
Hands-on exhibit: Excavation Plaza
The "Excavation Square" is a corner where you can experience an actual excavation site. An entire real dwelling site has been set up to recreate an excavation site. Become an archaeologist and use a shovel to dig up artifacts from the excavation pool.
The Encounter Path
Deai-no-michi is a greenway that stretches for about 1,250 meters from JR Tsuchiyama Station to the Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum. The greenway has six time tunnel gates and information boards introducing historical events, and the curb has tiles dating back 100 years every 25 meters. You can enjoy the thrill of traveling back in time to ancient times.
(Reference: Hyogo Prefectural Archaeological Museum / https://www.hyogo-koukohaku.jp/)
summary
This time, we have picked out and introduced seven tourist spots in Kobe that are fun for families. There are many options, such as museums and factory tours, so choose one that suits your child's interests.
If you like to exercise, we recommend the first one, "Greenia." You can have fun all day running through the forest and on the water. Calling out to each other as you conquer Obstacle will also deepen the bond between parents and children.
(Reference: "Greenia" / https://www.rokkosan.com/greenia/)
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