Everyone Goes to Kobe Japan for the Beef 🇯🇵 We Found Something Better

Everyone Goes to Kobe Japan for the Beef 🇯🇵 We Found Something Better

Things to do in Kobe Japan beyond the famous Kobe beef. Most cruise passengers and tourists never leave Sannomiya, but we discovered something completely unexpected at this Japan cruise port.

Hidden up in the hills of Kobe is Kitano-cho, a historic district full of preserved European-style mansions called Ijinkan, where foreign merchants and diplomats settled after Japan opened its ports to international trade in 1868.

In this video, we show you exactly how to take the train from the Kobe cruise terminal to Sannomiya station, how to use a Suica wallet for the Japanese rail system, and we explore one of the most unique neighborhoods in all of Japan. We visit the England House, Yokan Nagaya (French House), Ben’s House, and the historic Starbucks Kitano Ijinkan, the only Starbucks in Japan housed inside a registered Tangible Cultural Property.
Whether you’re planning a Japan cruise itinerary, looking for unique things to do in Kobe, or searching for what to do in Japan beyond Tokyo and Kyoto, this Kobe travel guide has you covered.

⸻
🏛️ WHAT WE EXPLORE IN KITANO-CHO
• Kitano-cho historic district (Kobe’s old foreigner settlement)
• Preserved European-style Ijinkan mansions from the 1800s
• The famous Sherlock Holmes room inside England House
• French-style architecture at Yokan Nagaya
• Ben’s House, the explorer’s home with global artifacts
• The only Starbucks in Japan inside a Tangible Cultural Property
• Views of Kobe from the hills above Sannomiya

⸻
✈️ KOBE TRAVEL TIPS
• Get a combo ticket to visit multiple Ijinkan houses (saves money)
• Buy a Suica or Pasmo card before leaving the cruise terminal
• Wear comfortable shoes, Kitano-cho is uphill
• Allow 3-4 hours for the full Kitano-cho experience
• Easy half-day excursion from the Kobe cruise port

⸻
🌍 LOCATION
📍 Kitano-cho Ijinkan, Kobe, Japan
🚉 Train from Kobe Cruise Terminal to Sannomiya
🏛️ England House, Yokan Nagaya (French House), Ben’s House
☕ Starbucks Kitano Ijinkan, a Tangible Cultural Property

⸻
🎻 Plus a peek at my night job onboard the cruise ship. Perfect for anyone planning a Japan cruise stop or searching for unique things to do in Japan beyond the typical tourist trail.

⸻
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Intro: Kobe, Japan
0:42 How to Get from Cruise Terminal to Sannomiya
1:01 Arriving in Downtown Kobe
1:18 Coffee Stop: Blue Bottle
2:06 Heading Up to Kitano-cho
2:22 Inside the English House (Sherlock Holmes Room)
4:30 Combo Ticket Tip
5:34 Yokan Nagaya (The French House)
8:52 Ben’s House (The Explorer’s Home)
13:00 Walking Up the Hill
16:14 Historic Starbucks Kitano
17:30 Behind the Scenes: My Cello Show on the Ship

Planning your Japan travel itinerary? This Japan vlog takes you inside some of the most unforgettable Japanese food experiences across the country — exploring Japan by food, from fire-seared bonito in Kochi to exclusive Ichiran ramen in Fukuoka. Whether you’re building your Japan itinerary or just love discovering Japan through Japanese food, this series covers the destinations most travelers miss.

⸻
💬 Would you skip the Kobe beef for Kitano-cho? Let me know in the comments.

⸻
📺 More travel videos:
🔔 Subscribe for new travel guides every week: https://www.youtube.com/@WanderWithWendyLaw?sub_confirmation=1

⸻
#Kobe #KobeJapan #KitanoCho #JapanCruise #ThingsToDoInKobe #KobeTravelGuide #JapanTravel #CruiseTravel #JapanItinerary #KitanoIjinkan #StarbucksKitano #SannomiyaKobe #JapanCruisePort #KobeVlog #WanderWithWendyLaw