Kobe is the capital of Japan’s Hyōgo Prefecture, located on the Osaka Bay about 30 km west of Osaka City. Kobe is one of important port cities in the country, and has come back remarkably from a major earthquake in 1995. The city is famous for its marbled Kobe Beef and as the headquarters of several prominent multinational corporations – including the footwear giant ASICS. There are many places to run in Kobe, notably along Osaka Bay, several riverfront towpaths, and attractive public parks. In general, Kobe has runnable sidewalks on many of its major city streets. Note that Osaka is 30 km away and is one of our favorite cities for running in Japan.
The waterfront promenades of Harborland, Suma, Maiko, and Wakinohamakaigandori are the best places to run in Kobe. Runners may also enjoy several river towpaths, small, attractive parks such as Shiawase No Mura and Suma Rikyu, and a unique run on the Venus Bridge. There’s also some scenic trail running around Mount Maya and Mount Rokko, with some hilly terrain for those who want that.
Kobe is an easy city to navigate, with several subway lines and a bus system that services all corners of the city. Kobe’s many ropeways (cable cars) are also a great asset to routes like Mount Maya and Mount Rokko. Take note of day passes and U-Cards, and consider the Kobe City Loop bus for transportation to the city’s main attractions.
Running Guide to Osaka
