A compact airport on a man-made island, reached by an automated train from Sannomiya. A high-speed boat also runs across the bay to Kansai Airport.
Getting from Kobe Airport into central Kobe
What the airport itself publishes for each way in.
| Route | Transport | To | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port LinerThe automated line runs from the terminal into central Kobe. | Train | Sannomiya | 18min | 340yen |
| Kobe-Kansai Bay ShuttleA high-speed boat across Osaka Bay. The pier is a 5 to 6 minute walk from the terminal, or take the free shuttle bus. | Boat | Kansai Airport | 31min | 1880yen |
- Port Liner
- The automated line runs from the terminal into central Kobe.
- Kobe-Kansai Bay Shuttle
- A high-speed boat across Osaka Bay. The pier is a 5 to 6 minute walk from the terminal, or take the free shuttle bus.
Step by step from Kobe Airport
Every route we cover, with first and last departures and where to board: airport transfers.
Inside Kobe Airport
Opening hours, lounges, cash, free Wi-Fi and luggage counters at Kobe Airport, as the airport lists them on its own pages.
Domestic terminal
- Opening hours
- 06:00–24:00, the same for Terminals 1 and 2.
- Lounge
- Lounge KOBE (domestic), Terminal 1, after security (06:15 until 10 minutes before the departure of the last flight) — 1,050 yen at the door, or free with some gold credit cards.
- Rest area
- Free space, Terminal 1 1F (06:00–24:00).
- Nearby hotel
- Kobe Portopia Hotel / Hotel Pearl City Kobe / Ariston Hotel Kobe, on Port Island, north of the airport; not in the terminal.
- ATMs
- SMBC and an ATM inside FamilyMart, Terminal 1 2F, before security. The airport says there is no ATM after security.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Networks #AirportFreeWiFi-Kobe(T1) and #AirportFreeWiFi-Kobe(T1)2.4G.
- Sending a bag on
- FamilyMart (Yamato TA-Q-BIN parcel service), Terminal 1 2F, before security (06:00–23:00).
- Leaving or sending a bag
- Yamato Transport Baggage Service Counter, Terminal 1 2F, before security (09:00–18:00).
More in the terminal
- Observation deck
- Rooftop observation deck, Terminal 1 rooftop (06:30–22:00).
- Observation deck
- 3F Sky Court (glass-walled viewing space), Terminal 1 3F (06:00–24:00).
- First aid
- Terminal 1 1F.
International terminal
- Lounge
- Lounge KOBE (international), Terminal 2 (international departure area), after security (08:30–19:00) — 8,800 yen at the door, or free for guests of EVA Air, Korean Air, Starlux and Asiana; Priority Pass, Dragon Pass and credit cards do not get you in.
- Rest area
- Free space, Terminal 2 2F (06:00–24:00).
- Currency exchange
- Foreign currency exchange machine, Terminal 2 1F, departure/arrival lobby.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Networks #AirportFreeWiFi-Kobe(T2) and #AirportFreeWiFi-Kobe(T2)2.4G.
- Leaving or sending a bag
- Yamato Transport Baggage Service Counter, Terminal 2 1F, before security (10:00–17:00).
- Prayer room
- Terminal 2 1F.
More in the terminal
- Duty-free shop
- Duty Free BdeB, Terminal 2 1F, after security (international) (08:30–18:30).
- Pharmacy
- Kokumin Drug, Terminal 2 1F, after security (international) (09:00–19:00).
- Observation deck
- Rooftop observation deck, Terminal 2 rooftop (06:30–22:00).
- First aid
- Terminal 2 1F.
Frequently asked questions
What is the quickest way from Kobe Airport into central Kobe?
The Port Liner to Sannomiya, which the airport puts at about 18 minutes. The fare is 340 yen.
What is the cheapest way from Kobe Airport into central Kobe?
The Port Liner to Sannomiya, at 340 yen. It takes about 18 minutes.
Can I send my suitcase from Kobe Airport to my hotel?
Yes. Yamato Transport has counters at the airport (Terminal 1 2F, Terminal 2 1F), and the bag arrives the next day, or the day after for some areas.
Is there a lounge at Kobe Airport?
Yes: Lounge KOBE (international) (Terminal 2 (international departure area)) and Lounge KOBE (domestic) (Terminal 1). At Lounge KOBE (international): 8,800 yen at the door, or free for guests of EVA Air, Korean Air, Starlux and Asiana; Priority Pass, Dragon Pass and credit cards do not get you in.
Sending your bags on, or leaving them here
Japan's courier network reaches this airport, so a case can go to your hotel without you.
- Who runs it
- Yamato Transport
- Where the counter is
- Terminal 1 2F, Terminal 2 1F
- How long it takes
- Next day, or the day after for some areas.
- Worth knowing
- No refrigerated service.
Coin lockers
What it costs to put a bag down for the day.
Coin lockers are in the Terminal 1 departure lobby on the second floor.
Getting online
This is a smaller airport, so arrange an eSIM before you fly rather than counting on a counter in the arrivals hall.
- eSIM
- Bought before you leave home and installed over Wi-Fi, so you land connected. Needs a phone that takes an eSIM and is not carrier-locked.
- Prepaid SIM
- Sold at the arrivals counters and vending machines at the larger airports. You swap your physical SIM — keep the old one safe.
- Pocket Wi-Fi
- A rented router for several devices at once. Picked up and dropped back at the airport counter, or posted back.
- Free Wi-Fi
- Available in the terminal. It stops when you leave the building.
What happens between the plane and the exit
The same order at every international airport in Japan.
- Quarantine — a health check as you come off the aircraft.
- Immigration — fingerprints and a facial photograph, for everyone aged 16 and over, then the landing permission seal in your passport.
- Baggage claim.
- Animal and plant quarantine — before customs. Meat, fruit, vegetables, seeds and plants go to this counter first.
- Customs — green channel with nothing to declare, red channel otherwise.
Register on Visit Japan Web before you fly and you get one 2D code that covers both immigration and customs. You need a phone or tablet to show it.
What you can and cannot carry is in our what you can bring to Japan table, and the baggage allowance for your airline is in the airline baggage rules.
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Sources for this page
Show all 16
- Access from the airportKobe Airport
- Lockers and deliveryKobe Airport
- Port Liner faresKobe Airport
- Kobe-Kansai Bay ShuttleKobe Airport
- Inside the airport: Observation deck, First aid, Opening hours, and moreKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (Domestic terminal): LoungeKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (Domestic terminal): Rest areaKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (Domestic terminal): ATMsKobe Airport
- Inside the airport: Free Wi-FiKobe Airport
- Inside the airport: Leaving or sending a bag, Sending a bag onKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (Domestic terminal): Observation deckKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (International terminal): LoungeKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (International terminal): Rest areaKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (International terminal): Currency exchangeKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (International terminal): Prayer roomKobe Airport
- Inside the airport (International terminal): Duty-free shop, PharmacyKobe Airport