Relocating to Kobe?

Destination Guide for Kobe, Japan, including a brief overview of Kobe-city with some pictures and information about expat-related facilities.

We hope this information will be a valuable resource to expats coming to or currently residing in Kobe, as well as the HR department of foreign companies.

Kobe Destination Guide


Here is some useful information for expats moving to Kobe, including information about schools, housing, hospitals, communities, and more.

Since the opening of Kobe Port in 1868, soon after the end of the isolation period of Japan, Kobe has prospered as a port town like Yokohama. Placing the residential area for foreigners near the port and accepting various foreign cultures, Kobe has grown as an international port city now having about 42000 foreign residents from about 123 different countries and a well-established environment where foreigners find it easy to live.

Kobe has a prosperous housing environment as well as a sufficient functioning city. Kobe has many attractive attributes such as larger housing spaces, reasonable prices, fewer traffic jams, less crowded trains, shorter commuting time, and well-maintained public safety. There are various foreign communities in the city such as social and athletic clubs, and religious facilities, which are well-established having old histories. Most foreign expats live in the tower apartments in and around Chuo-ku, where many of these foreign communities gather.

As for children’s education, there are 8 international schools in the city including; Canadian Academy, St. Michael's International School, and German School Kobe, where students study hard in a relaxed environment. There are about 200 medical facilities that offer services in foreign languages. The City of Kobe’s plan for attracting foreign companies and various support programs are well-established and the life support services for the foreign expats are well developed.

The stylish cityscape in the city is well-known. You can enjoy walking around the city to find many famous brand boutiques lined around Sannomiya and Motomachi area. You can experience the latest trendy fashions in the Bay area. There are many delicious restaurants sharing the flavors of various countries in many places around the city, including Nankinmachi. You can also enjoy Kobe’s famous night views from many recommended spots in the city. The natural environments around the city are rich and luscious. There is the Seto Inland Sea in the south, and the mountains of Rokko in the north, where you can enjoy seasonal leisure activities such as mountain climbing and skiing at the Mt. Rokko, or walking and sea bathing in Suma and Maiko. You can also enjoy traditional Japanese culture by visiting Shinto shrines, Buddhist temples, and hot springs dotted within and around the city.

Useful Links for Expats in Kobe


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