Shopping in Kobe is best experienced in the district of Sannomiya, particularly down the Sannomiya Center Gai Shopping Street. This colourful, neon-lit, and bustling shopping street is favoured by both locals and visitors – the numerous shops here offer great bargains at local prices. It’s also long and covered, offering pleasant walks in any season.
Kobe once served as home to European traders, and many of the old mansions have been restored as shops and galleries to provide you with unique shopping experiences.
Kobe is an excellent place to shop, especially if you're short on time since most of its best shopping destinations are clustered in the downtown core and within an easy walking distance. Get off the train at Sannomiya or Motomachi and you'll be met with a bewildering range of shops and goods – everything from the latest gadgets to fashionable clothing to...