Hyogo | Kobe 6-Day 5-Night Leisure Trip: The Most Budget-Friendly Way to Explore!

In early June, I took my mom on a second trip to Kansai, centering our 6-day 5-night leisure journey around Kobe. Compared to the bustling Kyoto and Osaka, Kobe is much quieter, and I really love the pace here. Today, I’ll share our itinerary along with some super practical money-saving tips! 📅 Quick Itinerary Overview D1 ✈️ Departure ➡ Kansai International Airport ➡ High-speed boat to Kobe 🍴 Dinner | Dining CHORO A highly-rated Korean restaurant near Sannomiya—the food was indeed delicious! D2 Arima Onsen Hot Springs Day Originally planned for the last day, but we adjusted due to rain. ☕️ Brunch | cafe&bar anthem Very industrial-style decor, perfect for a rainy day. Their signature is gauze cheese. 🍴 Dinner | Fisherman’s Market A buffet at Kobe Port with crab, sushi, mussels, etc. Weekday dinner is ¥3,628/person. Enjoy the port view while dining! 🌃 Checked out Kobe Port’s night view, making up for missing it last time due to renovations. D3 Suma Day Trip 📍 Suma Sea World ➡ Suma Beach ➡ Sumaura Park Mountain Amusement Park ⚠️ The monorail bikes at the amusement park only operate on weekends/holidays—missed the sunset ride 😭 🍴 Dinner | Hyakunen Mabo A highly-rated Chinese restaurant in Nankinmachi. Ordered two random dishes, and they were tasty! D4 Awaji Island Day Trip 📍 Sannomiya ➡ Awaji Yumebutai ➡ Water Temple ➡ Akashi Kaikyo Bridge ➡ Kobe University Centennial Memorial Hall Observatory 🍴 Dinner | Okatoro Had to try Kobe beef while in Kobe! This place offers a "meat treasure box" (with tongue, belly, loin, and veggies). Two people can share this plus a plate of Kobe beef. D5 Himeji Day Trip ☕️ Brunch | Freundlibe Main Store A century-old Kobe dessert shop now housed in a church—great ambiance! 🏯 Himeji Castle My second visit. As the only Japanese castle designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s absolutely worth seeing. 🍴 Dinner | Ichimen A revisited Lanzhou hand-pulled noodle spot—their lamb skewers are also fantastic! 🏨 Candeo Hotels Kobe Tor Road The hotel is right across Motomachi Station, super convenient. Plus, it has free hot springs—perfect for soaking away the day’s fatigue every night. Only downside: it gets a bit noisy when trains pass by. 💰 Money-Saving Tips ① From Kansai Airport to Kobe, take the high-speed boat—just ¥500 one-way for international visitors. From Kobe Airport, take the subway to Sannomiya. Same travel time as the bus but over half the price! ② For Arima Onsen, get the "Subway 1-Day Pass + Taiko no Yu Onsen Ticket" combo for ¥2,600. ③ For Awaji Island, get the Kitaura Bus 1-Day Pass (Oiso Version) for ¥2,400.