Hyogo transport: Kobe buses, Arima, Himeji and Awaji Island

Compare Kobe City Loop passes, the train connection from Sannomiya to Arima Onsen, walking routes to Himeji Castle and transport options to Awaji Island.

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  • Hyogo
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  • Buses

From Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, there are different ways to reach Himeji, Arima Onsen and Awaji Island. This page summarises official information (checked 2026-10-28). Check official websites again for prices and service schedules before travelling. Return to the Hyogo travel guide.

Key points

  • The Kobe sightseeing bus City Loop costs 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for children per ride; a one-day pass costs 800 yen for adults and 400 yen for children.
  • From Sannomiya to Arima Onsen, change trains twice, at Tanigami and Arimaguchi. The Arima Onsen Tourism Association gives an approximate journey time of 30 minutes.
  • Awaji Island’s official access page lists express buses, boats and driving, but does not list services or travel times between individual attractions.
  • Himeji Castle is within walking distance of Himeji Station. One official page says about 20 minutes, while another official introduction says about 15 minutes.

Getting around Kobe: sightseeing buses

Ticket Adult Child Details
City Loop single ride 300 yen 150 yen Children are elementary school age or younger; up to two preschool children per adult travel free
One-day pass 800 yen 400 yen City Loop, Port Loop and designated connecting routes; paper or digital tickets available
Two-day pass 1,200 yen 600 yen Same coverage as the one-day pass, valid for two consecutive days

There are also connecting routes from Sannomiya to Shinkomachi and from Kobe Station to the artificial island, among others. See Shinki Bus’s official page for the coverage. The official transport page also mentions a fastest journey time of about 21 minutes from Osaka to Kobe, depending on the train and service.

Sannomiya to Arima Onsen

Step Official information
1 From Sannomiya Station (), take the Kobe Municipal Subway towards Tanigami
2 At Tanigami Station (), transfer to Kobe Electric Railway
3 At Arimaguchi Station (), transfer to a Kobe Electric Railway train bound for Arima Onsen
4 Arrive at Arima Onsen Station

The Arima Onsen Tourism Association gives a journey time of about 30 minutes. Check the railway operators’ timetables for services and actual travel times.

Himeji Castle

Information from Himeji City’s official visitor guide:

Item Details
Walking About 20 minutes on foot from JR Himeji Station or Sanyo Himeji Station (another official introduction says about 15 minutes; the two differ)
Bus Take a Shinki Bus to Otemon-mae (), then walk about 5 minutes

Awaji Island

Access options listed by the Awaji Island Tourism Association:

From Options
Kobe Express bus (Shinki Bus, West Japan JR Bus, Awaji Kotsu, Honshi Kaikyo Bus, Minato Kanko Bus), driving, or boat from the Akashi direction (Jenova Line)
Osaka Express bus (including JR West and Shinki Bus), driving, or boat from southern Osaka (Fuke-Sumoto Liner)

The official page does not list express bus travel times or fares, or service schedules between attractions on the island. Check the operating companies’ websites for the services running that day.

Further reading

Sources