About Kobe

Kobe is known as a city with a unique style and exotic atmosphere, having been influenced by foreign cultures. It has flourished as an international port since the modernization of Japan. Kobe also boasts the Rokko Mountains, which are richly endowed with nature, and hot springs, such as Arima Onsen, which have flourished since the old days. You could also visit Himeji Castle, a World Heritage site, by a 30-minute train ride or Kyoto by a 1-hour train ride. Lastly, Kobe is an attractive dining place famous for Kobe beef and Japanese Sake (rice wine).

Easy Access

Kobe is a city in the Kansai area. Kansai is the second-largest metropolitan area in Japan. The city is served by a Shinkansen (high-speed train) and a domestic airport so you can get there easily from everywhere in Japan, including Tokyo and its airports. The major international airport, Kansai Airport, is also situated nearby. Many flights from Asian, North American, and European cities are available to go there.

INSTR symposium

The International Symposium on Transportation Reliability (INSTR) will be held the week before in the city of Nara, which is also in the Kansai area. Those who attend ISTTT can also enjoy INSTR, and of course vice versa.

About Venue

The symposium will be held in Kobe International Conference Center. It is on an artificial island near to Kobe's city center. It takes only 11 minutes from the main railway station, Sannomiya station, to the venue. There are a few hotels, such as Portopia hotel and so on, near to the venue within walking distance. Many hotels are also available in the city centre.

Hotels

No room of Portopia hotel is available on some day during the symposium. We still have rooms in two other hotels near the venue (as of 4th June). Please visit the registration page and follow the link there.

Access to Kobe and the venue

Overview

There are three airports around Kobe - Kansai airport (KIX), Osaka-Itami airport (ITM), and Kobe airport (UKB). Only KIX serves international flights. ITM has many domestic flights including those from/to Tokyo-Haneda airport (HND). UKB also has several flights from/to HND. UKB is much nearer to the venue compared to other two airports, while the number of flights is less.

The Shinkansen (the high-speed rail service) is a convenient option for those who come to Kobe from Tokyo unless you have a connection flight from HND or Tokyo-Narita (NRT) to ITM / KIX / UKB.

If you come from Kyoto or Nara, take a normal train. This is much cheaper and convenient compared to Shinkansen trains.

In the city of Kobe

The main station of the city of Kobe is called 'Sannomiya', situated in the middle of the city centre and served by JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, and the underground line. Shinkansen trains arrive at a different station called Shin-Kobe station, a mile north of Sannomiya station and served by the underground. Please note: there is a JR station called ‘Kobe’, which is actually situated on the west end of city centre. You may not use this station unless you book a hotel nearby.

The venue is on an artificial island, called Port Island, which is situated on the south of Sannomiya. There is a frequent transit service, called Port liner, from Sannomiya station to the station next to the venue, called Shimin-Hiroba station. Travel time from Sannomiya to Shimin-Hiroba is 11 minutes. The venue is also near to Kobe airport (UKB) by Port liner.

All hotels available on the registration site are near to the venue, in walking distance.

If you book a hotel by yourself, it is likely to be in the city centre (i.e. not the island), implying that you need to check how to commute between your hotel and the venue during the symposium. Please check where your hotel is first. If your hotel is not near to Sannomiya (e.g. Kobe station, Motomachi station, or Shin-Kobe station), you need to reach Sannomiya station before taking Port liner unless you use a taxi.

The southbound direction of the Port liner is actually very congested in the morning. Using a taxi is recommended if you stay in a hotel in the city centre and do not want to experience a train filled by commuters.

Details of access from airports / other cities in Japan

From Kansai airport (KIX): There is a bus service from KIX to Sannomiya. Alternatively, you may use a boat service from KIX to UKB (Kobe airport). If you are going to the venue or a hotel around the venue, such as Portopia Hotel, this option is also convenient. From UKB, take a Port liner train or taxi to go to the venue or a hotel nearby. Taking a taxi from KIX can be expensive; please check approximate fare if you wish to take this option and ensure that a driver uses a meter while driving. Tolls of expressways may be added to the amount shown on the meter when you alight.

From Osaka-Itami airport (ITM): There is a bus service from ITM to Sannomiya. Alternatively, you may use a monorail and Hankyu railway to go to Sannomiya, while this option may not be suitable for those who carry a large luggage. Taking a taxi from ITM can be expensive; please check approximate fare if you wish to take this option, and ensure that a driver uses a meter while driving. Tolls of expressways may be added to the amount shown on the meter when you alight.

From Kobe airport (UKB): The most convenient option is the Port Liner to go to the venue or Sannomiya. Taxi fare to the venue or Sannomiya is not very expensive compared that from KIX or ITM.

From Kyoto or Nara: JR Kyoto/Kobe line serves special rapid service trains between the cities. From Nara, take a Kintetsu train to Nanba station, then Hanshin railway train towards Sannomiya. Alternatively, you may move to Kyoto station first by Kintetsu line and then change a JR train to Sannomiya there.

From Osaka: Use JR Kobe line, Hankyu line, or Hanshin line to go from Osaka-Umeda to Sannomiya station. Hanshin railway also operates trains between Osaka-Nanba and Sannomiya. All services are frequent. Travel time varies among lines; approx. 20-40 minutes by rapid or express trains.

From Tokyo: Take a Shinkansen train from either Tokyo or Shinagawa. All trains going to Hakata / Hiroshima / Okayama / Himeji stop at Shin-Kobe station. It takes around 2 hours 45 minutes from Tokyo to Kobe. Shinkansen trains from Tokyo to Shin-Osaka do not go to Kobe, while you may take a JR train from Shin-Osaka station to Sannomiya station. Shin-Kobe station is situated a mile north of the city centre. Take a taxi to go to the venue. Alternatively, you may take the underground to the city centre, which is only a two-minute ride. Using air from HND to UKB is another option - if your schedule matches, this is sometimes faster than Shinkansen to go to the venue directly. This section is served by All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Skymark airlines.

From Tokyo-Haneda airport (HND): Take a Keikyu train from the airport to Shinagawa station first. Then, take a Shinkansen train to Shin-Kobe station.

From Tokyo-Narita airport (NRT): Take a JR Narita Express train to Tokyo or Shinagawa first. Then, take a Shinkansen train to Shin-Kobe station. Alternatively, take a Keisei Skyliner train to Nippori station and change to the Yamanote line to go to Tokyo station. Take a Shinkansen train there.