Introducation to Kobe

One of Japan’s largest cities, Kobe has developed around a major international port. Nestled between the mountains and the sea, it is a diverse city blessed with lush nature, attractive cityscape and beautiful countryside. Ever since our port opened to foreign trade in 1868, Kobe attracted people from all over the world and continued developing as a multicultural city, welcoming diverse cultures and trends. In addition to manufacturing and numerous other industries, Kobe is home to various groundbreaking national projects, including the Kobe Biomedical Innovation Cluster and a world-class supercomputer, called Fugaku. Located in the Kansai region – Japan’s second largest economic zone – Kobe has access to an excellent transportation network, including an international airport, numerous expressways, and an extensive railway network that includes the famous bullet trains. The city offers a safe and comfortable living environment for foreign professionals, with easy access to international schools, various places of worship, foreign clubs, and restaurants serving food from every corner of the world in addition to an excellent selection of local specialties, including Kobe beef and sake. This welcoming environment motivated many international companies to choose Kobe as the base of operation for their Japanese subsidiaries, and the city is highly regarded by the business people from around the globe. Finally, in terms of the quality of life, Kobe was ranked 2nd among all cities in Asia by the Mercer’s 2019 Quality of Living Survey, surpassed only by Singapore. I am certain that all of you reading this website today have a great interest in working in Japan, so it is my sincere hope that you will choose Kobe and find success in your career here in our city.

Hisamoto Kizo Mayor of Kobe