Located in the center of Japan, Kobe is a port city overlooking the tranquil, blue Seto Inland Sea, and set against a beautiful, verdant mountain range, and boasts a warm climate and abundant nature. Since its port opened in 1868, Kobe has prospered as a hub of foreign trade and adopted various aspects of Western cultures, and is now a cosmopolitan city of around 1.53 million people from over 130 countries.
As Japan modernized in the late 19th century, so did Kobe’s industries of shipping, shipbuilding, steel, medical care and more. The night view of Kobe is one of the top three in Japan, and other attractions include cruising on the Seto Inland Sea and visiting Arima Onsen, a hot springs town dating back to the 1600s. In addition, Kobe is a city with a diverse food culture headlined by world-famous Kobe beef, Nada sake, and Western confectioneries.
Kansai International Airport→Kobe Airport：Bay Shuttle Ferry (about 30 min.)
Kansai International Airport→Sannomiya：Limousine bus (about 65 min.)
Itami Airport→Sannomiya：Limousine bus (about 40 min.)
Tokyo Station→Shin-Kobe Station：Shinkansen NOZOMI (about 2 hr. 48 min.)
1. Financial Assistance for Conventions
• Subsidy Programs
(i) Subsidy from the city’s Portopia '81 Memorial Fund
Subsidies are provided for international conferences that satisfy the following conditions:
(a) Conventions held within Kobe city limits
(b) The organizer is a non-profit organization
(c) At least 5 participating countries (including Japan), and at least 100 nonresidents of Japan
(d) Duration of at least 3 days
(e) At least 300 participants
Up to 5% of conference expenses for a maximum of:
5 million yen for international conferences that satisfy (a) through (e) (Type A International Conferences)
2 million yen for international conferences that satisfy (a) and (b) (Type B International Conferences)
(ii) Up to 10 million yen from the Tsutomu Nakauchi Foundation
• Loan Program
Interest-free loans of up to 3 million yen for international conferences and up to 2 million yen for national conferences to serve as a contingency reserve for conventions to be held in Kobe.
• Conference facility discount
Different for each facility
* Please contact KCVA for details.
2. Other Support Services
• Providing introductory information about Kobe (Language: English)
• Providing images and videos (Language: English)
• Preparing written proposals for potential venues
• Reception for preliminary visits
• Introducing PCOs, travel agencies
• Suggesting attractions
• Arranging volunteers
• Providing the following services for the Meet in Kobe package for international conferences:
(i) Granting subsidies (Portopia ’81 Memorial Fund)
(ii) Loaning of funds for contingency reserves
(iii) Providing Kobe wine and Japanese sake at receptions
(iv) Providing convention bags
(v) Providing commemorative gifts to foreign participants
(vi) Introducing volunteer interpreters
(vii) Support for PR for open lectures
(viii) Introducing attractions
(ix) Subsidy for half of excursion bus rentals (up to 2 buses)
(x) Support for PR presentations for the upcoming conference in Kobe
(xi) Providing convention rates for lodging facilities
(xii) Up to 50% off general fares for the Port Liner and Rokko Liner
(xiii) Providing discount coupons for preferential services at tourist facilities and shopping outlets
(xiv) Providing tourism maps, maps of restaurants near the Kobe Convention Center
• The following services are also offered to Type A (large-scale) international conferences:
(i) Partial payment of the expenses of 1 organizer’s preliminary visit to the convention site
(ii) Partial payment of signage expenses
The Arima Grand Tea Ceremony at Arima Onsen
A jazz performance in Kobe, the birthplace of Japanese jazz
KOBE TOURISM BUREAU
| Facility | Rooms | |
| Hotel | 61 | 11,642 |
| Ryokan | 11 | 705 |
| Total | 72 | 12,347 |
Venues
