Oct 25, 2024
The Kobe Dating Scene
Are you a singleton in Kobe looking to find a suitable partner? Here’s what to expect plus a few tips on how to meet potential significant others and where to go to for a memorable first date.
Japanese Dating Culture
Dating in Kobe is influenced by the national dating culture in Japan. This is still shaped to an extent by traditional values, where people enter into relationships looking primarily for meaningful long-term commitment and marriage. The dating process can be quite slow compared to how it is in many western countries, with potential couples waiting several dates before “going steady” and getting intimate with one another. Public displays of affection (PDA) are not too common, even once things get serious. Having said that, things are starting to change, especially in cities such as Kobe where there is a big expat population.
The Kobe Singles Scene
As a fairly sizable Japanese city with a cosmopolitan vibe and good nightlife, Kobe provides a pretty good environment for singles. There are plenty of bars, clubs, restaurants and other venues where you can meet people and the city has a young demographic. There are also a few LGBT+ friendly bars and districts for those looking for same-sex relationships, although Japan is still quite conservative in this respect on the whole. If you’re looking for romance in Kobe, you should be able to find opportunities no matter where you’re from or what you’re looking for.
Where to Meet People in Kobe
Great places to meet singles in Kobe are in busier districts such as Sannomiya or the downtown area with its vibrant nightlife scene. You also might want to check out social activities going on through your workplace if you are employed in Kobe, or explore expat communities in the city if you want to find single people from your own country.
Of course, one of the easiest ways to meet people nowadays is online. Useful websites and apps to hook up with people in Kobe include:
Where to Go on a Date in Kobe
There are many great date locations in Kobe. Depending on whether you’re looking for a simple venue to break the ice or something more adventurous that will take up a few hours, you could head to:
- A café, bar or restaurant – for example, a sushi restaurant, traditional izakaya bar or the beautiful Starbucks coffee house in Kobe
- Kobe Harborland – take a romantic stroll around this picturesque waterfront district filled with shops, restaurants and more
- Akashi Kaikyo Bridge – one of the world’s longest suspension bridges, this links mainland Japan with Awaji Island and offers some wonderful views
- Meriken Park – the perfect spot for a romantic picnic
- Nunobiki Herb Gardens and Ropeway – if you fancy something a bit more bucolic, check out these mountainous gardens via a small trek and ropeway journey that also takes in the spectacular Nunobiki Falls
Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Justin Hanus editor
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