Winter Sports in Kobe

ByJustin Hanus

Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City

Dec 27, 2021

Winter Sports in Kobe

Fancy putting on a pair of skis or skates and indulging in a spot of winter sports? With plenty of yearly snow and several mountains, Japan is a good location for winter activities, although it’s maybe not the first place that springs to mind in terms of sports for the season. Kobe is not quite as popular with winter sports enthusiasts as other parts of Japan, such as Hokkaido; however, it has some excellent facilities that offer fun for all ages. So whether you’re a seasoned snowboarder or are just looking for something different to stave off the winter blues, you won’t be disappointed. Here are a few places and activities to try out.

Skiing and snowboarding

You won’t have to travel far to try out skiing or snowboarding. The Rokko Snow Park, situated within the Rokkosan Mountains, is one of Kobe’s most well-loved winter attractions and is the only skiing facility within the city itself. On offer are skiing and snowboarding plus sledding for children. The environment is family-friendly with a snow park for kids, and the slopes are easy enough for beginners to navigate. You can rent all equipment and indulge in some night skiing if you wish as the resort is open until 10:00 p.m. from November through to March. Costs start at 2,200 yen plus an additional 1,550 yen if you use the ski lift.

If you fancy traveling a bit further out, you could head to the Up Kannabe resort in the highlands of northern Hyogo. It’s about two hours from Kobe by car or bus. Here you will find four slopes suitable for skiing and snowboarding (one beginner, two beginner-intermediate, and one expert), with two of them open until 9:30 p.m. for night skiing lovers. English-speaking instructors are also on hand to assist tourists and expats. As with Rokko Snow Park, you can rent all the equipment necessary on-site. There is a snow park for children that also offers snow rafting. Facilities are open from December to March, with pricing set at 3,800 yen for weekdays and 4,500 yen for weekends for adults.

Ice skating and ice hockey

Is ice rather than snow your thing? There are a couple of seasonal rinks in Kobe city where you can get your skates on and sail around until your heart’s content. Since 2015 Kobe Harborland has hosted a 300 square-meter rink each winter from December to February at the Takahama Wharf on the north side of the Umie Shopping Center. The rink is open daily until 8:00 p.m. for all ages. Costs are 1,200 yen for adults and 1,000 yen for children and include the rental of skates, helmets, and protectors. You can get a 400 yen discount if you bring your own skates.

Another seasonal facility is at Kobe Port Island Sports Center, which turns its 50-meter swimming pool into an ice rink each year between November and March. Children and adults can enjoy freeform skating regardless of whether you are a beginner or advanced skater. The rink can also be privately hired by groups or used for ice hockey (there are goals and markings on the ice). Standard costs are 1,400 yen for adults and 750 yen for children plus 400 yen if you need to rent skates. The sports center is only 10 minutes from Sannomiya by train, with the closest station being Shimin Hiroba station.

Masahiko OHKUBO, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons