10 Most Popular Food & Dining Areas in Hyogo

A foodie trip to Hyogo often includes a visit to Nankin-machi, one of Japan’s three main Chinatowns. When it comes to dining, Kobe has so much to offer, from Western-style cooking to Kobe beef steaks. If you’re wondering where to begin, start by heading to the Sannomiya/Motomachi area. Okamoto and Ashiya are the go-to destinations if you want to sample and compare different Kobe sweets.

If you don’t mind taking a short trip in pursuit of some great dining experiences, the town of Izushi and Kinosaki Onsen are well worth a visit. Flanked on the north side by the Seto Inland Sea and on the south side by the Sea of Japan, delicious gastronomy is guaranteed here.

What are the most popular food and dining areas in Hyogo?

Hyogo Prefecture Hotels

1. Kitanozaka

Renowned for all-things beef

Good for: Food, History, Photo

Kitanozaka is a slope that leads straight from Sannomiya, the downtown part of Kobe, to Kitano Ijinkan, the Former Foreign Residences. This area boasts a very exotic vibe and is fun to walk around, with stylish cafés, restaurants, bistros, and shops luring visitors at every turn.

There are many popular photogenic spots such as chain coffee shops and old-time cafés established in classic western-style buildings. The area’s popular Kobe-specific shops are famous for their delicious pastries and bread. Don’t miss the famed tepenyaki featuring carefully selected cuts of Kobe, Tajima, and Sanda beef.

Location: Kitanozaka, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan

2. Sannomiya Motomachi

A bustling shopping and dining haven

Good for: Food, Nightlife, Shoppers

Sannomiya Motomachi is one of the most vibrant areas in Kobe. This distinctive shopping area, located beneath elevated train tracks, is home to countless restaurants where you can casually stop for something to eat. Tor Road is a stylish street that was adored by westerners who once lived in the foreign settlement. It has many well-established restaurants, which are perfect for a nice, relaxed dinner.

Motomachi Shopping Street offers a wide variety of attractive venues such as western-style restaurants that are unique to Kobe, Chinese eateries imbued with the atmosphere of this charismatic port town, as well as fusion cuisine restaurants.

Location: Sannomiya Motomachi, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0022, Japan

3. Nankinmachi

Historic Chinatown district dating to 1868

Good for: Budget, Food, History

Nankinmachi in Kobe is one of Japan’s biggest Chinatowns. Your mission here is, of course, to explore the streets and try cheap but authentic Chinese food. Just make sure you don’t eat before coming to this part of the city. Walking around the neighborhood – with its stalls of pan-fried dumplings (yaki-gyoza), Chinese steamed buns (xiaolongbao), braised pork belly burger (kakuni baga), roasted pork (char siu), steamed pork buns (butaman), ramen, and freshly fried potato croquettes (korokke) – is a real adventure for foodies.

Nankinmachi is a 10-minute walk from JR Sannomiya Station and a 5-minute walk from JR Motomachi Station and Subway Minato Motomachi Station.

Location: 1 Chome-3-18 Sakaemachidori, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0023, Japan

Explore Nankin-machi Hotels

4. Kobe Bay Area

Discover the wonders of Kobe’s harbor

Good for: Food, Luxury, Nightlife

Kobe’s Bay Area is mostly famous for housing the city’s major architectural landmark, the 108-meter-tall Port Tower. It’s also an excellent location for romantic dining. Here, couples can enjoy a luxurious meal with beautiful night views of Harborland at the Meriken Park Oriental Hotel. Alternatively, on the many of the cruise ships that depart from Kobe Port, you can enjoy lunch or dinner while taking in the spectacular sunset.

The Kobe Harborland Umie mall is a great choice for casual dining as it has many family-friendly restaurants, cafes, and pastry shops—basically something for everyone. The Bay Area of Kobe is just a 10-minute walk from JR Kobe Station and Subway Harborland Station.

Location: 1 Chome Higashikawasakicho, Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0044, Japan

5. Okamoto

Upscale neighborhood with plenty of pastry shops

Good for: Couples, Food, Luxury

Okamoto is a small and cozy district between Hankyu Okamoto Station and JR Settsu-Motoyama Station. One of Kansai’s most high-end residential areas, it boasts an abundance of cake shops, bakeries, and stylish general stores, together with a nature-rich townscape that features Mount Rokko in the background

Okamoto is a great area for strolling charming cobblestone streets and soaking up the general ambience. There are also a number of traditional restaurants and Japanese-style bars (izakaya), where you can enjoy authentic plates of sushi as well as rice wine beverages like sake.

Location: Okamoto, Higashinada Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 658-0072, Japan

6. Arima Onsen

Hot spring town that’s abundant with restaurants

Good for: Couples, Food, Luxury

Arima Onsen is a scenic spa town situated approximately 21 km northeast of Kobe. After unwinding in a thermal hot spring, it’s time to enjoy a delicious meal. Be sure to make a reservation if you fancy high-end dining in the refined setting of a Kobe beef steak restaurant, or any of the French restaurants and traditional Japanese eateries that specialize in multi-course meals (kaiseki).

If you prefer a more casual lunch option, some restaurants serve curry, mixed rice in iron pots (kamameshi), or pizza. Arima Onsen is also popular for its famous soba restaurants. Bathing in hot springs tends to stimulate the appetite, and one of the best ways to satisfy your hunger is with a bowl of fragrant soba noodles. A classic souvenir to buy in Arima is carbonated rice crackers (tansan senbei) which originated during the Meiji era.

Location: Arima Onsen, Arimacho Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo 651-1401 Japan

7. Somen-no-Sato

A haven of somen noodles

Good for: Food, Photo, Unusual

Somen (thin wheat noodles) is an essential summertime dish in Japan. You can check out the somen production process and try some freshly made somen at Somen-no-Sato Ibonoito Museum, a dedicated museum in Tatsuno City, Hyogo Prefecture. There’s a restaurant next to the museum that offers a wide variety of dishes at reasonable prices. Besides the usual cold somen (zaru somen) and hot somen (nyumen), you can sample set menus featuring sashimi, fried noodle dishes, somen sushi rolls (somen makizushi), and somen salad.

From spring to summer, you can take part in a popular family activity called flowing somen (somen nagashi), where the noodles are propelled down a bamboo chute before they’re picked up and eaten. Somen-no-Sato Ibonoito Museum is a 15-minute walk from JR Higashi-Hashisaki Station.

Location: 56 Kamiokacho Okumura, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-4101, Japan

Open: Museum: Tuesday–Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm (closed on Mondays)

Phone: +8 (0)179-165-9000

8. Kinosaki Onsen

Come for its crab and Tajima beef dishes

Good for: Couples, Food, Luxury

Kinosaki Onsen is in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture, facing the Sea of Japan on the banks of the Maruyama River. It’s known as the setting for the novel At Kinosaki by Naoya Shiga, one of Japan’s greatest literary figures. Kinosaki Onsen is one of the prefecture’s major hot spring towns, alongside Arima Onsen and Yumura Onsen. The rich seafood from the Sea of Japan is not to be missed—its snow crab season (November to March) is particularly famous. During this period, you can purchase a ‘Kingdom of Yukata and Crab’ (Yukata to Kani Okoku) passport which offers various dining benefits.

Kinosaki also offers delicious Tajima beef dishes. This is an excellent spot to enjoy different outdoor baths while sampling delicious local foods. It’s possible to visit here on a day trip, by taking a direct bus from Sannomiya in Kobe.

Location: Kinosaki Onsen, Toyooka, Hyogo, Japan

See nearby properties

9. Izushi

Cheap and cheerful noodle hotspot

Good for: Couples, Families, Food

Izushi is a castle town in Toyooka City, nicknamed the ‘Little Kyoto of Tamba’. Its local dish is called Izushi sara soba (plated buckwheat noodles), which is famous throughout Japan. Izushi also is one of Kansai’s leading soba noodle destinations, with more than 50 soba restaurants in the town. You can enjoy mini portions served on little plates with condiments of your choice. A serving typically consists of five plates of soba noodles, but you can also order as many plates as you want and pile up the used plates to see who can eat the most.

If you want to try a wide range of soba dishes, you can sign up for the Eating Izushi Soba Tour at the Izushi Tourist Center. This option gives you a money pouch containing three old coins, which you can use to redeem three plates of soba. This is an economical way to sample Izushi soba at various restaurants. It takes about 30 minutes to get to Izushi from JR Toyooka Station, Ebara Station, or Yoka Station on the Zentan bus bound for Izushi.

Location: Izushi, Toyooka, Hyogo 668-0207, Japan

10. Ashiya

For cakes, pastries, and crepe Suzette

Good for: Couples, Luxury, Photo

Ashiya is a well-known residential area in Hyogo Prefecture. Its elegant streets offer leisurely strolling and you can enjoy a host of treats of the sweet variety. There are many restaurants, cafes, and pastry shops frequented by affluent locals, especially well-dressed ladies.

You can find the main branch of a pastry shop that residents claim to be responsible for Ashiya’s pastry culture here, right by the train station. Henri Charpentier is renowned for its crepe Suzette, served on trolleys. Ashiya is full of charm, and aside from its pastry shops, there is also a well-known Italian restaurant, a specialty tea shop, and popular coffee shops that serve beautiful cakes and parfaits.

Location: Ashiya, Hyogo, Japan

Explore Ashiya Hotels

This article includes opinions of the Go Guides editorial team. Hotels.com compensates authors for their writing appearing on this site; such compensation may include travel and other costs.