A Mini-Cruise Around Kobe Harbor

Below you can see Meriken Park with its recognizable Port Tower and the white frame of Kobe Maritime Museum.

The cruise begins with this unmistakable panoramic view of Kobe’s red Port Tower backdropped by Mt. Rokko. Passengers continue to board the ship as I soak up the beautiful scenery from the spacious deck.

At an impressive 74 meters long, cruise ship Concerto departs from the harbor in front of Harborland Mosaic 4 times a day. If you’ve ever dreamt of embarking on a journey on a luxury liner, come along for this 2-hour mini-adventure!

One of the special features of Concerto is its live music. The combination of the grand piano sounds and the city lights on shore gives the lounge a romantic atmosphere. From jazz to classical, live music is constantly being performed onboard.

Fantastic Cuisine On The Floating Restaurant

Another thing to enjoy on your delightful mini-cruise is the fantastic cuisine.

If you want to eat Kobe steak or fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea, I recommend the teppanyaki cuisine. The chef prepares the food on a hot iron plate before your eyes. You can enjoy the superb dishes and the excellent view through the large windows on the rear deck.

Chinese food is one of the things everyone has to try when they visit Kobe. On both the Twilight Cruise and Night Cruise, you can order the “gekko” course at the restaurant. The course consists of crispy fried shrimps with sweet and salty sauce, stir-fried soft scallops and whelks, shark fin soup, Chinese-style fried rice, and dessert. True happiness on a plate.

The chef aboard Concerto is one of the few master-chefs who hold the highest rank in Chinese cuisine. Above, you can see a beautifully arranged assortment of starters, including jellyfish and chicory, and a century egg hiding in the bottom-right corner. (as of 25 Oct. 2016. Now you can enjoy the teppanyaki cuisine and French cuisine .)

The Stunning Night View From Akashi Kaikyo Bridge

If you plan on going, do try to get on the Twilight Cruise. The sunset starts getting earlier from the autumn, and if you take the Twilight Cruise, you will have the opportunity to see an amazing sky palette of colors and their moment to moment changes.

The moment the boat turns back towards the harbor is the perfect time to capture the breathtaking scene of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge backdropped by the beautiful hues of the setting sun. Prepare both your camera and your heart.

To the right you can see Kobe and to the left Awaji Island, and between them the 3,911 meter long suspension bridge. On this day, large clouds parted the red sunset and the blue sky, which is apparently the most beautiful night view of the bridge.

The elegant mini-cruise ends in the blink of an eye, and Concerto returns to dock at Harborland Mosaic, Kobe’s famous night view spot.

Music, food, and superb views: An exciting 2-hours aboard Concerto will definitely fulfill anybody’s craving for a romantic cruise…!

Kobe Ship Journey – Concerto
Address: 1-6-1 Higashikawasaki, Chuo Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture (Mosaic 1st floor)
Tel: 078-360-5600（10:00〜19:00)
Ticket Counter: 11:00 – 19:00 (Until 30 minutes before departure)
Parking: Available inside Harborland

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Madoka Hori