Meriken Park

You'll need to pass through Meriken Park to visit the Kobe Maritime Museum, and both the museum and the surrounding park are popular stops on city tours and shore excursions. Meriken Park is also an excellent place for a break or a picnic, with a mix of green space and paved areas. You can see the park on half- and full-day tours of Kobe, many of which are private and customized to match the interests of participants.

• Meriken Park is a great place to bring kids; there’s lots of room to run around.

• Visiting the park is free, but Kobe Maritime Museum does charge admission fees.

• The non-grassy parts of Meriken Park are wheelchair-accessible and feature flat, paved pathways and walking areas.

Meriken Park is easy to get to from other parts of the city by public transportation. It’s located right on the Kobe Harbor, about a 10-minute walk from Motomachi Station and a 5-minute drive or 20-minute walk from the Kobe Sannomiya Ferry Terminal and the Kobe Port Cruise Terminal.

The best time to visit Meriken Park is spring or fall when the weather is most pleasant. Winters in Kobe can be cool, while summers get hot and humid. If you are visiting in the summer, consider an early morning or an evening visit to the park to avoid the heat of the day.

Designed to resemble a ship's sails, the Kobe Maritime Museum is among the main attractions at Meriken Park. Here, you can learn about the city's maritime history through displays of ephemera and model ships. The museum’s Kawasaki Good Times World features interactive exhibits focusing on Kawasaki’s products and manufacturing processes.