Sake TabiA guide to visiting Japan's sake breweries, distilleries, wineries and more
Bar district・Kobe, Hyogo

Shinkaichi

Shinkaichi (Kobe, Hyogo) is a Bar district. A downtown entertainment area in Kobe that began in 1905 on reclaimed land of the old Minato River. Shopping streets, alleys and an underground arcade hold about 100 eateries, including long-established standing bars.

Bar district
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The gate of Shinkaichi

Shinkaichi (Hyogo-ku, Kobe)

Photo: 663highland / CC BY 2.5 ・ Photo source ・ Resized and cropped

Basics

Location
Kobe, Hyogo
Type
Bar district
Address
兵庫県神戸市兵庫区新開地2丁目付近

Good to know before you go

  • Kirakukan is 2 minutes from Exit 3 of Shinkaichi Station; Minatogawa-koen and Minatogawa Stations are about 5 minutes away.
  • Mostly independently run, from Western-style diners to standing bars, with many shops suited to solo visitors. Hours vary by shop.

The position is approximate.

Breweries and distilleries nearby

Beer
Secondary sources (not confirmed with the facility)

PAINT PALETTE BREWING

Chuo Ward, Kobe, Hyogo

A craft brewery at HAT Kobe with a taproom and a brewery tour; reported to be usable without entering the hot-spring facility.

Booking: Check the official site
Gate and sign of the Sawanotsuru Museum
Sake
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Sawanotsuru Museum (Old Sake Brewery)

Kobe, Nada Ward, Hyogo

A museum in a reconstruction of Oishi-gura, a wooden sake brewery from the late Edo period, following the old sake-making process with original tools. The adjacent museum shop offers a free tasting of unpasteurized sake.

Booking: No reservation needed
The front gate of Kobe Shu-shin-kan
Sake
Checked against official sources

Kobe Shu-shin-kan (Fukuju Brewery)

Kobe, Higashinada (Mikage), Hyogo

The Mikage-gō brewery that makes Fukuju. It offers a free, partly self-guided tour and a paid small-group tour led by brewery staff.

Booking: Reservation required
Exterior of the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum and head office
Sake
Checked against official sources

Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum

Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

A free museum in a Taisho-era brewery building with exhibits on traditional sake-making processes and work.

Booking: No reservation needed
Exterior of the Kikumasamune Sake Museum
Sake
Checked against official sources

Kikumasamune Sake Museum

Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

Admission to the Kikumasamune Sake Museum is free. Visits to the Taruzake Meister Factory are also mentioned; the reservation-only Sake Cup Gallery is a two-minute walk away.

Booking: No reservation needed

Frequently asked questions

What is Shinkaichi?

Shinkaichi (Kobe, Hyogo) is a Bar district. A downtown entertainment area in Kobe that began in 1905 on reclaimed land of the old Minato River. Shopping streets, alleys and an underground arcade hold about 100 eateries, including long-established standing bars.

Where is Shinkaichi?

It is in Kobe, Hyogo. The address is 兵庫県神戸市兵庫区新開地2丁目付近.

What should I know before visiting Shinkaichi?

Kirakukan is 2 minutes from Exit 3 of Shinkaichi Station; Minatogawa-koen and Minatogawa Stations are about 5 minutes away. Mostly independently run, from Western-style diners to standing bars, with many shops suited to solo visitors. Hours vary by shop.

Are there breweries or distilleries to visit near Shinkaichi?

Within about 30 km: PAINT PALETTE BREWING (about 4 km), Sawanotsuru Museum (Old Sake Brewery) (about 6 km), Kobe Shu-shin-kan (Fukuju Brewery) (about 8 km), Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum (about 9 km), Kikumasamune Sake Museum (about 10 km).

What should I keep in mind before drinking?

The legal drinking age in Japan is 20. Do not drink if you are driving. Many small bars charge a seat fee (otoshi or charge) or take cash only, so check the menu or the sign at the door before you go in.

Information sources

Information checked against official sources, such as the facility's website.

Checked 2026-10-27

Sources

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Nankinmachi at night
Bar district

Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)

Kobe, Hyogo

One of Japan's three major Chinatowns along with Yokohama and Nagasaki, a shopping district of Chinese restaurants and street-food stalls. The name 'Nankinmachi' is a registered trademark of the shopping street association.