Kobe Shopping – Shops, Stores, Best Buys & Inside Tips

Kobe Shopping

The city of Kobe is one of the largest urban areas in Japan and is an attractive place to visit. Tourists will find many shops and stores at which they can do their shopping.

Shopping Areas

Sannomiya is a must-see for any shopper in Kobe, even if it’s a little on the pricey side. There are many interesting little shops and large department stores thrown together. For a cultural experience, visit a “purikura” arcade. These are whole arcades dedicated to sticker photo machines. This is a place to go shopping for fashion and culture, and less for souvenirs.

There are, of course, other areas that cater to shoppers. Motomachi its another shopping arcade like Sannomiya, although it carries fewer brands. You can also explore MOSAIC, which is a shopping plaza with very interesting boutiques. It`s located right along Kobe Port, so tourists can see the port area while shopping. Also, MOSAIC features a miniature amusement park for children, a large arcade area, a movie theater, and lots of restaurants.

Book Stores

There are various bookstores around the city catering to both Japanese and English speakers. Wantage Books is a unique, used bookstore that stocks English books. The selection is quite wide-ranging, with good sections for travel, all things Asian, and a nice stock of fiction you’ll find almost nowhere else. You can find everything from obscure gems to books on European philosophy. Wantage is definitely a place that book lovers will want to find.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about stores and shopping in Kobe.