Nestled between the mountains and the sea, Kobe is a modern urban center set amidst a lush natural environment, located right in the heart of Japan.

It has a long history as an international port city, having developed as a gateway for goods and people from overseas, and now is home to about 45,000 residents from more than 110 countries. It is a city with a distinctly international flair, and is home to the headquarters of many large European and American multinationals.
Kobe is just a 30-minute ferry ride or a 60-minute drive from Kansai International Airport, giving it outstanding access to destinations all over the world. The opening of the Kobe Airport in February 2006 linked Kobe more directly with other major cities throughout Japan, affording visitors an even greater level of convenience.
The Kobe Convention Center, which is comprised of the International Conference Center, International Exhibition Halls, and the Portopia Hotel, is the backbone of Kobe's convention facilities. Just eight minutes away from the new regional Kobe Airport (via the city's new transit system), it is closer to an airport than any other convention complex in Japan. A third exhibition hall opened in May 2006, further bolstering the convention center's offerings.
The attractive natural environment, easy accessibility, and international flavor combine to make Kobe an ideal convention site in Japan, as is reflected in a hosting resume that features more than 3,000 international conferences, including the UN World Conference on Disaster Reduction in January 2005. The city also boasts an array of post-convention activities to entertain conference organizers and participants, including harbor cruises, a relaxing visit to Japan's oldest hot springs resort, and tours of Kobe's famous sake breweries.
Kobe is an ideal host city for international conferences and exhibitions, and we sincerely hope you will consider us for your upcoming events.


Tatsuo Yada
Mayor of Kobe