Mt. Rokko lies to the north of Kobe and to its south is the Seto Inland Sea. Kobe is protected from the cold north wind by Mt. Rokko and the relatively high water temperature of the Seto Inland Sea which together combine to make for a mild winter. Strong winds blowing from Awaji and the Akashi Strait in the west work to eliminate the heat island phenomenon in the summer.

In addition, the sunshine hours are long and as the humidity is moderate it creates an environment that is comfortable for sightseeing. The city center where Sannomiya is located has a well-developed public transportation system making access by train, subway and bus easy, so there are plenty of places where you can enjoy yourself even in slightly bad weather.

Kobe is not that cold because the average temperature in December is 8.7° C, the average maximum temperature is 11.9° C, and the average minimum temperature is 5.4° C. There are many sunny days, and the gentle sunlight in the daytime is comfortable even if the wind at times is cold. The temperature varies depending on the day, whether the wind is warm or cold, but the temperature gradually drops toward the end of the year.

In December you will need a heavy coat with lining. However, on some days it is so warm you may want to take off your coat. When you're out and about, the heating may be too high when you go indoors, so make sure you wear clothes that you can take off or put on to adjust for such temperature differences. If you wear a skirt, thick tights and short boots are recommended to keep your legs and feet warm.

● Clothing items
Tops: (men and women) jackets, coats
Bottoms: (men and women) wool slacks（women) skirts + thick tights
Footwear: (men and women) sneakers (women) pumps, short boots

The biggest event in December is Kobe Luminarie. The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake struck in January 1995, causing serious damage to Kobe. Every December since December of that year, beautiful illuminations color the area that connects the Former Foreign Settlement and the Higashi-yuenchi Park as a requiem and memorial service for those who were lost in the disaster and to express hopes for the recovery of the city.

It is held for about 10 days every year and is visited by many people in Japan and from overseas. During that time there are traffic restrictions and one-way traffic for visitors, so please follow the signs at the stations and elsewhere.

In January the average temperature is 5.8°C. The average high temperature is 9°C and the average low temperature is 2.7°C. These are the averages based on the last 30 years, but in recent years the winters have become warmer, so there are times when gloves and mufflers are not required even in the middle of winter. It rarely snows in Kobe and because the air is dry there is also very little rain. We recommend that you wear a mask when you go out to avoid catching a cold and when you return gargle and wash your hands thoroughly.

January is when winter really sets in. Although the winters are said to be warm, the air still feels cold. You will need to wear snug under garments, shirts, wool sweaters, and either a long heavy coat or down jacket. Many women who wear skirts wear thick tights and boots to fight off the cold. As for men, there is no need to wear extra clothing under their trousers. Mufflers, gloves, and knit caps are also recommended for this time of year.

● Clothing items
Tops: (men and women) under garments, shirts, wool sweaters, coats, down jackets
Bottoms: (men and women) wool slacks（women) skirts + thick tights
Footwear: (men and women) sneakers (women) short boots
Accessories: (men and women) mufflers, gloves

Ikuta Shrine is located just a short walk north of Sannomiya Station serviced by several railway lines. Famous for enshrining a god for matchmaking, it is visited by many young couples and local residents during the first visit to a shrine in the New Year. Mizumi-kuji is a form of fortune telling in which fortune-telling papers are immersed in a spring in a wooded area and fortunes told by the letters that appear. This shrine is located in the city, so it is easy to go shopping or for a meal after visiting it.

The average temperature in February is 6.1°C, the average maximum temperature is 9.6°C, and the average minimum temperature is 3.0°C, which is not much different from January, but there are many windy days, so it feels much colder. Many people come down with influenza at this time so when going out it is advisable to wear a mask and to wash your hands after returning.

Since the weather is almost the same as in January, you need underwear, shirt, a sweater, and over that a long coat or down jacket. While it never gets below freezing in Kobe, a greater number of women can be seen wearing pants. It is also a good idea to wear a muffler and gloves when going out in the morning and evening.

● Clothing items
Tops: (men and women) under garments, shirts, sweaters, long coats, down jackets
Bottoms: (men and women) wool slacks（women) skirts + thick tights
Footwear: (men and women) sneakers, short boots (women) long boots
Accessories: (men and women) mufflers, gloves

Nankinmachi, located in Motomachi, is a Chinatown densely packed with Chinese restaurants and Chinese food stores. The area is always full of tourists as there are many shops where you can enjoy leisurely meals. It is also possible to purchase pork buns and steamed buns [Xiaolongbao], which are called shoronpo in Japanese, to eat when walking about.

In early February the Lunar New Year, a time called Shunsetsu in Japanese, is celebrated and the area becomes more crowded than usual as many people come to see parades and lion dancing. The old settlement is within walking distance of Nankinmachi and you can enjoy the exotic atmosphere of the area while walking there.


In recent years the winters have become so warm that you rarely would see anyone wearing a down coat in December 2020. Kobe, where the winters are relatively mild, has much to offer at that time such as the Kobe Luminarie, the solemn atmosphere of Shinto shrines during the New Year holidays, and Lunar New Year events in Nankinmachi.

Reference: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Meteorological Agency website