Map of Sannomiya Station Kobe – Train Lines, Exits & Transfer Guide
Sannomiya is the principal railway, subway, bus and commercial interchange serving central Kobe. Located in Chūō ward, the wider station district connects JR West with Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Electric Railway, the Kobe Municipal Subway and the Port Liner.
Sannomiya is not one single station operated by one company. The interchange includes JR Sannomiya Station, Hankyu and Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya stations, Kobe Municipal Subway Sannomiya Station, Port Liner Sannomiya Station and the nearby Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station on the Kaigan Line.
This map of Sannomiya Station Kobe provides a location guide to the principal railway and subway areas, major exits, transfer routes, bus terminals, Kobe Airport connections and nearby attractions.
## Quick Answer
Sannomiya is located in central Kobe. Use the south side for the Port Liner, Kobe Airport trains, Hanshin Railway and major bus terminals, or the north side for Hankyu Railway, the Seishin-Yamate subway line, Kitano and streets leading towards the Rokko foothills.
## Map of Sannomiya Station Kobe
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
## Where Is Sannomiya Station Located?
The Sannomiya station district is located in Chūō ward in central Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan.
The station complex stands between the Kitano and mountain-side districts to the north and Kobe City Hall, the Former Foreign Settlement and waterfront districts to the south.
JR Sannomiya Station runs east to west through the centre of the interchange.
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is west and northwest of the JR station, while Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station is underground to the south.
The Port Liner terminal is elevated southeast of JR Sannomiya, and Kobe Municipal Subway Sannomiya Station is underground north of the JR tracks.
The map marker identifies the JR Central Gate and south-side station plaza.
## Train and Subway Services
## JR West
JR West serves Sannomiya Station with trains operating on the JR Kobe Line.
### JR Kobe Line
The JR Kobe Line forms part of the wider Tokaido and Sanyo Main Line railway corridor.
Eastbound destinations include Rokkomichi, Sumiyoshi, Ashiya, Nishinomiya, Amagasaki, Osaka, Shin-Osaka and Kyoto.
Westbound destinations include Motomachi, Kobe, Hyōgo, Suma, Tarumi, Akashi, Nishi-Akashi, Kakogawa and Himeji.
### Special Rapid Services
Special Rapid trains provide fast connections between Sannomiya, Osaka, Kyoto, Akashi and Himeji.
These trains skip many smaller stations and are generally the fastest ordinary JR option for travel between central Kobe and Osaka or Kyoto.
Passengers should check the destination because westbound trains may continue beyond Himeji and eastbound trains may continue beyond Kyoto.
### Rapid Services
Rapid trains stop at more stations than Special Rapid services.
They provide useful connections across Kobe, Osaka and surrounding communities.
### Local Services
Local trains stop at all or most stations along their operating section.
They are useful for nearby destinations not served by faster trains.
### Through Services
Some JR Kobe Line trains continue beyond Osaka onto the JR Kyoto, Biwako or other connecting lines.
Westbound services may continue beyond Himeji towards destinations on the Sanyo Main Line.
Passengers should check the destination and train category before boarding.
## Hankyu Kobe Line
Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya Station is located west of JR Sannomiya Station.
### Towards Osaka-Umeda
Eastbound Hankyu trains operate towards destinations including Rokko, Okamoto, Shukugawa, Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, Jūsō and Osaka-Umeda.
Local, commuter, express and limited-stop services have different stopping patterns.
Hankyu Osaka-Umeda Station is located north of JR Osaka Station within the wider Umeda transport district.
### Towards Shinkaichi
Westbound trains operate through central Kobe towards Hanakuma, Kosoku-Kobe and Shinkaichi.
Some services connect with the Kobe Kosoku railway network and onward lines.
### Connections Towards Takarazuka and Kyoto
Passengers can transfer at suitable Hankyu junction stations for destinations on the Takarazuka and Kyoto lines.
The required transfer depends on the service and destination.
## Hanshin Main Line
Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya Station is underground south of the JR station.
### Towards Osaka-Umeda
Eastbound trains operate towards Mikage, Uozaki, Ashiya, Nishinomiya, Kōshien, Amagasaki and Osaka-Umeda.
Train categories include local, express and limited-stop services with different stopping patterns.
### Towards Osaka-Namba and Nara
Many Hanshin services continue through Amagasaki onto the Hanshin Namba Line.
Destinations may include Nishikujō, Osaka-Namba and stations on the Kintetsu network towards Nara.
Passengers should check the final destination because not every eastbound train follows the Namba route.
### Towards Motomachi and Himeji
Westbound services operate towards Motomachi and may continue through the Kobe Kosoku and Sanyo railway networks.
Eligible trains may serve Kosoku-Kobe, Shinkaichi, Suma, Akashi and Sanyo-Himeji.
Stopping patterns and through-running arrangements vary by service.
## Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line
Kobe Municipal Subway Sannomiya Station is located underground north of the JR station.
### Towards Shin-Kobe and Tanigami
Northbound trains operate one stop to Shin-Kobe Station and then continue towards Tanigami on eligible services.
Shin-Kobe provides access to the Sanyo Shinkansen.
### Towards Western Kobe
Westbound and southbound destinations include Kenchō-mae, Ōkurayama, Minatogawa-kōen, Shin-Nagata, Myōdani, Gakuen-toshi and Seishin-chūō.
The line provides direct access to residential districts across western Kobe.
### Shin-Kobe Shinkansen Connection
Take the Seishin-Yamate Line one stop from Sannomiya to Shin-Kobe for Sanyo Shinkansen services.
Passengers should allow time to reach the subway, travel to Shin-Kobe and transfer to the Shinkansen concourse.
## Kobe Municipal Subway Kaigan Line
Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station is a separate Kaigan Line station south of the main JR complex.
### Towards Harborland and Shin-Nagata
Westbound destinations include Kyūkyoryūchi-Daimaru-mae, Minato-Motomachi, Harborland, Chūō-ichiba-mae, Wadamisaki and Shin-Nagata.
The line is useful for Kobe Harborland, the waterfront and districts southwest of central Sannomiya.
### Connection with Sannomiya
Pedestrian passages and city streets connect Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae with the wider Sannomiya interchange.
The station is separately named and is not inside the same ticketed area as the Seishin-Yamate Line.
## Port Liner
The Port Liner begins at an elevated terminal southeast of JR Sannomiya Station.
### Towards Port Island
Major destinations include Trade Center-mae, Port Terminal, Naka Kōen, Minami Kōen and Medical Center.
### Kobe Airport
Port Liner trains provide direct services between Sannomiya and Kobe Airport.
Passengers should check whether the train serves the airport branch or follows another Port Island routing.
### Convention and Medical District
The Port Liner serves the Kobe International Conference Center, Kobe International Exhibition Hall, universities, hospitals and businesses across Port Island.
## Station Areas
### JR Central Gate
The Central Gate is one of the principal JR ticket-gate areas.
It provides access towards both the north and south sides of the station and is a useful general meeting and orientation point.
The map marker identifies the nearby south-side plaza.
### JR East Gate
The East Gate serves the eastern side of JR Sannomiya Station.
It is useful for the Port Liner, eastern commercial buildings and streets towards Kasuganomichi.
### JR West Gate
The West Gate serves the western side of the station.
It provides convenient walking routes towards Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya, Center-gai, Motomachi and the western Sannomiya shopping district.
### JR North Side
The north side provides access towards Hankyu Railway, Kobe Municipal Subway, Ikuta Shrine and the streets leading towards Kitano.
### JR South Side
The south side provides access towards Hanshin Railway, the Port Liner, bus terminals, Kobe City Hall and the waterfront direction.
### Hankyu East Ticket Gate
The Hankyu East Ticket Gate serves the eastern side of Kobe-Sannomiya Station.
It provides a useful route towards JR Sannomiya, the subway and surrounding commercial buildings.
### Hankyu West Ticket Gate
The Hankyu West Ticket Gate serves the western side of the station.
It is convenient for Ikuta Road, Center-gai, Tor Road and walking routes towards Motomachi.
### Hanshin East Gate
The Hanshin East Gate serves underground passages and streets east and southeast of the main station district.
### Hanshin West Gate
The Hanshin West Gate is convenient for Center-gai, Sannomiya underground shopping passages and transfers towards JR and Hankyu.
### Subway East Gate
The Seishin-Yamate Line East Gate is located underground north of the JR station.
It provides routes towards JR, the Port Liner and eastern station buildings.
### Subway West Gate
The Subway West Gate provides access towards Hankyu Railway, Ikuta Shrine and the western commercial district.
### Port Liner Ticket Gates
The Port Liner ticket gates are located in the elevated terminal southeast of JR Sannomiya.
Passengers transferring from other operators must leave their original ticketed area and enter the separately operated Port Liner station.
### Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station
The Kaigan Line station is located beneath streets south of JR Sannomiya.
Numbered exits serve Kobe City Hall, Flower Road, the Former Foreign Settlement and surrounding commercial buildings.
## Station Facilities
• JR West ticket machines and staffed gates
• Hankyu Railway ticketing facilities
• Hanshin Railway ticket machines and staffed gates
• Kobe Municipal Subway ticketing facilities
• Port Liner ticket machines and staffed gates
• Passenger information displays
• Elevators, escalators and stairways
• Accessible routes through designated station areas
• Toilets and accessible toilets
• Waiting and seating areas
• Coin lockers
• Luggage storage services nearby
• Convenience stores
• Cafés and restaurants
• Underground shopping passages
• Department stores and commercial buildings
• Tourist information facilities nearby
• Local and highway bus connections
• Taxi and private-hire pickup areas
• Kobe Airport railway connections
• Public Wi-Fi in selected areas
Because Sannomiya contains several separately operated stations, elevator locations and step-free transfer routes vary between railway companies, platforms and ticket-gate areas.
## Transfers Between Lines
### JR West to Hankyu Railway
Use the western or northern side of JR Sannomiya Station and follow signs for Hankyu Kobe-Sannomiya.
The transfer requires leaving the JR ticketed area and entering separate Hankyu gates.
Allow approximately five to ten minutes depending on the platform and crowd level.
### JR West to Hanshin Railway
Use the south side of JR Sannomiya and follow signs for Hanshin Kobe-Sannomiya.
The Hanshin station is underground and separately operated.
Allow additional time for underground passages, escalators and ticket gates.
### JR West to the Port Liner
Use the JR East Gate or south side and follow signs for the Port Liner.
The elevated Port Liner terminal is close to the JR station but uses separate ticket gates.
Allow approximately five to ten minutes for an unfamiliar transfer.
### JR West to Kobe Municipal Subway
Follow signs towards the north side and the Seishin-Yamate Line.
The subway platforms are underground and separately ticketed.
### Subway to Shin-Kobe Shinkansen
Take the Seishin-Yamate Line one stop from Sannomiya to Shin-Kobe.
At Shin-Kobe, follow signs for the Sanyo Shinkansen.
Allow sufficient time for vertical movement and ticket gates at both stations.
### JR or Hankyu to Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae
Follow signs towards Flower Road, Kobe City Hall or the Kaigan Line.
The walk is through public underground passages or surrounding streets.
Allow approximately ten minutes or longer when unfamiliar with the route.
### Hankyu to Hanshin
Follow signs through the station district between the elevated Hankyu and underground Hanshin stations.
The transfer requires separate ticket gates and may involve walking through public concourses.
### Hanshin to Port Liner
Follow signs towards JR Sannomiya and the south or east side.
The Port Liner terminal is elevated above the southeastern station area.
### North Side to South Side
Public passages beneath and around the railway connect the north and south sides of Sannomiya.
The routes can become crowded during commuter periods and weekends.
## Transport Connections
### Kobe Airport
The Port Liner provides direct services from Sannomiya to Kobe Airport.
Check the destination display because some trains circulate through Port Island without continuing to the airport.
### Shin-Kobe Station
Take the Seishin-Yamate subway line one stop to Shin-Kobe.
Taxis and local buses also connect Sannomiya with Shin-Kobe.
### Osaka
JR Special Rapid trains provide fast direct services between Sannomiya and Osaka Station.
Hankyu and Hanshin also operate direct services towards their respective Osaka-Umeda stations.
### Kyoto
JR Special Rapid services provide direct journeys between Sannomiya and Kyoto.
Passengers can also travel using Hankyu services with appropriate routing and transfers.
### Himeji
JR Special Rapid services provide direct connections between Sannomiya and Himeji.
Hanshin and Sanyo through services may provide an alternative route towards Sanyo-Himeji.
### Local Buses
Kobe City Bus and other operators use numerous stops around Sannomiya.
Routes serve Kitano, Shin-Kobe, Nada, Rokko, Harborland and neighbourhoods across Kobe.
Check the stop number and street side carefully because bus stops are distributed throughout the station district.
### Highway and Airport Buses
Highway buses operate from several separate terminals and street stops around Sannomiya.
Services may connect Kobe with Osaka airports, Awaji Island, Shikoku and other regional destinations.
Confirm the operator, terminal name and boarding bay before travelling.
### Taxis
Taxi ranks and designated pickup areas are available on several sides of the station district.
Choose the station side closest to your destination before joining a taxi queue.
### Walking
Ikuta Shrine, Kobe Center-gai and the central shopping district are immediately around Sannomiya.
The Former Foreign Settlement, Kobe City Museum, Nankinmachi and the waterfront are within walking distance or a short subway journey.
## Nearby Attractions
• Ikuta Shrine
• Kobe Center-gai
• Sannomiya Center Street
• Kobe City Hall Observation Lobby
• Kobe East Park
• Former Foreign Settlement
• Kobe City Museum
• Nankinmachi Chinatown
• Motomachi shopping district
• Kitano Ijinkan district
• Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
• Kobe Harborland
• Meriken Park
• Kobe Port Tower
## Visitor Tips
Confirm which Sannomiya station and railway company you need before entering a ticketed area.
Use JR Special Rapid services for fast journeys towards Osaka, Kyoto, Akashi and Himeji.
Use Hankyu Railway for Osaka-Umeda, Nishinomiya-kitaguchi and stations along the Hankyu Kobe Line.
Use Hanshin Railway for Osaka-Umeda, Osaka-Namba, Kōshien and through services towards Nara or Himeji.
Use the Seishin-Yamate subway line for Shin-Kobe and the Shinkansen.
Use the Port Liner for Port Island and Kobe Airport.
Use Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station for the Kaigan Line towards Harborland and Shin-Nagata.
Allow at least ten minutes for unfamiliar transfers between different railway companies.
Allow more time when transferring to Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae or travelling with luggage.
Check whether your JR train is Local, Rapid or Special Rapid.
Check whether a Hanshin or Hankyu train is local, express or limited-stop before boarding.
Follow railway-company logos and coloured line symbols rather than relying only on the name Sannomiya.
Keep your ticket or transport card available because transfers between operators normally require separate gates.
Confirm the correct bus terminal before travelling because Sannomiya has several separate departure areas.
Use a staffed gate when travelling with oversized luggage, a stroller or a wheelchair.
Do not confuse Sannomiya with Shin-Kobe Station, which is the city’s Shinkansen station.
## Frequently Asked Questions
### Where is Sannomiya Station?
Sannomiya is located in Chūō ward in central Kobe, Hyōgo Prefecture.
### Is Sannomiya one station?
No. Sannomiya is a group of adjacent stations operated by JR West, Hankyu, Hanshin, Kobe Municipal Subway and Kobe New Transit.
### Which railway companies serve Sannomiya?
The district is served by JR West, Hankyu Railway, Hanshin Electric Railway, Kobe Municipal Subway and the Port Liner.
### Which JR line serves Sannomiya?
JR Sannomiya Station is served by the JR Kobe Line.
### Which subway lines serve Sannomiya?
The Seishin-Yamate Line serves Sannomiya Station, while the Kaigan Line serves nearby Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae Station.
### Which exit should passengers use for the Port Liner?
Use the JR East Gate or south side and follow signs for the elevated Port Liner terminal.
### Which station should passengers use for Kobe Airport?
Use the Port Liner from Sannomiya Station.
### Which station should passengers use for the Shinkansen?
Take the Seishin-Yamate Line one stop to Shin-Kobe Station.
### Can passengers travel directly to Osaka?
Yes. JR, Hankyu and Hanshin operate direct services between Sannomiya and their respective central Osaka stations.
### Can passengers travel directly to Kyoto?
Yes. JR Special Rapid services connect Sannomiya directly with Kyoto.
### Can passengers travel directly to Himeji?
Yes. JR Special Rapid trains and selected Hanshin or Sanyo through services connect Sannomiya with Himeji.
### Can passengers travel directly to Nara?
Selected Hanshin services continue through Osaka-Namba onto the Kintetsu network towards Nara.
### Is Kobe-Sannomiya the same as JR Sannomiya?
They are adjacent stations in the same interchange, but Hankyu and Hanshin use the name Kobe-Sannomiya while JR uses Sannomiya.
### Is Sannomiya-Hanadokeimae the same station?
It is a separate nearby Kobe Municipal Subway station on the Kaigan Line.
### Is Sannomiya Station accessible?
Accessible routes and elevators are available, but arrangements vary between JR, Hankyu, Hanshin, subway and Port Liner station areas. Check the official operator map for the specific service being used.
Related Japan Railway Station Maps
Disclaimer: This map is provided as a general location and orientation guide. Station gates, entrances, underground passages, elevator availability, platform access, railway services, transfer routes, bus terminals and airport connections may change because of construction, redevelopment, maintenance or operational requirements. Sannomiya is a large transport district containing several separately operated stations. Check the official map and current information for the specific railway company, station and line before travelling.