Kobe Port Tower

Overview

Kobe Port Tower is a sightseeing tower standing on the Naka Pier of the Port of Kobe, in Hatobacho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Completed in 1963 as a symbol of the port city, it rises 108 meters. Its graceful drum-shaped form built with a pipe structure has earned it the nickname the beauty of steel towers.

Highlights

• ●A graceful drum-shaped silhouette formed by an exposed pipe structure
• ●Harbor views from an observation floor atop the 108-meter tower
• ●Evening illumination that lends the tower its beauty reputation
• ●Recognition as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property of Japan

History

The tower was built on the Naka Pier and opened in 1963 as a symbol of the Port of Kobe. It received the AIJ Prize and the BCS Prize and was later listed as a Registered Tangible Cultural Property. It was closed from September 2021 for renovation including seismic reinforcement, resumed its illumination in December 2023, and reopened in April 2024.

Map

34.6825, 135.1867 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1View the tower and its drum-shaped form up close from the pier
2. 2Ascend to the observation floor for a panorama of the Port of Kobe
3. 3Stroll the harbor setting of Hatobacho where the tower stands
4. 4Return after sunset to see the illumination

Did you know?

💡 Its drum-shaped form built with a pipe structure has earned it the nickname the beauty of steel towers.

Nearby spots