I lived in Kobe for 7 years and I also worked at a hotel on the harbour (and I love love loved that job!)
Here are all of my family friendly tips for spending time in Kobe with kids.
But for now, here are my family-friendly places to stay in Kobe.
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
Oriental Hotel Kobe
If staying in Kobe with a baby, I recommend looking at the Oriental Hotel Kobe. just above Barneys New York. It’s in the old foreigners settlement – gorgeous european style wide streets and lots of gorgeous cafes and bakeries. When making a reservation, be careful not to confuse this hotel with Kobe Oriental Hotel Meriken Park (also a lovely hotel but it is in a different location.)
The rooms are mostly for 2 people but they do have cots for babies to use. You can see pictures of the wooden style cots and bed rails they provide here. This hotel provides pyjamas for guests to use during their stay and some of the suite rooms have a nespresso coffee machine (these suite and executive floor rooms also have an evening turn down service.) There is an on-site fitness centre.
They have a gorgeous breakfast restaurant on-site.
On the weekends, you may be lucky enough to spot a wedding as they host beautiful wedding ceremonies here.
Breakfast is served on the 17th floor with a view of the mountains. The other side of the restaurant offers a spectacular view of the harbour too. If it’s a family members’ birthday, let them know to organize a “surprise” fruit plate. Breakfast is 2,700 yen per person.
This restaurant also prepares the most beautiful “kids plate” for children – smiley potato smiley faces, pasta, burger patty, fried prawn and a small salad – all arranged beautifully for dinner and lunch.
ANA Crown Plaza Hotel Kobe
This hotel has amazing night views as it is up on the mountain side of Kobe – next to Shin-Kobe (the bullet train) station. Rooms here are bigger than many other hotel rooms in Sannomiya or Motomachi. The Premium Rooms allow for you to choose between 2 double beds or 3 single beds. The Japanese Style Suites can sleep 4 people on futons. The two bedroom suite has 4 single beds. Guests who stay on Club Floors can also make use of the Club Lounge. This hotel also can organise for connecting rooms.
This hotel is also able to provide cots for babies under 12 months of age.
They also have a good buffet breakfast. There are seven restaurants on site here (5 of those restaurants are kid-friendly.) They also have an on-site hotel spa for facials and massages etc. You can see the full spa menu here.
The hotel has a shuttle down to the Sannomiya shopping and restaurant district.
There is also a pool and a fitness centre. Please note that pool use is not included in the accommodation costs – it is an additional 2200 yen per person per day (I know, it’s hard to get your head around that part – I speak more about unusual pool rules in hotels in Japan here. )
Candeo Hotels Tor Road
I suggest this as I find it to be one of the more affordable hotels and I LOVE the public bath on the top floor! – separated by gender. As with most public baths in Japan – no swimsuits allowed. This hotel is close to Shin-Kobe Station (the bullet train station) and also not far from Sannomiya.
The rooms have an amazing view. I really love staying here with my family.
It’s reasonably priced enough to book two rooms for a larger family. For this price too, I find the rooms to feel nice and big.
Rooms accommodate 1-2 adults and more people if children are young enough to bed share.
Koko Hotel Kobe Sannomiya
A clean, simple business hotel. Perfect for families on the move. We have stayed at this property a few times with the kids. It definitely isn’t fancy but it’s also fabulous for just a nice clean place to stay in a convenient location. There is a coin laundry and a microwave on the third floor. It’s located in the Kyukyoruchi (Old Foreigner’s Settlement) so the streets are wide and many of the buildings look quite European. Easy access to the Harbor, Sannomiya and Motomachi.
The cafe restaurant “Rough Rare” is just 5 mins walk – so family-friendly. I have pics and the address in my Kobe with kids blog post. Daimaru and Barney’s New York is also close by.
This hotel is especially popular around Luminarie.
This hotel is very reasonably priced so it wouldn’t be too crazy to get a few rooms for a larger family.
Breakfast is a simple but yummy buffet breakfast.
Hotel Okura Kobe
Right on the Harbour- Okura is one of Japan’s most prestigious “oh so authentically Japanese” hotel brands. They are well known for their incredible customer service – and I also recommend making a reservation to have a teppanyaki lunch at the hotel restaurant Sazanka here too.
They have an outdoor pool here in July & August but it isn’t included in the room rate so best to check first. There is also a fitness centre and indoor pool but please check ahead for additional charges.
Many Japanese celebrities are known to stay in the suites on the top floors (and some even live here!)
Some of the suites also have Japanese style rooms with western style bedding.
Normal rooms can be hard for families if your children are too big to bed share. 
Royal Park Canvas Sannomiya
Simple and modern hotel. This one is also so convenient. The lounge area in the lobby is big and flooded with natural light- it is used as a breakfast restaurant in the morning and then a bar at night.
Rooms can accommodate 1-3 adults (more people if you have children young enough to bed share.) The suites can accommodate 4 adults (and bed sharing children.) Check in is at 3pm and checkout at 11am.
There is a gym in the hotel and an on-site coin laundry. There is a breastfeeding room on the ground floor too.
Complimentary ice-cream for guests every night too!
PLEASE NOTE: This article contains some affiliate links. If you make a purchase through one of these links, I will receive a small commission at no additional cost to you.
