Kobe Port Tower 神戸ポートタワー

Completed in 1963, Kobe Port Tower was designed by the Nikken Sekkei Company, the famous Japanese architecture firm behind works like the Tokyo Skytree and the redesigned Barcelona Camp Nou, the largest stadium in Europe.

You can reach the tower by train and a short walk.

Located nearby Meriken Park, the Kobe Port Tower is a 10-minute walk south of Motomachi Station.

Towering an impressive 108 meters high, this sightseeing structure was designed to resemble a traditional hourglass-shaped Japanese drum that is often used in Noh and kabuki theater. With the red latticing mimicking the red ropes of the drum and entwined lighting, Kobe Port Tower at night is one of the city's most breathtaking sights.

Inside the building, the tower has a number of observation decks, giving you ample opportunity to take in the city's beauty. (The Port Tower is undergoing renovation work and is closed to the public until 2023 when it is scheduled to reopen.)