Is Kobe safe?
Very safe, day or night. Normal city care covers it; touts around Sannomiya bars are the main nuisance.
Key facts
- SoloSquare safety rating: 5/5, very safe.
- US travel advisory: Level 1: Exercise normal precautions, updated 2025-05-14.
- Homicide rate in Japan: 0.2 per 100,000 people (2023, UNODC via World Bank).
- Road deaths in Japan: 3.6 per 100,000 people a year (2019, WHO).
- Emergency numbers: Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
Safety in Kobe at a glance
| What to expect | |
|---|---|
| Overall | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Crime | Rare petty theft; touts and inflated bar bills in the Sannomiya nightlife area. |
| At night | Central streets stay busy and safe until late; the last trains run around midnight. |
| Solo women | Very safe for solo women. Rare groping on packed rush-hour trains; women-only cars are available. |
| Other risks | Earthquakes; the 1995 quake shaped the city, so check evacuation signs; Typhoon rain and landslide warnings in the hills; Humid heat in Jul–Aug |
Scams, areas and local laws
Common scams
- Street touts steering visitors into bars with inflated bills near Sannomiya
Take care
- Sannomiya Ikuta Road bars late at night: touts and bill disputes
Calmer areas to stay
Laws visitors break by accident
- Short-term visitors must carry their passport at all times; police may ask for it.
- Adderall and strong pseudoephedrine decongestants are banned; check medicines before packing.
- Cannabis, including CBD with THC, is illegal; using it has been a crime since Dec 2024.
How Kobe compares in Japan
| Place | Safety |
|---|---|
| Tokyo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kyoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Osaka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hiroshima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nara | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sapporo | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Okinawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakone | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Fukuoka | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kawaguchiko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Niseko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Yokohama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kanazawa | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Takayama | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagoya | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nikko | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kamakura | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Kobe | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakuba | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Ishigaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Nagasaki | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Shirakawa-go | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Miyakojima | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Hakodate | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Otaru | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Beppu | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Matsumoto | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Koyasan | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Furano | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Sendai | 5/5 · Very safe |
Quick answers
Is Kobe safe for solo female travelers?
Very safe for solo women. Rare groping on packed rush-hour trains; women-only cars are available.
Is Kobe safe at night?
Central streets stay busy and safe until late; the last trains run around midnight.
What is the crime rate in Kobe?
Rare petty theft; touts and inflated bar bills in the Sannomiya nightlife area. Nationally, Japan records 0.2 homicides per 100,000 people a year (2023).
What number do I call in an emergency in Kobe?
Police 110 · Ambulance 119 · Fire 119 · Tourist police 050-3816-2787.
More about Kobe
Going to Kobe solo?
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Sources
- US State Department travel advisory
- Feel Kobe (Kobe city tourism)
- Kobe Airport
- Kobe Municipal Subway
- World Bank: intentional homicides (UNODC)
- World Bank: road traffic deaths (WHO)
Safety ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment from official advisories, crime data and local reporting. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.