Kobe Tourism Bureau

What Kobe Tourism Bureau does

The Kobe Tourism Bureau (一般財団法人 神戸観光局) is a General Incorporated Foundation operating as Kobe's official destination marketing organization, registered in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It serves domestic Japanese tourists and inbound international visitors by promoting sightseeing, dining, accommodations, events, and cultural experiences through the official "Feel KOBE" consumer brand, with multilingual coverage in Japanese, English, Korean, Traditional Chinese, and Simplified Chinese to address language barriers for international visitors. Headquartered in the Sannomiya district, the Bureau is led by Representative Rikako Nakanishi and also designates a Personal Information Protection Manager (Yasuhisa Suo) for compliance purposes.

The Bureau's core product is the Feel KOBE website (feel-kobe.jp), a tourism information platform built on a digital content management system that aggregates area guides, spot listings, model courses, event calendars, column articles, guide maps, and travel-booking integrations. The portfolio extends beyond the core site into a night-tourism subdomain ("Kobe de Night"), the KOBE Tourism Smart Passport discount program, the KOBE SDGs Exploration Program for educational travel, Universal Tourism accessibility services, a dedicated Kobe/Hyogo Golf Tourism initiative, and a library of promotional video series. Distribution combines owned digital channels (Facebook, X, Instagram) with a dense partner network.

As a non-profit foundation, the Bureau provides all core information services free of charge to visitors and residents; revenue mechanics are not publicly disclosed and the organization is sustained through its status as an incorporated foundation under Japanese law. Its go-to-market relies on official designation as Kobe's statutory tourism promoter, partnerships with global payment networks (American Express, JCB) for inbound campaigns, channel partners such as JTB for education travel, and an ecosystem of media and transportation partners including Vissel Kobe, date.KOBE, EAT LOCAL KOBE, and Kobe Meriken Port Promotion. The Bureau has no parent company, no disclosed subsidiaries, and no app presence on major app stores as of the available data.

Name

Kobe Tourism Bureau

Legal name

一般��団法人 神戸観光局

Website

https://feel-kobe.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Kobe Tourism Bureau is a non-profit General Incorporated Foundation that promotes tourism to Kobe, Japan through the official "Feel KOBE" multilingual website and dedicated programs for inbound, education, golf, and accessibility tourism segments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Destination Marketing & Tourism Promotion Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Luxury & VIP Destination Services (Concierge/Chauffeur) (THAKAEAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports & Active Travel Agencies (e.g., ski, golf, dive) (THAKAFAJ)

Keywords

• Destination marketing services
• Tourism information platform
• Visitor promotion programs
• Educational travel programs
• Accessible tourism services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kobe

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Official destination marketing organization for Kobe, Japan, providing free, multilingual tourism information and promotion services. Operates the Feel KOBE platform with area guides, model courses, event listings, and visitor passes (Smart Passport), plus specialized programs for educational travel, golf tourism, and accessible/universal tourism. Delivered as a public service to individual travelers and tourism partners.

Product overview

Kobe Tourism Bureau operates the Feel KOBE platform as a unified tourism information portal providing official Kobe travel information. The portfolio includes the core Feel KOBE website, the specialized night-view focused subdomain (コウベdeナイト), accessibility services ( универсальный туризм), golf tourism promotion, and educational travel programs. Key resources include various passes, guides, and digital content like PR videos. The offerings are integrated under the Feel KOBE brand with specialized sub-platforms targeting specific visitor segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Feel KOBE (神戸公式観光サイト) Official Kobe tourism information service providing area guides, attraction listings, model courses, features, event listings, coupons, and booking integrations in five languages for domestic and inbound visitors.
• KOBE Tourism Smart Passport Tourist pass offering convenience and discount access to participating tourism facilities for visitors to Kobe.
• KOBE SDGs Exploration Program Educational travel program themed around SDGs, inquiry-based learning, and career education, featuring partnerships with local companies, public facilities, universities, and volunteer organizations in Kobe for school groups and educational institutions.
• Kobe Universal Tourism Accessibility-focused tourism service providing wheelchair rentals, accessible restroom information, barrier-free facility details, and assistance booking (assistance taxi, helpers) for elderly and disabled visitors to Kobe.
• Kobe/Hyogo Golf Tourism Golf tourism promotion initiative positioning Kobe/Hyogo as the birthplace of Japanese golf, featuring championship course listings, golf packages, and regional tourism information.
• KOBE 1day loop bus ticket "Gakutabi" (学旅) One-day bus pass for students valid on CITY LOOP, Port Loop, and other city bus routes in Kobe for school trips and educational outings.
• Kobe Gakuyu Passport (神戸学遊パスポート) Discount passport for students visiting Kobe for school trips or outdoor learning, offering free or discounted admission to participating facilities.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• American ExpresscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Inbound tourism campaign partnership with American Express for promoting Kobe to international visitors, along with JCB. The campaign aims to attract more foreign tourists to Kobe through payment network promotional channels.
• JCBcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 30 June 2026Inbound tourism campaign partnership with JCB alongside American Express, targeting international visitors who use JCB cards for promotional campaigns to boost tourism to Kobe.
• Kobe Meriken Port PromotioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial linked organization handling port and waterfront area tourism promotion, managing cruise ship information and waterfront district visitor attractions.
• date.KOBEminorOthersPartner web magazine connecting Kobe's dating and romantic tourism attractions, promoting couple-friendly spots and date experiences in Kobe.
• EAT LOCAL KOBEminorOthersLocal food culture promotion organization showcasing Kobe's culinary scene, local restaurants, and food experiences.
• Vissel KobecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKobe's professional soccer team and major sports tourism asset, contributing to sports-related tourism and event promotion in the region.
• Kobe Airport Route InformationminorOthersOfficial partner for Kobe airport route information, promoting air access to Kobe for domestic and international travelers.
• Access! Rokko MountainminorOthersOfficial partner website for accessing Rokko Mountain attractions, hiking trails, and outdoor activities in the mountain region.
• JTB Kobe BranchcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJoint program partner for the 'Hyogo Kobe B&S Program' supporting education travel arrangements. JTB handles sales and coordination of school travel programs to Kobe.
• Hyogo International Exchange AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting international education travel and student exchange programs, handling overseas school group visits and student exchanges to Kobe.
• Kobe SDGs Exploration Program Partners (40+ companies)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOver 40 companies and organizations participating in the KOBE SDGs Exploration Program for education travel, including corporations, universities, museums, and NGOs that provide learning experiences related to sustainability and social responsibility.
• Kobe/Hyogo Golf Tourism CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial council promoting golf tourism to Kobe/Hyogo region, with member golf courses and travel agencies working together to promote the area as a golf destination.
• NPO Withus (Kobe Universal Tourism Center)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization managing the Kobe Universal Tourism Center, providing assistance taxi booking, helper arrangement, and barrier-free facility guidance for elderly and disabled visitors.
• Hyogo Tourism Headquarters (Universal Accommodation Registry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization managing the 'Hyogo Universal Stay' accommodation registration program, promoting barrier-free hotels and lodging facilities for visitors with accessibility needs.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• VisitBritain: National DMO for the United Kingdom with similar non-government DMO structure, multilingual tourism promotion mandate, and partnership-driven visitor acquisition strategy across global source markets.
• Hong Kong Tourism Board: Regional Asian DMO with comparable inbound tourism promotion mandate, multilingual digital platform, and partnership-based visitor acquisition strategy across Asian source markets.
• JNTO (Japan National Tourism Organization): National-level destination marketing organization for Japan, promoting inbound tourism to the country as a whole. Functions as the national DMO umbrella of which Kobe Tourism Bureau is a regional counterpart.
• Singapore Tourism Board: National DMO for Singapore with a comparable mandate to promote inbound tourism via multilingual content, partnership ecosystems, and payment/travel partner marketing channels.
• Korea Tourism Organization: National DMO for South Korea, comparable in mandate to promote inbound tourism with multilingual digital platforms and partnership-based visitor acquisition strategy targeting Asian source markets.

Direct peers

• Nagoya Convention & Visitors Bureau: City-level DMO for Nagoya, comparable in scale and function as a regional Japanese tourism bureau with multilingual content, inbound promotion, and convention-hosting activities.
• Kyoto City Tourism Association: City-level tourism promotion organization for Kyoto, also in the Kansai region. Competes directly with Kobe for inbound Asian tourists and runs a comparable multilingual tourism information platform.
• Osaka Convention & Tourism Bureau: City-level DMO promoting tourism to Osaka, located in the same Kansai region as Kobe and competing for the same inbound tourist segments with comparable multilingual tourism information services.
• Yokohama Convention & Visitors Bureau: City-level DMO for Yokohama, another major Japanese port city. Comparable function as a regional DMO with multilingual tourism information services and inbound promotion focus.
• Tokyo Convention & Visitors Bureau: City-level DMO for Tokyo operating the GoTokyo multilingual tourism information platform targeting inbound visitors. Functions as a comparable Japanese city DMO peer at larger scale.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/feelkobe_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/feelkobejp
• Instagraminstagram.com/kobe.kanko

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kobe Tourism Bureau