HOW DO we get from Kobe to Kyoto for a day? We will be on a cruise docking in Kobe.......is it wise to stay overnight at a centrally located hotel in Kyoto?

Also, we need a guide in Kyoto...help!

Trains, both private line and JR, run often. Time will depend on which train you take and which stations you use. You can you grace.hyperdia.com to check trains.

If you book ahead through tourist info you can perhaps have a free Goodwill guide. I believe how to book is in the JNTO pages. You can also book a private guide. http://www.mk-group.co.jp/

Kobe is not served by the Shinkansen. But like KimJapan says, frequent service. I looked up the timetable, and fast trains to Osaka run every 7-8 minutes, and takes under 30 minutes. Some of these trains continue to Kyoto or you need to switch platform for another.

Either way, about an hour from Kobe station to Kyoto station.

Trains run in Japan from around 5am to just past midnight.

I think that the cruise ship port is near Sannomiya. You could take the Kobe subway to Shin Kobe and the shinkansen from there to Kyoto. Might save 15 minutes, would be much more comfortable than JR local trains, but would cost 3700 that way vs 2030 on JR local (each way).

If you stay in Kobe, though, you can probably get on a tour bus leaving from your hotel.

It would be a great idea to stay overnight, though.

Bonjour Lketopaint,

Here's a map of Kobe: http://feel-kobe.jp/guidemap/pdf/map-e.pdf

As you will see, the harbor is not very far from JR Sannomiya station (10-15 min by bus - it was rush hour when I used it), from where you can board a train to Kyoto (about 1 hour, comfortable unless it is rush hour, check Hyperdia for timetable). You can also go all the way to Shin Kobe for a shinkansen, but you risk wasting time getting a ticket, unless you figure a way to book in advance (but I think it is Emd on this board who announced the online reservation system is will soon be out ..).

As for guides in Kyoto, outside of the Goodwill guides through JNTO, you may want to check Kyoto Visitor's Guide and get a print copy anyway at the tourism office or at your hotel: http://www.kyotoguide.com/index/index.html

or Kyoto city tourism at http://raku.city.kyoto.jp/sight_e.phtml

The subway from Sannomiya to Shin Kobe takes 3 minutes. But, buses from the Port Island go to Shin Kobe (stopping at Sannomiya first, probably).

The train from Sannomiya would most likely be JR local trains that take 50 minutes or more and make 25 stops enroute to Kyoto. There is a limited express train from Sannomiya that has two stops before Kyoto and that would be a much better ride, but the service is very infrequent.

For the OP, the concern about getting reserved seats on the shinkansen would be much less. The JR Passes would not be useful for this itinerary, so OP could take any shinkansen, including the Nozomi. Service is frequent from Shin Kobe and the Nozomi train would make ONE stop at Shin Osaka before arriving at Kyoto 29 minutes after departing Shinkobe.

I took the ropeway that is near Shin Kobe station to the top of the mountain. There are some very good views of the city on the ride. There are some gardens on top. You can ride back down or walk a paved path through gardens. I was there for the view and the ride, so I didn't take time for the gardens (herb gardens according to Florence's map). It's a nice visit if you stay in Kobe, but I would skip the ropeway ride in favor of spending more time in Kyoto.

Lketopaint,
are you going to arive in Kobe on March 24. Are you still going to take the train into Kyoto? we are also looking into this. hope to hear from you.