Kobe Port Museum

The venue's most famous attraction is AQUARIUM × ART átoa, which enhances the classic aquarium experience with artistic backdrops and digital visual elements: you don't "just" look at fish, but walk through a story-like, stage-like space where lights and installations highlight the beauty of marine life. Since it's an indoor activity, it's an especially great programme in winter, and according to átoa's official information, it is open all year round (occasional closures may occur due to maintenance).

It's worth combining your visit with nearby harbour walks and sightseeing.

On the ground floor of the museum, the TOOTH TOOTH MART FOOD HALL focuses on the flavours of Kobe and Hyōgo: you can choose from several counters, and they promise a distinctly "local" menu, including Kobe beef dishes, sweets, and Nada sake. Thanks to this combination (visuals + gastronomy), the Kobe Port Museum is typically a place where you can easily spend 2–4 hours, even if the harbour area is windy and chilly.

Sustainability efforts: the museum not only entertains but also raises awareness. For example, they dedicate special material to the topic of "blue carbon" – how coastal marine habitats (such as kelp and seagrass meadows) can capture carbon dioxide and why their protection is crucial for climate conservation. Protecting marine ecosystems thus becomes a tangible concept, and our everyday decisions (what we consume, how much we waste, how mindful we are of nature) truly matter.