via Nozomi (�14670); 3 hours and 20 minutes via Hikari (�14270; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). From Shin-Kobe station, take the Seishin Yamate subway line one stop to Sannomiya (�200). If you are traveling light you can walk as well.
From Osaka, there are several ways to arrive in Sannomiya:
� Trains on the Hankyu and Hanshin private lines depart respectively from Hankyu-Umeda and Hanshin-Umeda stations. The Tokkyu (??) express takes roughly half an hour to reach Sannomiya (�310).
� Hanshin trains also operate to Kobe from Namba station. Kaisoku Kyuko (????) trains depart every 20 minutes, reaching Sannomiya in 45 minutes at a cost of �400. In some instances you may have to change trains at Amagasaki.
� The best option via JR is to take the Shin-kaisoku service that departs from JR Osaka station, running to Sannomiya in 20 and 26 minutes, respectively (�390, no charge with the Japan Rail Pass).
From Kyoto, Sannomiya is 50 minutes away from the main train station via Shin-kaisoku (�1050; no charge with the Japan Rail Pass). You can also make the run to the area in 30 minutes via bullet train, but it is more expensive, and if you have the rail pass, you can only take one train every hour without changing trains (the Hikari that runs through to Okayama).
From the central area of Kyoto (near Gion and the shopping district), you can reach Sannomiya in 70 minutes via Hankyu limited express, changing once at Juso station (�600). Hankyu trains depart from the Kawaramachi and Karasuma stations.
Kintetsu trains run from the historical city of Nara to Sannomiya station on the Hanshin line via Namba. Direct trains leave every 20 minutes, reaching Sannomiya in 75 minutes at a cost of �940.
By bus
As Kobe is a major city, there are many buses which run between Kobe and other locations throughout Japan, which can be a cheaper alternative than
