Photo/Illutration An artist’s rendition of a cafe bar and restaurant located on the third and fourth floors of the ground-level section of the Kobe Port Tower after renovations (Provided by Kobe Waterfront Development Inc.)

KOBE--Kobe Port Tower, with its panoramic observation deck, will boast a museum, a revolving cafe bar, a cafe restaurant and other new facilities when it reopens in spring 2024 following extensive renovations.

Located in Meriken Park, on the shore of Osaka Bay, the 108-meter-high structure has two sections connected by elevators.

The observatory portion consists of five floors located between 75 and 90 meters aboveground. The ground-level section has four floors.

The city government announced plans in December 2020 to renovate the tower and install a public walkway on top of the observatory section as well as introduce other facilities.

Kobe Waterfront Development Inc., which manages the tower, said the fifth floor of the observatory section will have a museum dedicated to artworks themed on light.

The rotating third floor that allows visitors to enjoy 360-degree views will open as a cafe bar.

A cafe bar and restaurant will operate on the third and fourth floors of the ground-level section to serve sweets prepared using locally produced fruits, as well as alcoholic drinks and other beverages.

It was previously announced that an outdoor terrace will grace the fourth floor.

Admission fees will be charged as before to enter the observatory section  after the tower reopens. There will be no charge to visit the ground-level section.

Kobe Port Tower opened in 1963, attracting around 910,000 visitors the following year. But visitor numbers plummeted to around 300,000 annually in recent years.

The tower closed in September 2021 to strengthen its resistance to earthquakes and do other remodeling work.

The city government and Kobe Waterfront Development opted to incorporate know-how from private entities to lure more visitors and get the word out about the new facilities on offer.

They are also forging ahead with a redevelopment project for the tower and its vicinity to draw visitors to the city’s waterfront area.

In October 2021, the Kobe Port Museum, a commercial complex housing an aquarium, a food court and other facilities, opened on the east side of the tower.

A multipurpose arena that can host sports and music events, as well as international conferences, is slated to open in April 2025.

Related News