Quick facts
Kobe overview
Kobe (orange) and the other large cities of Japan
Kobe lies in Hyōgo in Japan at 34.69°N, 135.18°E, about 35 m above sea level. The local time zone is Asia/Tokyo (UTC+9); GeoNames classifies it as a regional capital.
It is smaller than Kawasaki (1,538,262) and larger than Kyoto (1,463,723). The largest city in Japan is Tokyo with 9,733,276 people; the capital, Tokyo, has 9,733,276.
The national capital, Tokyo, is about 424 km away; the nearest large city is Nishinomiya, 14 km from Kobe.
Japan as a whole has a live population of 122,222,547 (-0.6% a year) and ranks #12 of 238 countries — see the Japan population page for the full statistics and the Japan atlas for provinces, terrain and society maps.
Cities near Kobe
| City | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Nishinomiya Hyōgo | 14 km | 485,587 |
| Akashi Hyōgo | 17 km | 303,601 |
| Takarazuka Hyōgo | 20 km | 226,432 |
| Amagasaki Hyōgo | 22 km | 459,593 |
| Sandachō Hyōgo | 22 km | 132,858 |
| Itami Hyōgo | 22 km | 198,138 |
| Kawanishi Hyōgo | 26 km | 155,165 |
| Osaka Osaka | 29 km | 2,753,862 |
Largest cities in Japan
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of Kobe?
Kobe has about 1,525,152 inhabitants according to the latest official census or estimate compiled by GeoNames. This is the city proper; the metropolitan area is larger.
Is Kobe the capital of Japan?
No. The capital of Japan is Tokyo (9,733,276 people), about 424 km away. Kobe is the 8th largest city of the country and a regional capital.
How big is Kobe compared with the rest of Japan?
Its 1,525,152 residents are 1.2% of the 122,222,547 people living in Japan today. Tokyo is larger with 9,733,276 people.
Where is Kobe?
In Hyōgo, Japan, at latitude 34.69 and longitude 135.18, 35 m above sea level. Nearby large cities include Nishinomiya (14 km), Akashi (17 km), Takarazuka (20 km).
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Cite or link to this page
Glostats. (2026). Kobe Population 2026 — Japan. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://glostats.com/cities/japan/kobe/<a href="https://glostats.com/cities/japan/kobe/">Kobe Population 2026 — Japan</a> — GlostatsFigures on this page may be quoted, charted or republished as long as the page is credited with a link. Terms · Download the data as CSV · Embed a live counter.
City populations are GeoNames figures (CC BY 4.0): the latest official census or estimate for the city proper — the municipality, not the wider metropolitan area — so they can differ from "metro area" numbers you see elsewhere. Country populations are live Glostats estimates from the UN World Population Prospects. Distances are great-circle distances between city centres. Page generated 2026-10-20. More about our data.