Kobe Concerto Dinner Cruise Review: Our Romantic Night in Japan

Have you ever dreamed of enjoying a romantic dinner aboard a cruise ship? I’ve always thought that having dinner on a cruise ship would be a wonderful experience, but it seemed a little too luxurious for an ordinary day out. To be honest, I never expected to actually try it!

Fortunately, my wife and I received a discount voucher, so we decided to celebrate our wedding anniversary with a special dinner cruise in Kobe. We left our daughter with her grandparents and enjoyed a rare evening together.

And the result? The food was delicious, the night views were beautiful, and we had an absolutely wonderful time!

In this article, I’ll share our experience aboard the Kobe Concerto, a restaurant cruise ship departing from Kobe Harborland.

I’ll cover everything from the cruise’s basic information and boarding process to the French dinner, atmosphere, and beautiful night views, with plenty of photos.

If you’re visiting Kobe and looking for a romantic date, anniversary celebration, or simply a unique experience in Japan, I highly recommend considering this dinner cruise!

What Is the Kobe Concerto Dinner Cruise?

Before sharing our experience, let me introduce some basic information about the Kobe Concerto.

The Concerto is a restaurant cruise ship operating from Kobe Harborland, one of Kobe’s most popular waterfront areas.
Official website: https://thekobecruise.com/

① About the Concerto Cruise Ship

The Kobe Dining Cruise operates two ships: Concerto and Luminous Kobe 2.

We boarded the Concerto, while Luminous Kobe 2 is mainly used for group events, private cruises, and charter services.

The Concerto offers several cruise experiences throughout the day, including lunch, tea, twilight, and dinner cruises. Depending on the time of day, you can enjoy beautiful ocean views, sunsets, or Kobe’s illuminated waterfront while dining aboard the ship.

The interior has the atmosphere of an elegant restaurant, but what makes it special is that you’re actually sailing across the sea! You can also step outside onto the deck to enjoy the fresh ocean breeze.

It’s a wonderful way to escape your everyday routine and enjoy something a little different.

② Inside the Concerto

The Concerto is approximately 74 meters long and has nine dining rooms of various sizes.

Image Source:THE KOBE DINING CRUIS https://thekobecruise.com/concerto/photo

The room you use depends on your dining course and reservation plan. For example, the Emerald room is used for certain teppanyaki dining experiences, while the Topaz room can accommodate small private groups.

During our dinner cruise, we enjoyed our meal in the Pearl Room (④) on B Deck.

You can check the ship’s layout and interior photos on the official website.
https://thekobecruise.com/concerto/photo

③ How to Get to the Concerto

The Concerto departs from the boarding area on the first floor of Kobe Harborland umie MOSAIC.

If you’re traveling by train, the boarding area is approximately a 10-minute walk from JR Kobe Station.

The surrounding Harborland area is also a popular sightseeing destination, with shopping facilities, restaurants, and beautiful views of Kobe Port.I recommend arriving a little early and exploring the waterfront before boarding.

Personally, I think taking the train is the most convenient option, especially if you plan to enjoy alcoholic drinks during dinner.

If you’re traveling by car, there are parking facilities around umie and MOSAIC, but the cruise ship does not have its own dedicated parking lot.

For more information, check the official access guide:
https://thekobecruise.com/#access

④ Cruise Schedule and Prices

The Concerto offers several cruise experiences depending on the time of day.

The following schedule and prices are approximate examples based on the information available when this article was prepared.

Cruise schedules

Most cruises last approximately 90 to 105 minutes, depending on the schedule.

Approximate prices per person

Some cruises also offer more affordable plans that include a drink rather than a full meal.

In addition to the regular plans, special packages may be available for anniversaries, marriage proposals, and weddings.

⑤ Cruise Routes

The Concerto follows different routes depending on the cruise schedule. Lunch, tea, and twilight cruises generally travel westward from Kobe Port toward the Suma area.

Depending on the route, you may also be able to enjoy views of the impressive Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, one of the world’s longest suspension bridges. The night cruise we selected follows a different route, heading south toward Kobe Airport before returning to Kobe Harborland.

One thing to keep in mind is that cruise routes may change depending on weather and sea conditions.

In some cases, meals may even be served while the ship remains docked. Hopefully, you’ll have good weather on the day of your cruise!

Image Source:THE KOBE DINING CRUIS Official HP　https://thekobecruise.com/concerto/route

The map above shows the Concerto’s main cruise routes. The lunch, tea, and twilight cruises generally head west toward the Suma area, while the night cruise follows a different route around Kobe Port and toward Kobe Airport.

The actual route may vary depending on weather and sea conditions.

Booking and Boarding the Concerto

You can make a reservation through the official website or by telephone.

In Japan, booking platforms such as Jalan and Hot Pepper may also offer reservations, depending on the plan. Personally, I like using reservation platforms because they sometimes offer discounts or reward points.

However, if you’re visiting Japan from overseas, booking directly through the official website may be the simplest option.

Once you’ve completed your reservation and payment, head to the boarding area at Kobe Harborland umie MOSAIC. The boarding instructions we received required passengers to arrive at least 10 minutes before departure. I strongly recommend arriving earlier to avoid any last-minute stress.

At the boarding area, passengers are divided into different lines according to their reserved dining rooms, such as Pearl or Ruby. Simply find the line corresponding to your reservation and wait for boarding.
Of course, the ship won’t wait for you if you’re late! Make sure to check your reservation confirmation for the latest boarding instructions.

Even before boarding, we could already enjoy beautiful views of Kobe Port. The illuminated waterfront was a wonderful introduction to our evening.

And finally, there it was — the Concerto!

Seeing the actual cruise ship made me even more excited about the experience ahead.

Inside the Ship: Atmosphere and Seating

When it was finally time to board, we stepped inside the Concerto. I don’t often have the opportunity to board large ships, so I was already feeling pretty excited!

The interior was elegant and comfortable, with a relaxed atmosphere that made the evening feel special.

Our dining room was called Pearl. Inside, tables were arranged near the windows, allowing passengers to enjoy views of the sea while eating. There was also a piano in the room.

During dinner, we were treated to live piano music, which made the atmosphere even more romantic. Enjoying a French dinner while listening to a live pianist aboard a cruise ship…What a luxury!

We had selected a relatively expensive French dinner course, and we were guided to a particularly nice table near the front of the room. From our seats, we had a great view of the illuminated waterfront. It was the perfect setting for a special evening.

① What Should You Wear?

As far as I could tell, there was no strict dress code. Some passengers were wearing casual clothes, while others had dressed up for the occasion.

Personally, I recommend wearing something a little nicer than usual. After all, it’s not every day that you get to enjoy dinner aboard a cruise ship!

A smart-casual outfit would be a good choice, although you should check whether your specific dining plan has any dress requirements.

② What Kind of People Were on Board?

From what I observed, approximately 70% of the passengers seemed to be couples, while the remaining 30% were families. Of course, that’s just my personal impression!

There was also a professional photographer on board who took pictures of passengers at their tables. At the time of our visit, the photos were available for purchase for ¥1,500 each.
We decided not to buy one, but it could be a nice souvenir if you’re celebrating a special occasion.

Our French Dinner Experience

Now, let’s move on to the highlight of the evening. The dinner!

We chose a French course featuring Kobe beef, one of Japan’s most famous premium beef varieties. Kobe beef is known for its tenderness and rich flavor, making it a popular choice among visitors to Japan.

I was really looking forward to trying it as part of a special French dinner.

⓪Our Kobe Beef Course Menu

Here is the menu we enjoyed during our cruise.

The menu featured several ingredients from the surrounding region, including Kobe beef, Awaji Island onions, and fish from the Seto Inland Sea. I really liked how the dishes incorporated local Japanese ingredients into French cuisine.

The drink menu during our visit is shown in the photo below. Alcoholic options were limited mainly to beer and wine. If you don’t enjoy either, you may prefer one of the non-alcoholic drinks.

Personally, I wish there had been a wider selection of alcoholic beverages!

​Please note that the menu changes depending on the season and dining plan.

① Assorted Appetizers: Yellowtail with Marinated Onions, Red Sea Bream with French Caviar, and Prosciutto di Parma

The first dish was a beautifully presented selection of appetizers. It included yellowtail, red sea bream, marinated onions, and Parma ham.

The seafood was fresh, and the vegetables complemented the flavors wonderfully.　It was a delicious way to begin the meal.

② French Onion Gratin Soup with Awaji Island Onions

Next came the onion gratin soup. Awaji Island, located near Kobe, is famous for producing delicious onions.

The onions had been cooked until they were incredibly soft, giving the soup a rich and comforting flavor. My wife usually doesn’t like onions very much. But surprisingly, even she kept saying how delicious this soup was!

There was also bread soaked in the soup, which absorbed all the wonderful flavors. Absolutely delicious.

③ Sous-Vide Spanish Mackerel Confit with Daikon Radish and Shellfish Sauce

The next course was Spanish mackerel confit. The fish came from the Seto Inland Sea, which is known for its seafood. It had a wonderfully tender texture and practically fell apart with a fork.

The accompanying sauce complemented the fish beautifully. The combination was excellent! Although Kobe beef was the main attraction, the seafood dishes were also impressive.

④ Pan-Seared Kobe Beef Loin with Spring Vegetables and Brown Butter Sauce

And finally, the main event! Kobe beef loin!
The beef was incredibly tender and full of flavor. It was easily one of the highlights of the entire dinner. It was a sophisticated combination of flavors that I really enjoyed.

If you’re visiting Kobe for the first time, trying Kobe beef is definitely something worth considering.

And enjoying it aboard a cruise ship made the experience even more memorable!

Enjoying Kobe’s Night Views from the Deck

Of course, the delicious dinner wasn’t the only attraction.
Another major highlight of the Concerto is the opportunity to enjoy Kobe’s beautiful night views from the sea.

You can see the illuminated waterfront through the restaurant windows while enjoying your meal.

However, there’s one thing I noticed during our night cruise.
Because it was already dark outside, it was sometimes difficult to appreciate the surrounding ocean itself. You could see the lights of Kobe beautifully, but much of the sea was hidden in darkness.

If you want to enjoy the feeling of sailing across the ocean and see the surrounding scenery clearly, a lunch or twilight cruise might be a better choice. On the other hand, if you love city lights and romantic evening views, the night cruise is wonderful.

Is the Kobe Concerto Dinner Cruise Worth It?

So, was the Kobe Concerto dinner cruise worth it? For us, absolutely!

We had a wonderful evening, and the experience exceeded our expectations. The French cuisine was delicious, especially the Kobe beef and onion gratin soup.
The live piano music created a romantic atmosphere, and the views of Kobe Port from the outdoor deck were unforgettable.

Of course, it’s more expensive than an ordinary dinner at a restaurant. But I think the value of the experience goes beyond the food itself.

You’re not just paying for a meal. You’re paying for the opportunity to enjoy a special evening aboard a cruise ship, surrounded by beautiful scenery.

That’s what makes it memorable.

① Who Would I Recommend It To?

I especially recommend the Concerto for couples celebrating anniversaries, birthdays, or other special occasions.

It could also be a wonderful choice for a marriage proposal or a romantic date during your trip to Japan.

If you’re traveling with family, a lunch or tea cruise might be another enjoyable option.

On the other hand, if you’re mainly interested in sightseeing and want to keep your travel expenses low, you may prefer exploring Kobe Harborland on foot. You can enjoy beautiful waterfront views without booking a cruise.

But if you’re looking for something special, the Concerto is definitely worth considering.

② My Final Thoughts

Before this experience, I thought dinner cruises were something I would probably never try. They always seemed a little too luxurious!

But thanks to a discount voucher and a special occasion, my wife and I finally had the opportunity. And I’m really glad we did.

The delicious food, elegant atmosphere, live piano music, and beautiful night views made it a truly memorable evening.

If you’re planning a trip to Kobe and want to enjoy a unique dining experience, why not consider the Concerto? It might become one of the highlights of your visit to Japan!

Looking for More Things to Do in Kobe?

If you’re planning a date or sightseeing trip in Kobe, I also recommend visiting Nunobiki Falls, a beautiful waterfall located within walking distance of Shin-Kobe Station.

Despite being so close to the city, the area is surrounded by lush greenery and offers a refreshing escape into nature.

My wife and I visited the waterfall together, and I shared our experience, including photos and practical hiking tips, in the   article below.

Related article

Nunobiki Falls Kobe: An Easy Hike from Shin-Kobe Station

Combining a nature walk during the day with a romantic dinner cruise in the evening could make for a wonderful day in Kobe!

Fin

鳴山シンゴ / Shingo Naruyama

化学メーカー社員／ブロガー | Chemical Manufacturer Employee / Blogger

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世界を旅するブロガーを目指す30代化学メーカー社員。趣味（読書、カメラ、サウナ、旅行、バドミントン）やお金・ライフハック関連の記事を投稿しています！ ｜ English ｜ Japan-based blogger working for a chemical manufacturer. I share real experiences and practical tips about travel, saunas, activities, and everyday life in Japan.