In 2024, Kobe's transportation landscape is dominated by walking and train travel, each accounting for 50% of the commuting methods. With no reliance on cars, buses, or bicycles, Kobe showcases a unique urban mobility pattern focused on sustainable and efficient public transport.

Average Commute Times

The average commute involves a 3.75-minute wait, 13.25 minutes of walking, and 25 minutes by train, covering a distance of 22.875 km.
  • Train - Train commuters experience a 7.5-minute wait and 50 minutes of travel, with an additional 15 minutes of walking, covering 44.5 km.
  • Walking - Walking commutes average 11.5 minutes, covering a distance of 1.25 km.
Traffic Breakdown
Walking
50%
Train
50%
Seasonal Trends

Traffic tends to increase during the cherry blossom season in spring, as tourists flock to the city. Winter months see a slight decrease in walking commutes due to colder weather conditions.

Commuter Pain Points

Train delays during peak hours can lead to increased waiting times. Limited options for those who prefer cycling or driving, as these modes are not prevalent.

Best Travel Times

Early mornings before 8 AM are ideal for avoiding train congestion. Mid-afternoon between 1 PM and 3 PM offers a quieter commute for walkers.

Event Impacts

Public events such as the Kobe Luminarie significantly increase foot traffic and train usage. Festivals and cultural events can lead to temporary road closures, affecting pedestrian routes.

Sustainability Efforts

Kobe has invested in expanding pedestrian zones to encourage walking. The city promotes the use of public transport through subsidized train passes.

Ride-Sharing Impact

Ride-sharing services have a minimal impact due to the high reliance on walking and trains. These services are mostly used during late-night hours when public transport is less frequent.

Traffic Rankings

The Traffic Index for Japan combines user-contributed data on commute times, traffic dissatisfaction, CO2 emissions, and traffic system inefficiencies in Japan, to provide insights into overall traffic conditions.

Worst to BestUpdated: Feb, 2025

Traffic Data

The following traffic data has been gathered from 4 user contributions.
Overall average travel
Distance
14.2 miles
Walking
13.3 mins
Waiting
3.8 mins
Bus / Trolley
2.5 mins
Train
25.0 mins
Other
3.5 mins
Total:
48.0 mins
Average when primarily using Train
Distance
27.7 miles
Walking
15.0 mins
Waiting
7.5 mins
Bus / Trolley
5.0 mins
Train
50.0 mins
Other
7.0 mins
Total:
84.5 mins
Average when primarily using Walking
Distance
0.8 miles
Walking
11.5 mins
Total:
11.5 mins
Kobe Traffic

"Key Takeaways"

Kobe's transportation system is highly reliant on walking and trains, minimizing the carbon footprint.

There is potential to improve transit efficiency, particularly in reducing waiting times for trains.

Key Indexes

Emissions

Kobe's CO2 emissions index stands at 670, indicating a moderate level of emissions.

Efforts to maintain low emissions are supported by the city's reliance on walking and public transport.

Time

The time index is 48, reflecting efficient commuting times across the city.

Commuters spend an average of 25 minutes on train journeys, which is relatively efficient.

Inefficiency

The inefficiency index is 224.19, suggesting room for improvement in optimizing transit routes.

Despite the high inefficiency index, the reliance on walking and trains helps mitigate severe delays.