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Kobe beef at a Kobe steakhouse

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Kobe Beef

神戸ビーフ Kobe beef · Kobe, Hyōgo

Photo: ZhengZhou · CC BY-SA 4.0

Only Tajima beef from Hyogo Prefecture that meets the council's standards may be called Kobe beef.

Know before you go

  • Don't take cheap “wagyu” for Kobe beef (you can ask to see the certification)
  • don't touch the hotplate at a teppanyaki counter
  • don't ask for well-done and then complain that the meat is tough (around medium is recommended—just state your preference)

This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.

Culture

Culture & customs

Background

Kobe beef is meat from Tajima-strain Japanese Black wagyu from Hyogo Prefecture, certified under the rules of the Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association; famed for its marble-like fat, tenderness and flavor, it ranks with Matsusaka beef and Omi beef (or Yonezawa beef) as one of Japan's "three great wagyu". According to English Wikipedia, cattle came to Japan from China around the 2nd century during the Yayoi period, and until around the Meiji Restoration of 1868 they were used only as draft animals; meat was not eaten for cultural and religious reasons. During Japan's period of national isolation, almost no foreign bloodlines were introduced into the herds. Beef eating began after Meiji, and as Kobe was an open port, demand from foreigners spread the name "Kobe beef". The association was founded in 1983 and sets the definition, issues certificates and designates retailers.

Local customs

  • The most common way to eat it is teppanyaki: the chef grills it on an iron plate in front of you and cuts it into pieces, served with salt, pepper, garlic chips or mustard
  • there is also sukiyaki and shabu-shabu. Reputable restaurants display a numbered certificate or nose-print record, and you can ask the restaurant to show it.

Religion & beliefs

Kobe beef itself has nothing to do with religion. Before Meiji, Japan basically did not eat beef, and Kobe, after opening as a port, was one of the earliest cities to accept beef eating—a history tied to the formation of its brand. It is not bound by religious dietary rules, but beef is unsuitable for Hindus and other travelers who do not eat beef.

Etiquette & taboos

Etiquette & taboos

Rules that apply here

Essential restrictionsEveryday mannersCountry-wide guidance · Japan

No photography and no eating or drinking in the permanent gallery of the Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum

Do

  • Put away your camera, food and drinks before entering the permanent gallery
  • For the special exhibition gallery and the children's gallery, check the notices of the day to see whether photography is allowed
  • If you need to eat or drink, go to the areas designated by the museum, such as the outdoor colonnade

Don’t

  • Do not take photos or videos in the permanent gallery
  • Do not eat or drink in the permanent gallery, and do not have meals in other areas of the museum either
  • Do not extend the permanent gallery's photo ban into a photo ban across the entire park

The museum's 2026 visitor guide explicitly prohibits photography, eating and drinking in the permanent gallery and asks visitors to check the restrictions for other galleries separately; follow the museum's instructions on site.

Not yet verifiedSource: Okinawa Prefectural Peace Memorial Museum: FY2026 visitor guide, page 6

Essential restrictionsSafetyCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Japan: At fireworks festivals, don't tape off spots in advance, and never fly drones

Do

  • Spread your sheet where there is actual space when you arrive, leaving room for neighbours
  • Follow police and staff directions and move with the crowd
  • Bring plenty of water and cooling gear to prevent heatstroke
  • Riverbanks have lots of insects, so bring repellent
  • Festivals usually go ahead in light rain, so bring a raincoat
  • Take your rubbish home

Don’t

  • Don't mark spots in advance with tape or spray paint on roads or in parks
  • Don't fly drones
  • Don't use selfie sticks in crowds; the Sumida River festival bans them
  • Don't stop in the middle of the path to watch and block the flow

Spots marked in advance are cleared by the organisers, and flying drones is prohibited by law. City-centre festivals run one-way crowd flows, and going against the flow or stopping can cause dangerous crushes.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Excite News: Sumida River Fireworks, access and viewing guide

Essential restrictionsHot springsCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Mixed, open-air and private baths: read the signs, don't stare, never take photos

Do

  • Check the signs before entering; mixed baths are clearly marked, and joining is entirely your choice
  • Most mixed baths are nude only, with no swimwear; some allow or lend special bathing wraps or towels, so follow the bath's rules
  • If you prefer not to bathe mixed, use the separate men's and women's baths or a private bath
  • Outdoor baths are slippery and the temperature changes sharply; hold the handrails when moving
  • Use a private bath only within your booked slot and leave on time
  • Tohoku and other regions still have many therapeutic hot springs with mixed bathing; for long therapeutic stays, follow the ryokan's and your doctor's advice

Don’t

  • Don't stare at other bathers, strike up conversations, or linger to watch
  • Don't take photos or videos in the bath area
  • Don't overstay a private bath; the next group is waiting

Mixed bathing works only because bathers keep their eyes to themselves; staring or taking photos will get you asked to leave, and filming others in a bath may break local law.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Wikipedia (Japanese): Konyoku

Essential restrictionsPhotos & dronesCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Stay off private land, and ask before photographing children or people

Do

  • Ask parents' permission before photographing their children
  • Ask geiko, maiko, and other working people before photographing them
  • Check for 撮影禁止 (no photography) signs, and ask staff if there are none
  • Photograph trains and stations themselves without disrupting operations

Don’t

  • Do not enter private homes or land for a shot
  • Do not photograph the inside of homes
  • Do not aim your camera at individual passengers on trains or buses
  • Do not step into rice paddies, flower beds, or along railway tracks for photos
  • Do not use selfie sticks or tripods in crowds or dangerous spots
  • Do not chase or stop geiko or maiko

Trespassing on private land is illegal and can get you told to leave or to delete your photos. Shooting in no-photo areas will be stopped, and photographing children is seen as an invasion of privacy.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Aichi Now: Sightseeing Manners

Essential restrictionsHot springsCountry-wide guidance · Japan

Bathe nude in the onsen and keep your towel out of the water

Do

  • Bathe fully nude, without swimwear or underwear
  • Rest your small towel on your head or the edge of the bath
  • Tie up long hair so it stays out of the water
  • Enter the bath slowly and keep quiet
  • Leave your phone in the locker
  • Keep your first soak short, and dry off before returning to the changing room

Don’t

  • Do not dip your towel into the bath
  • Do not swim, dive, or talk loudly in the bath
  • Do not take photos anywhere in the bathing area
  • Do not wrap your yukata right side over left; that is how the deceased are dressed

Most of these are written bathhouse rules. Breaking them gets you a reminder from staff, and in serious cases you may be asked to leave. Soaking too long can also make you dizzy.

Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: Authentic Local Japan: Onsen Etiquette

Don’t DON'T

  • Don't take cheap “wagyu” for Kobe beef (you can ask to see the certification)
  • don't touch the hotplate at a teppanyaki counter
  • don't ask for well-done and then complain that the meat is tough (around medium is recommended—just state your preference)
  • don't wear flip-flops and shorts to upscale restaurants—follow the restaurant's requirements.

Locals appreciate DO

  • Teppanyaki chefs appreciate customers who tell them how they want their meat done and watch the cooking attentively
  • praising the marbling and texture after eating is better received than rushing to take photos. When booking, tell the restaurant about allergies and foods you do not eat, and the chef will prepare in advance
  • showing appreciation for the cooking of the garlic chips, vegetables and other sides makes the whole meal more enjoyable.

Plan your visit

Practical info

Travel tips

  • Steakhouses and teppanyaki restaurants cluster around Sannomiya and Motomachi. A meal takes about one to one and a half hours
  • dinner usually requires a reservation, while lunch sets are cheaper and easier to book. You can combine it with the Kitano Ijinkan foreign residences, Nankinmachi and the Port of Kobe. Certified beef is very expensive, and 'wagyu' or 'kuroge wagyu' on a menu does not necessarily mean Kobe beef, so you may want to check before ordering. Dining tips: Kobe beef is very high in fat, so those with sensitive stomachs should eat only a little
  • it is not suitable for those who don't eat beef
  • sukiyaki is often dipped in raw egg, and you can ask to have it without. Some restaurants take reservations on their official websites or by phone
  • book early in peak season. Prices and opening hours are subject to each restaurant
  • popular long-established places often have queues, so avoiding peak mealtimes makes for a more relaxed visit.
Sources & verification notes

English Wikipedia: Kobe beef

Japanese Wikipedia: Kobe beef

Kobe Beef Marketing and Distribution Promotion Association: definition of Kobe beef

MAFF “Our Regional Cuisines”: Kobe beef steak (Hyōgo Prefecture)

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