“Kawasaki World” is a museum in Kobe that operated by Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group. In addition to the exhibition of motorcycles of all generations of the motorcycle series “Ninja” that the company has been manufacturing and selling for many years, there are also race simulators, etc which are displayed at the museum and is a spot that bike fans should never miss to visit. Besides motorcycles, there are bullet train and helicopter display corner, and also a "History Corner" that summarizes the history of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group. It is a popular museum that has more than 200,000 visitor annually, and has been in the top 20 for six consecutive years since 2013 at travel review website, and also at “Plant & Social Study Tour Ranking” at TripAdvisor.
The concept is "Experience the fun of Technology world of land, sea and sky!"
"Kawasaki World" was opened in 2006, and is located in the Kobe Ocean Museum in "Meriken Park" in Kobe Port. It was renewed in 2016 as commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the opening of Kawasaki World, and it has become a more informative museum.
The concept of the museum is "to see, to feel and to enjoy the technology". You can learn about the history of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group and its technological innovation through video, real models, and by experiencing it.
You can also enter to the driver’s seat area of displayed Bullet train!
Besides "Founder Introduction Corner" that introduce about the founder, Shozo Kawasaki and the first president, Kojiro Matsukata, there are also "History Corner" which summarizes the history of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group with display of photographs and product models, “Land zone” with the first carriage of real bullet train that visitor can actually enter the driver's seat carriage and cabin, “sea zone” where jet skis are displayed, and “sky zone” where has the exhibit big helicopter and where you can experience flying over Kobe with flight simulator, etc.
"History corner” that displays the first Japan industrial robots and first model of jet ski, etc.
"Motorcycle Gallery" where you can test ride Ninja 250!
The most recommended corner for bike fans is “Motorcycle Gallery”. There are about 25 cars including the famous motorcycles of the past and the latest race cars which are displayed. At the experience corner, you can actually ride Z125PRO or Z900. In addition, at “Theme Gallery”, as in January 2019 there is a theme gallery of, "Kawasaki flagship that colors the era" which exhibits five bikes which including GPz 900R and ZX-14R, etc.
You can try the simulated riding with riding simulator "RidEX"
There is another attraction of riding simulator "RidEX" which is worthy for you to visit. The landscape of international racing course "Autopolis" of about 4.7km in Hino City, Oita Prefecture is projected on the a sphere screen, where visitor can simulate riding at the course. The maximum speed can be set up to 200 km/hr, and you can experience up to 2 laps, and the sound is also realistic! You can tilt until 9 degrees to both left and right, as if you are actually riding on a bike!
※ Reservation at the spot is needed and no riding license is required for the simulation.
Please visit to here at least once!
The access to “Kawasaki World” is only 15-minutes’ walk from JR and Hanshin "Motomachi Station", and a 10-minutes’ walk from subway coastline "Minato Motomachi Station". Admission fee is 600 yen for adults and 250 yen for children (Primary and secondary school students). .
"Kawasaki World" is a place where you can experience Japan's technologies on land, sea and sky. It will be definitely fun no matter you you're a bike fan or not. Please visit to here at least once.
Kawasaki World
- 2-2, Hatoba-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo Prefecture, postcode 650-0042. (Located in Kobe Oceanographic Museum)
- Admission Fee: Adults 600 yen, children (Primary and secondary school students) 250 yen (included in the admission fee for Kobe Ocean Museum)
- Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:00 (Entrance to the museum by 16:30)
- Closed: Every Monday (if the public holiday falls on Monday, the museum will be closed on the next day), New Year holidays (29th Dec – 3rd January)
- Access: 15 minutes on foot from JR / Hanshin "Motomachi Station", 10 minutes on foot from subway coastline "Minato Motomachi Station"
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