The Kansai Area Pass is really convenient for travelers. One pass can take you to all the must-see sightseeing spots in Kansai, such as Kyoto, Himeji, Osaka, Kobe, and also includes Haruka train access to Kansai Airport.
This pass is suited to visitors who are traveling more than 100km each day within Kansai. This pass is only available to foreign visitors with a short stay (90 day) stamp in their passport.
I picked up my pass at Kobe Station. To use the pass is really easy. You can just show the ticket to the station staff instead of touching-in at the ticket barrier.
Kobe Station is a hive of activity with lots of shops. When you are waiting for your train, it is a good idea to walk around the station. In Kobe, you can go to the famous Kobe Bay area. For famous food, you have got to try Kobe beef (Kobe-gyu).
You can discover more about Kobe and the surrounding areas with your JR West Pass. See JR West's website for more detailed, up-to-date information: the pass comes in 1-, 2-, 3- and 4-day versions to use on consecutive days.