Japan Kobe Mission
Mission leaders
Jason and Kristen Sybrowsky Kerr
Began service ~July 2026 (three-year terms, “on or about July 1”) · estimated release 2029-07-01 estimate · source: Church Newsroom 2026 · as of October 8, 2026
Mission office
- Office address
- 4-6-28 Shinoharahonmachi,, Nada-ku,, Kobe-shi, Hyōgo, 657-0067, Japan
- Phone
- Not yet verified
- Not yet verified
- Source
- Unofficial third-party directory (latterdaymissions.com) — may be out of date unofficial — confirm before mailing as of October 8, 2026
Letters & packages
Japan Post is reliable; duties may apply on higher-value packages.
- Your missionary can email weekly on P-day; letters and packages are optional extras.
- Confirm the current mailing address with the mission office or the call packet before sending — offices move.
- Small, padded envelopes usually travel faster and cheaper than boxes; declare contents honestly and avoid restricted items.
- Mail-by dates for holidays and a calendar reminder are in the interactive guide.
Weather & climate
Profile: cool-winter, hot-summer · about 1539 mm of rain a year · wettest months: May, Jun.
Monthly averages
| Avg high | Avg low | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F / 8°C | 32°F / 0°C | 54 mm |
| Feb | 47°F / 8°C | 32°F / 0°C | 62 mm |
| Mar | 55°F / 13°C | 38°F / 4°C | 127 mm |
| Apr | 64°F / 18°C | 47°F / 8°C | 159 mm |
| May | 72°F / 22°C | 55°F / 13°C | 159 mm |
| Jun | 78°F / 26°C | 64°F / 18°C | 218 mm |
| Jul | 86°F / 30°C | 72°F / 22°C | 258 mm |
| Aug | 88°F / 31°C | 74°F / 23°C | 194 mm |
| Sep | 81°F / 27°C | 68°F / 20°C | 214 mm |
| Oct | 70°F / 21°C | 57°F / 14°C | 161 mm |
| Nov | 60°F / 16°C | 46°F / 8°C | 70 mm |
| Dec | 50°F / 10°C | 35°F / 2°C | 54 mm |
Monthly averages computed from Open-Meteo historical weather data (2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis) for a ~1° grid cell near the mission city. Approximate; local altitude and coast effects vary.
Language
Japanese
Japanese uses three scripts (hiragana, katakana, kanji). Pronunciation is even and syllable-timed; vowels a-i-u-e-o are short and pure. Politeness levels matter: use the polite "-masu/-desu" forms. Missionaries are called "Chōrō" (Elder) and "Shimai" (Sister).
Assignments can include other languages; your call letter states your language.
Nearby temples
- Osaka Japan Temple — Site announced (1 October 2023) · ~28 km
- Tokyo Japan Temple — Operating (27 October 1980) · ~423 km
- Fukuoka Japan Temple — Operating (11 June 2000) · ~456 km
- Busan Korea Temple — Announced (2 October 2022) · ~564 km
The Church in Japan
- Official Languages
- Japanese
- Church Membership
- 131,776
- Congregations
- 230 (142 Wards, 88 Branches)
- Number of Missions
- 7
- Operating Temples
- 4
Newsroom Facts & Statistics · updated Fri Mar 06 2026
Practical
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Currency
- JPY
- Country code
- +81
- U.S. travel advisory
- Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions as of 2026-10-08
- Organized
- 1 Sep 1968
Culture & food
- Bow when greeting; remove shoes at the door.
- Punctuality and quietness on trains are expected.
- Use two hands to give and receive.
Foods: Ramen, Curry rice, Onigiri, Sushi
Family groups
- Japan Kobe Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group
- Japan Kobe Mission Facebook Group
- President McIntyre – Kobe Mission 2008-11 Group
- Japan Kobe Mission (President Zinke) Group
As listed by latterdaymissions.com (unofficial). Groups may be private, renamed, or inactive.
Next steps
Official: Missionary Portal · Missionary resources