Well, getting to Osaka will take 20-30 minutes, but otherwise 2nd to Q Shoe Guy. In addition to the proximity to former foreigners' residences and the ropeway trip to Herb Garden (gorgeous view around sunset), it's definitely convenient to all of your planned destinations. Probably it's cheaper to stay than in Kyoto or Osaka, too. Have a great stay at my hometown.

btw, to get around the Kobe core for sightseeing, City-Loop Bus is a quite convenient option with a 650-yen day pass. In this map you'll see the coverage of the bus (red circle in the middle), which is more useful than subway for the tourists.