Kobe is full of surprises. Right next to Shin-Kobe Station, in a busy neighborhood not far from downtown, there’s a ropeway that will whisk you up the side of Mt. Maya. From one side of your gondola, you’ll be treated to a panoramic vista of the vast Hanshin cityscape stretching all the way from Kobe to Osaka. From the other side, it’s all trees, valleys, and a bird’s-eye view of Nunobiki’s most spectacular waterfall. Only moments ago you were in the middle of one of Kobe’s main transportation hubs, but now you are leaving the city behind. The change is sudden and dramatic.
At the top is Nunobiki Herb Garden, a popular day trip spot for Kobe locals. Once you’ve taken in the view from the observation deck outside the topmost station, you’ll quickly discover that there’s a lot to do up here. There are beautifully tended gardens, cafes and restaurants, seasonal flower displays and food fairs, a concert hall, a greenhouse, a fragrance museum, art, cooking classes, and lots more!
The park was built with its visitors’ comfort in mind: the ropeway drops you off near the highest elevation point, and from there you work your way down. If you want to revisit some attractions higher up on the slope but are not up for a climb, don’t worry! Just keep going downhill to Kaze no Oka, the middle station, where you can catch a gondola that will carry you back up to the top.
Although the Herb Garden hosts various events throughout the year, most visitors are just here to enjoy a lazy afternoon. All along the course, there are benches and hammocks to relax in, as well as unlimited opportunities to snap some gorgeous photos.
Want to know one of the best things about Nunobiki Herb Garden? Although a round-trip ticket on the rope way is 1500 yen for adults and 750 yen for school-age children, entrance to the park itself is free! If you’re on a budget and would like a little more exercise, you can access the park via a short hiking course which begins behind the Shinkansen station and wends past the area’s waterfalls. The hike takes less than an hour.
For information about the park’s opening hours and upcoming events, check out the official website here.
