Visit Japan Web Nunobiki Ropeway
Visit Japan Web invites you to explore Nunobiki Ropeway. It’s a transportation service that carries tourists up the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain chain. The ropeway departs from the vicinity of Shin-Kobe Station, Kobe’s shinkansen station. During the ascent, it provides views of the Nunobiki Waterfall and the Nunobiki Herb Garden. The main attraction of the ride is the observation deck located next to the top station, offering spectacular views of Kobe and serving as a popular night view spot.
An alternative route to reach the top station is through a hiking trail from Shin-Kobe Station. It’s quite surprising that just a few steps north of the station, there are forests shielded from the city’s noise. A 15-20 minute climb through the woods leads to the 43-meter-tall Nunobiki Waterfall, named for its cloth-like appearance. Five minutes east from here is the Miharashi Observatory, which provides decent views of the city.
A 20-minute ascent further up the mountain leads to the middle station of Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway and the lower entrance of Nunobiki Herb Garden, one of Japan’s largest herb gardens boasting hundreds of herb species and seasonal flowers. Within the garden, a glasshouse enables the year-round cultivation of flowers as well as fruits like guavas and papayas.
At the upper entrance of the garden stands the top station of Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway, featuring an observation deck and a rest house complete with a cafe, restaurant, and souvenir shop offering a variety of herbal and aromatic products. Visitors can also explore the “Rose Symphony Garden” at this location, enjoying the sight of different rose varieties in bloom while listening to music.
