Mount Rokko

Mount Rokko is a mountain range stretching northeast of Kobe, with the highest peak of 931.3M (3,055.45FT). It is near downtown Kobe, taking only about 1 hour by bus and cable. Since the peak can be seen from Kobe and Osaka, it symbolizes both cities. Accordingly, both cities' fantastic and panoramic views can be captured from the peak.

Overlook from Mount Rokko

In this wide range of Mount Rokko, the travel is mainly focused on the two most worthwhile regions- the top of Mt. Rokko and Rokkosan pasture. Since they are opposite in direction, it is recommended that you spend one day respectively visiting both areas. It is windy on the mountain with a lower temperature than downtown, so wear more clothes.

Must-go Spots atop Mt. Rokko

Mt. Rokko Tenran Observatory

Right by the cable car’s highest terminal, it is the first spot to appreciate the panoramic view of Kobe, Osaka and the Wakayama area, and such a view at night is praised to be worth “ten million dollars.” Tenran Observatory, along with Rokko Garden Terrace and Mt. Maya, another mountain in the Mount Rokko range, are the three significant spots to watch the “ten-million-dollar night view.”

Opening Time: 7:10 am – 9:00 pm

Rokko Garden Terrace & Shidare Observatory

You can enjoy the wide-open landscape on the terrace, while enjoying cuisine from nearby restaurants and cafés. It also allows you to see night view from various angles- Miharashino View Deck for a dynamic night view of Kobe, Miharashino Tower for an overlook from Akashi Strait to Osaka and the lit-up garden terrace itself, and Rokko Shidare Observatory for colorful light art.

Rokko Shidare Observatory is a tree-like observation deck with LED lights. Beyond an ideal place for a night view, the lit-up sculpture is also attractive. There is a long-lasting lighting event called Lightscape in Rokko, which has different themes annually, usually from late March to late November. The light colors vary periodically during this time.

Opening Time: 9:30 am – 9:00 pm
Admission Fee: JPY1,000 for visitors aged above 12, JPY500 for those aged 4-12

Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

As the oldest garden of its kind in Japan, over 90 years, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden has cultivated about 1,500 plants, including alpine plants, particularly from colder climatic zones, and native plants on Mount Rokko. With an elevation of 865M (2,838FT) and a climate similar to that of southern Hokkaido, the botanical garden is precious in Kobe to watch alpine plants throughout the seasons.

Opening Time: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm
Closing Time: Winter Closure from late Nov. to mid-Mar; Thursdays in Mar. - Apr., and late Jun. -mid-Jul.

Admission Fee: JPY900 for visitors aged above 12, JPY450 for those aged 4-12

Tip: Opening hours may be extended from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on weekends and holidays during events like Lighting Forest - Night Art Stroll, usually from late Sep. to late Nov.

Rokko Morinone Museum

It collects many music boxes from the late 19th Century to the early 20th Century, self-playing musical instruments and Karakuri, a traditional Japanese mechanical puppet. There is a music box playing every hour. Beyond enjoying, you can also make a personalized music box under professional guidance.

Outside the museum is a forest-dependent garden for walking and relaxing. There are outdoor exhibitions related to “sound” in the garden, where mini-concerts are also held on Sundays from May to October.

Opening Time: 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm; may be extended during special events.
Closing Time: Every Thursday except in late July to mid-November; Dec. 31 and Jan. 1
Admission Fee: JPY1,500 for visitors aged above 12, JPY750 for those aged 4-12

Rokko Outdoor Adventure Park GREENIA

With an area of about six baseball fields, it is Japan's largest outdoor adventure park. Its five areas are scattered with 135 outdoor sports facilities, including climbing, watersports, forest adventure, and many other obstacles. If you're interested in these, you need at least half a day.

Opening Time: mid-March to mid-November; 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm
Closing Time: every Thursday except for public holidays; winter closure from mid-Nov. to mid-Mar. next year
Admission Fee: JPY3,000; Zipline facility costs JPY1,000 separately

Tip: Prepare clothes to change if you want to try watersports.

Tour of Rokkosan Pasture

Dairy Food from Rokkosan Pasture

Rokkosan Pasture is on Mt. Maya, west of the highest peak of Mt. Rokko. The open pasture is available for close touch with animals, handwork courses, tasting dairy food and recreational activities.

Feeding animals like sheep, goats, rabbits, little cows and horse-riding are concentrated between 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, so please come earlier if you want to interact with animals. Handwork courses give you hands-on experience making ice cream, butter, cheese, and wool handicrafts, each taking 20-30 minutes.

Opening Time: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, last entry at 4:30 pm
Closing Time: Every Tuesday
Admission Fee: JPY600 for March to November; JPY400 for December to February

Tip: Animal interactions will be canceled on rainy days.

How to Get to Mt. Rokko

Step 1:
Kobe-Sannomiya Sta. → by Kobe Line → Rokko Sta.: JPY200; 7min
Kobe-Sannomiya Sta. → by Tokaido-Sanyo Line → Rokkomichi Sta.: JPY170; 6min
Kobe-Sannomiya Sta. → by Hanshin Line → Mikage Sta.: JPY200; 6min

Step 2: Take the No.16 Kobe City Bus from any of the three terminals above to Rokko Cable Shinta Sta.
Time needed: 14 min from Rokko Sta., 21 min from Rokkomichi Sta., and 32 min from Mikage Sta.

Bus Schedule	No.16 Kobe City Bus
Bus Schedule	Usual Day	Weekend
First Bus	6:32 am	6:38 am
Last Bus	11:11 pm	10:41 pm
Interval	15 min	19 min
Ticket Fare	JPY210

Step 3: Take the Rokko Cable Car from Rokko Cable Shinta Sta. to Rokko Sanjo Sta., taking about 10 min.
Opening Time: 7:10 am – 9:10 pm with an interval of 20 min

Ticket	Single-way	Round-trip
Above 12 years old	JPY600	JPY1,100
6 to 12 years old	JPY300	JPY600

Step 4: Take the Rokko Sanjo Bus from Rokko Sanjo Sta. It will arrive successively at Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, Greenia, Rokko Garden Terrace, and Rokko Sancho Sta. The whole trip takes about 10 min.
Operating Time: 8:15 am – 8:35 pm
Ticket Fare: JPY260

How to Get to Rokkosan Pasture

Rokkosan Pasture can be reached from both Mt. Rokko and Mt. Maya.

From Mt. Rokko: The first three steps are the same as listed above, but take the Rokko Maya Sky Shuttle Bus from Rokko Sanjo Sta. to Rokkosan Pasture, taking about 12 min.
Shuttle Bus Operating Time: 10:05 am – 5:05 pm
Ticket Fare: JPY300

From Mt Maya:

Step 1: Take a No.18 Kobe City Bus or Saka Bus to Maya Cable Sta

From	Bus No.	Time Needed	Ticket Fare
Sannomiya Sta.	No.18 Bus	24 min	JPY210
Rokko Sta.		12 min
Rokkomichi Sta.		19 min
Oujikoen Sta.	Saka Bus	9 min	JPY210
Nada Sta.		13 min
Iwaya Sta.		15 min

Bus Schedule	No.18 / Saka Bus
Bus Schedule	Usual Day	Weekend
First Bus	6:18 am / 7:35 am	6:32 am / 7:35 am
Last Bus	9:03 pm / 9:15 pm	9:10 pm / 9:15 pm
Interval	1 hour / 20 min	30 min / 20 min

Tip: Departures of No.18 Bus are concentrated from 7:00 am to 9:00 am with five rides, and later the interval extends to 1 hour.

Step 2: Take the Cable Car from Maya Cable Sta. to Nijinoeki Sta.

Step 3: Take the Ropeway from Nijinoeki Sta. to Hoshinoeki Sta.

Operating Time for Cable and Ropeway Lines:
Monday - Thursday from Sep. - late Jul. next year: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Friday - Sunday from Nov. to late Mar. next year: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Friday - Sunday from Late Mar. - Late Jul. & Sep. - Oct.: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm
Late Jul. - Aug.: 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Step 4: Walk from Hoshinoeki Sta. for about 200M (220YD) to Mayaropeway Sanjo Sta. and take the Rokko Maya Sky Shuttle Bus to Rokkosan Pasture.

Nearby attraction

Arima Onsen: One of Japan’s Oldest Hot Springs. It's a small resort town famous for its therapeutic gold hot spring and silver hot spring for over 1,000 years. Arima Onsen is in the north of Mount Rokko.