Climbing Up Kobe's Mount Rokko with a Cable Car with a 90-year History

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Rokko mountain is located at the north of cosmopolitan city Kobe. Developed about 150 years ago by foreigners living in Kobe about 150 years ago, it then became one of the most famous holiday resort destination in the Kansai area. Today, it offers many facilities, such as observatory deck, a farm a...

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Hyogo Tourism Bureau

Welcome to Hyogo Hyogo is a gateway to the Kansai region, which nurtures the blessed land that connects the Sea of Japan, the Chugoku Mountains, and the Seto Inland Sea, as well as the blessed climate. There are many spectacular views that will catch your eye, such as Himeji Castle, a World Heritage Site that was selected as one of the 100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots, and the panoramic night view from Mt. Rokko. The world-famous Kobe brand, KOBE BEEF, which is synonymous with Tajima beef, is one of Japan's leading beefs, and the sake rice ``Hyogo Yamada Nishiki'' is a gem that will surprise your tongue. Arima Onsen is a famous hot spring, and Kinosaki Onsen has appeared in many literary works. Surrounded by nature, you can relax your mind and body. You can come across memorable sounds such as the thunderous sounds of the whirlpools of Naruto on Awaji Island, and the dynamic sounds of the fireworks festivals held in various places in the summer. In the herb gardens and botanical gardens in the prefecture, you will be healed by the gentle and pleasant scent of herbs and flowers throughout the four seasons. Enjoy a new journey in Hyogo that stimulates the five senses of sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell.

The first cable car

Rokko Cable was established in 1932. The 1920s and 1930s was a time when the transportation network of Mt. Rokko was being fully developed, with driveways and ropeways, and many resort hotels and tourist spots were born along with it.

The peaceful harmony between nature and play is the culture and charm of Mt. Rokko that continues to this day. However, it was not first created by Japanese people.

It all began in 1895 when Arthur Hesketh Groom, a British merchant who lived in Kobe and had a love of Japan, built a mountain lodge on this mountain, even though there were no established hiking trails at the time.

With his help, Mount Rokko was developed by foreign visitors living in Kobe and developed into a place to enjoy activities such as golf, skiing, and ice skating.

Just like the city of Kobe, there is a lot of Western-style architecture on Mount Rokko, which is evidence that the Western culture brought by Groom and others is still strongly associated with the present day.

Take a 10-minute trip on the Rokko Cable Car

We will introduce how to get from Kobe city to the Rokko Cable Station (Rokko Cable-Shita Station), the fare, and how to board the cable car.

To get to Rokko Cable-Shita Station, it's convenient to take a bus (Kobe City Bus Route 16) from the city center. You can get on at three stations: Hanshin Mikage Station, JR Rokkomichi Station, and Hankyu Rokko Station. From JR Sannomiya Station, which is close to the center of Kobe, it's only a 5-minute express train ride to JR Rokkomichi Station. Then, take a bus from JR Rokkomichi Station and you'll arrive in no time at all, in about 20 minutes.

Rokko Cable-Shita Station is the bus terminus and is marked by a large triangular roof resembling a mountain hut.

The fare is 600 yen for adults (1,100 yen round trip) and 300 yen for children (ages 6 to 12) (550 yen round trip).

Passengers are not only hikers and tourists, but also children going to elementary schools on the mountain, making it a vital means of transportation.

The journey takes about 10 minutes, covering the 1.7 km from Rokko Cableshita Station to Rokko Sanjo Station.

▲ Classic type

▲Retro type

The cable car consists of two cars. There are two designs, the "classic type" and the "retro type", both of which are as cute as toys.

Both trains have two carriages, one of which has an open-top style with no windows. If you want to feel the fresh mountain breeze, why not choose your carriage?

When you actually ride the train, you'll be surprised at how steep the slope of Mt. Rokko is. It's fascinating to watch the small vehicle climb the 493.3 meter difference in elevation.

The ride is only 10 minutes, but the road is surrounded by the greenery of the mountains on both sides, making it feel like you're on a short trip.

▲Interior of Rokko Sanjo Station

Rokko Sanjo Station is so attractive with its retro architecture that the station itself can be considered a tourist spot. The architecture has remained unchanged since the station opened and was certified as a Modern Industrial Heritage Site in 2007. If you go up to the roof, you will find an observation deck overlooking the city of Kobe. Please visit for yourself and experience the spectacular panoramic view.

From Rokko Sanjo Station, buses depart for the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, and other tourist sites.

This article provides a detailed introduction to the ROKKO Forest Sound Museum and Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden.

30 minutes from Kobe. Spend an afternoon at a museum and botanical garden that lets you feel nature

Mount Rokko is a treasure trove of stunning views and art

Rokko Garden Terrace, a 15-minute bus ride from Rokko Sanjo Station, is a spot where stunning views and art come together in harmony.

There are three lookout points, three restaurants and two shops.

▲Beer made with honey from Mt. Rokko

One of the shops, the Rokko Souvenir Shop, has a wide selection of souvenirs unique to Mt. Rokko. Among the most popular items are the beer and sweets made with honey harvested by bees raised in the natural environment of Mt. Rokko.

From here you can see the city and sea from Osaka to Kobe. It is especially beautiful as the evening changes into a night view.

▲Rokkoshidare Nature Experience Observation Deck

In the center of the area is the Rokko Shidare Nature Experience Observatory, an art spot that symbolizes Rokko Garden Terrace. It was designed by architect Hiroshi Sambuichi. Representative buildings designed by Hiroshi Sambuichi include the Inujima Seirensho Art Museum on Inujima in the Seto Inland Sea and the Naoshima House Project in Okayama Prefecture. These buildings are known for their unique designs that incorporate the local natural environment.

▲ Takahiro Sagawa's "Instant Slider". The kanji written on the slider means "Life".

The art event Shidare Museum is also held here. Borderless art works that can be enjoyed by anyone through sight, sound, and touch are on display, so even visitors from overseas are sure to be enthralled.

The charm of Mt. Rokko is that you can climb the mountain and visit its tourist spots using only public transportation.

Rokko Sancho Station is about a 10-minute walk from Rokko Garden Terrace. From there, you can take the Rokko-Arima Ropeway to Arima Onsen, one of Japan's most historic hot spring resorts, in just 12 minutes.

Another travel idea is to stay in the city of Kobe, visit Mount Rokko on the first day, and hop off to Arima Onsen on the second day.

Rokko Cable (Rokko Cable Shita Station)
Address: 8-2 Nishiyama, Takaba, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0001 (Rokko Cable Shita Station) ( Google map )
Business hours: 7:10-21:10 (every 20 minutes every hour)
Closed: None *Operations may be suspended suddenly due to bad weather. Please check this page (English) for the operating information on the day.
Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/cable/?lang=en (English)

Rokko Garden Terrace
Address: 1877-9 Gosukeyama, Rokkosan-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, 657-0101 ( Google map )
Business hours: 10:00-21:00 (last admission 20:30) *Varies depending on the season and store.
Closed: Thursdays *Depends on the season and store.
*For details on business hours and holidays, please check this page (English) .
Website: https://www.rokkosan.com/gt/?lang=en (English)

Written by

Hyogo Tourism Bureau

Hyogo

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