What to know
The Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway (神戸布引ロープウェイ) is one of three cable services that carry visitors up the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain range. Its lower station is right next to Shin-Kobe Station, Kobe's Shinkansen stop. As the gondola climbs, it glides over Nunobiki Waterfall and the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens, offering a bird's-eye view of both. The ride's highlight is the observation deck near the top station, which provides sweeping vistas of Kobe and is a popular spot for nighttime views.
Alternatively, you can hike from Shin-Kobe Station to the top station. It's surprising how just a few steps north of the station you enter quiet forests away from the city 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 there is Miharashi Observatory, which offers decent city views.
A further 20-minute ascent brings you to the ropeway's middle station and the lower entrance of Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens, one of Japan's largest herb gardens with hundreds of herb species and seasonal flowers. A greenhouse allows tropical fruits like guavas and papayas to grow year-round.
At the garden's upper entrance is the ropeway's top station. Besides the observation deck, there is a rest house with a café, restaurant, and souvenir shop selling herbal and aromatic products. There's also a "Rose Symphony Garden" where visitors can enjoy various rose varieties accompanied by music during blooming seasons.
Hikers who want to skip the garden can reach the top station and observation deck via a 30-minute trail that bypasses the garden on its east side. After the top station, the same trail continues to Mount Maya, one of the Rokko peaks.
It takes about five minutes to walk from Shin-Kobe Station to the ropeway's lower station.
Visitor information
Practical details to check before planning this stop.
- Hours
- 9:30 to 17:15 (last ropeway up at 16:45); the ropeway operates until 21:00 (last ropeway up at 20:15) on weekends and national holidays outside of winter (March 20 through November
- Closed
- During extreme weather and for occasional maintenance.
- Admission
- 2000 yen (~$12.8) (round trip and herb garden; 1800 yen (~$11.52) through Klook )
- English name
- Ropeway and Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens
- Original name
- Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway
Verify details before visiting. Currency conversion is indicative and may vary over time.