Nunobiki Ropeway

Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway (神戸布引ロープウェイ) is a scenic cable car ride that takes visitors up the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain range. Departing next to Shin-Kobe Station, the ropeway offers breathtaking aerial views of the Nunobiki Waterfall and the lush Nunobiki Herb Garden. At the top station, visitors are greeted with a panoramic observation deck, providing spectacular views of Kobe, especially stunning at night. The area also features a rest house with a café, restaurant, and souvenir shop selling herbal and aromatic products. Nearby, the Rose Symphony Garden showcases vibrant roses set to music during blooming seasons.

For adventurers, a hiking trail from Shin-Kobe Station leads to the attractions. A 15-20 minute climb through forested trails reaches the 43-meter-tall Nunobiki Waterfall, known for its draped, cloth-like appearance. Another five minutes east lies the Miharashi Observatory with scenic city views. Continuing for 20 more minutes brings hikers to the middle ropeway station and the lower entrance of Nunobiki Herb Garden, home to hundreds of herb species and seasonal flowers. A glasshouse within the garden cultivates exotic fruits and blooms year-round. For those skipping the garden, a 30-minute hiking trail bypasses it to reach the ropeway’s top station, where the path extends onward to Mount Maya, one of Rokko's highest peaks.