Mount Rokko [六甲山]

Mount Rokko ("Rokkôsan" in Japanese) is a name of a group of mountains.
It lies just north of central Kobe city.

The west end is around Suma district at the westernmost part of Kobe city, and the east end is around Takarazuka city.

The length from east to west is about 30 km.

Mount Rokko has many peaks, and the highest peak is 931 meters high.
It is located about 11 km northeast of Sannomiya, the center of Kobe city.

There is Arima hot spring resort on the north side of the mountain.

There is a resort area about 2 to 4 km southwest of the highest peak.

The area was developed by Westerners as a highland resort from the late 19th to the early 20th centuries.

There is Kobe Golf Club built in 1903 and it is the Japan's first golf.

There is Mount Maya peak (摩耶山, 702 m) about 4 km southwest of the resort area, and is located about 5 km north of Sannomiya.

There is a Buddhist temple established in the 7th century, and some tourist spots are around the peak.

Kobe is one of the major night views in Japan.
The night scenery of Kobe viewed from the top of Mount Rokko is called "ten-million-dollar night view".

Some ropeways and cable cars connect between the area on the top and central Kobe, Arima hot spring resort.

And route bus runs through main spots on the top.

Kobe Mt.Rokko Mt.Rokko & Mt.Maya Aerial Ride

Main spots in Mount Rokko are the following.

The position is in the map.
Each number of the following corresponds to the number in the map.

1. Tenrandai (天覧台)
   It is one of the best observatories for the night view.
   It is located near Rokko Sanjo station of Rokko Cable.
   "Tenran" means "Emperor's inspection", and Emperor Showa saw the night view from this observatory in May 1981.
2. Rokko International Musical Box Museum (六甲オルゴールミュージアム)
   It is the musical box museum opened in 1994.
   It is a formal museum under the Museum Law in Japan.
   Various music boxes since the late 19th century are displayed.
3. Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden (六甲高山植物園)
   It is an old alpine botanical garden opened in 1933.
   It is also a formal museum under the Museum Law in Japan.
   The museum is at the level of 865 meters, and about 1,500 kinds of alpine plants are cultivated.
4. Rokko Garden Terrace (六甲ガーデンテラス)
   It is a small town with several shops, cafes and restaurants.
   It is also one of the best observatories for the night view.
   It is located near Rokko Sancho station of Rokko Arima Ropeway.
   There is a unique observatory Rokko-Shidare (六甲枝垂れ) opened in 2010.
5. Rokkosan Pasture (六甲山牧場)
   It is the municipal pasture modeled on dairy farm in Switzerland.
   We can meet many sheep, cows, ponies and some other animals.
6. Kikuseidai (掬星台)
   It is also one of the best observatories for the night view.
   It is located near Hoshi-no-eki station of Maya Ropeway.

How to get here

By Rokko Cable Line (Cable car)

To Rokko Cable Shita, by route bus, about 12 minutes from Hankyu Rokko station, about 17 minutes from JR Rokkomichi station, about 26 minutes from Hanshin Mikage station.

Then, by Rokko Cable, about 10 minutes from Rokko-cable-shita to Rokko Sanjo.

The route bus on the top is operated along the following route.

Rokko Sanjo Stn.-(6 min)- Kinenhidai -(2 min)- Music Box Museum -(1 min)- Botanical Garden -(3 min)- Ropeway-sanjo Stn.-(2 min)- Garden Terrace -(2 min)- Botanical Garden -(6 min)- Rokko Sanjo Stn.

By Maya Cablecar

To Maya Cable station, by route bus, about 25 minutes from Sannomiya station, about 20 minutes from Shin-Kobe station, about 20 minutes from JR Rokkomichi station.

Then, by Maya Cablecar, about 5 minutes, from Maya Cable to Niji-no-eki.
And, by Maya Ropeway, about 5 minutes, from Niji-ni-eki to Hoshi-no-eki.

The route bus on the top is operated along the following route.

Hoshi-no-eki -(9 min)- Rokkosan Pasture -(11 min)- Kinenhidai -(25 min)- Hankyu Rokko Stn.

By Rokko Arima Ropeway

To Rokko Sancho, by the ropeway, about 12 minutes from Arima-onsen.

Other Tourist Attractions in Hyogo Prefecture

Kobe city

Other areas in Hyogo Prefecture

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