Kobe · KitanoNo.245★★★Open in map →
Nunobiki Herb Gardens
Japan's largest herb garden — 75,000 plants of around 200 varieties — sits on the slope of Mount Rokko, five minutes by ropeway from Shin-Kobe Station. Kobe's cityscape and harbour open out below as the gondola climbs.
The ropeway lifts you out of the city in minutes: below, Kobe's port and Osaka Bay; above, a mountainside terraced with lavender, roses, chamomile and dozens of other herbs and flowers. The gardens opened in 1991 on the slope between the city and Mount Rokko and have since grown to around 75,000 plants of about 200 varieties, making them the largest herb garden in Japan. The route passes Nunobiki Falls — one of Japan's three most famous waterfalls — on the way up, and a midway station lets you step off and walk up through the terraced zones before catching the ropeway again at the summit.
Background & history
The site sits on the flank of Mount Rokko, which Kobe's foreign residents turned into a recreational retreat after the port opened to international trade in 1868. The Nunobiki Falls at the foot of the slope have been celebrated in poetry since the Heian period. The herb garden was developed by the city in 1991 as a leisure facility combining botanical education with the panoramic views that the hillside location naturally provides. Evening illumination events have been held since the 2000s and draw visitors from across the Kansai region.
What to look for — in walking order
- Lower ropeway station & Nunobiki Falls view
- a glimpse of the historic waterfall as the gondola ascends
- Midway station — Welcome Garden
- the first terrace; herb shop and seasonal plantings; alighting here allows a walk-up route through the garden
- Summit terrace — panorama lawn
- 360-degree views over Kobe city, the port, and Osaka Bay; the widest outlook on the mountain
- Fragrance Garden and Glass Terrace
- rose and lavender beds; glass-walled café overlooks the bay
How to enjoy it
Take the ropeway up to the summit first for the full city panorama, then walk back down through the terrace gardens at your own pace — the midway station catches you if you run out of time. Roses peak in May and mid-October; lavender in June; the gardens stay colourful through to autumn. Evening illumination runs from late autumn: the ropeway operates until 21:00 on illumination nights, and the city lights below add a second layer to the view. The ropeway fare includes garden entry; if you walk up from below, a garden-only ticket is available. Cash and IC cards both accepted.
How to actually get there
- Sannomiya Stn → Shin-Kobe Stn (Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line, 1 stop, ~3 min).
- Shin-Kobe Stn → ropeway lower station (walk north ~5 min).
- Ropeway lower → summit station (~10 min); midway stop at Welcome Garden if walking down.
- Subway to Shin-Kobe, then ropeway (5-min walk)
- Sannomiya Station → (Kobe Municipal Subway Seishin-Yamate Line, 1 stop, ~3 min) → Shin-Kobe Station → walk north about 5 minutes following signs to the ropeway lower station → board ropeway to summit (~10 min). Total about 20–25 min from Sannomiya. Alternatively, Shin-Kobe is directly served by the Sanyo Shinkansen (bullet train from Osaka/Kyoto).
- Ropeway down, then subway from Shin-Kobe
- Take the ropeway back to the lower station and walk 5 minutes to Shin-Kobe Station. Subway to Sannomiya (1 stop). Last ropeway up is around 16:45 on weekdays (extended to 20:15 on weekends and holidays in spring/autumn) — check the official schedule as hours vary by season.
Before you go
- Cash
- IC cards (Suica / ICOCA) accepted on the subway. Ropeway round-trip with garden entry: adults ¥2,500 (daytime); evening rate (from 17:00) ¥2,000 round-trip. Check the official site for current rates and seasonal variations.
- Closing days
- Ropeway: from 9:30 daily; last up-line departure 16:45 on weekdays, 20:15 on weekends/holidays in spring and autumn. Garden: closes at 20:30 on extended evenings. Hours vary significantly by season — check kobeherb.com/en before visiting. The ropeway suspends in strong wind or thunder, and closes for inspection (typically four days in late August/early September).
- Another way
- You can walk from the Shin-Kobe ropeway lower station up through Nunobiki Falls to the garden on a hiking trail (about 50 min ascent) — a popular option in fine weather that skips the ropeway fare.
- After you get off
- From Shin-Kobe Station, follow the signs for Nunobiki Herb Garden / Ropeway (布引ハーブ園・ロープウェイ) — the lower station is about a 5-minute walk north, past a short forested path.