Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

Many years ago, our family visited nunobiki garden. I returned this time with my mom. It was more beautiful than before. We asked for direction from the train station to our destination. Directional signs weren’t forthcoming. A kind young lady walked with us, showed us the way to the entrance. Thank you so much…we interrupted her work actually. As it was near to festive season, the whole garden right from the entry (queue to take a lift up to buy tickets) all the way to the top of the rope way landing area were well decorated to boost Christmas moods. Very impressive. The entire garden was clean & well kept, so colourful. Air was cool & fresh in November. There were some constructions going on, beams & pillars were still being laid for some platforms. They were not ready for visitors. We went straight for some snacks before walking around the park. We visited the green houses, very pretty. We spent a few hours walking downslope slowly, taking pictures. The trees started to turn colours, from green to orange/red. Beautiful. There were many foreign visitors here. Oh, the cable car only allowed at most 5 pax, so two of us combined with another 2 pleasant & friendly Japanese ladies from Nara. Staff & gardeners were all very courteous & efficient. We had a lovely trip to Nunobiki Garden.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway is one of Kobe’s most charming and relaxing attractions, offering a perfect blend of nature, city views, and gentle adventure. The experience begins with the ropeway ride, which smoothly lifts you above the forested slopes of Mount Rokko. As the cabins rise, sweeping views of Kobe’s skyline, the harbor, and Osaka Bay unfold, making the ascent a photographic highlight in itself. At the top, the herb garden feels like a peaceful European hillside village. Seasonal flowers, aromatic herbs, and carefully designed terraces create a calm atmosphere that invites slow exploration. Each garden area has its own character, from colorful flower beds to quieter wooded paths, all beautifully maintained and ideal for both wide landscape shots and intimate detail photography. For photographers, the light changes constantly throughout the day, offering soft morning tones, crisp midday clarity, and warm late-afternoon colors. The elevated viewpoints provide excellent compositions of the city below, while the gardens themselves are perfect for close-ups, textures, and natural color palettes. Benches and cafés along the way make it easy to pause, observe, and wait for the right moment. Descending by ropeway at sunset is especially memorable, as Kobe gradually lights up beneath you. Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway is not just a sightseeing spot, but a serene visual journey that rewards patience, curiosity, and a love for beautifully framed landscapes—an essential stop for Photolator photographers visiting Kobe.

This was a true highlight of our trip to Japan. The place is beautiful! Starting with the cable car up, the views are fantastic, you can see clear across and they even slow the cable car to get photo of the hidden waterfall. Once you get to the top there is another gorgeous view but you also have an opportunity to stop and take a break and have a little something to eat and drink. The best part of visiting is that you have time to take your perfect photo (not me I am a walk n shoot type of girl) the hustle and bustle you get in other places doesn’t happen here. Everyone waited patiently. This is the perfect place to get your zen, oh and they have hammocks throughout the gardens so you can truly enjoy your surrounds.

Visited this gem of a place as part of my Kobe day trip from Osaka. Would I recommend this place? Yes! While it is not as iconic, it is a great place with lesser crowd to enjoy the view and pretty plants at own pace. It was sunny in June. At the ticketing counter, we had to redeem physical ticket from our online booking before we can enter the cable car. At the top, umbrella can be borrowed FoC. There were a cafe, souvenir, and perfume shop. It was fun to check out fragrances made from different flowers. I recommend taking the cable car up, and walking down to midway for the return trip. This way, you can see more plants on the way down including some of the prettiest photo spots, a glasshouse, and most importantly, lavender ice cream to battle the heat of the sun! We spent 2-3 hours before lunch time.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway is a popular place for visitors in Kobe. If you go late in the day, it is usually very crowded. Many people line up to take the ropeway, so you may need to wait for a long time. The ropeway ride itself is smooth and offers a nice view while going up. When you reach the top, you can see a wide view of Kobe city and the sea. The city view is clear and beautiful, especially in good weather. However, apart from the view, there is not much else that feels special or memorable. The herb garden is calm and well-kept, but it may feel simple if you expect many attractions or activities. For some visitors, the experience may feel short and not very exciting. Another point to consider is the ticket price. The ropeway ticket is quite expensive compared to what you get. Overall, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway is okay for city views, but it can feel crowded, limited, and a bit costly, especially if you visit late.

You MUST come here if you want some nice shots for your profile pictures. The gardens were beautiful, and thank God we came at the right timing where the sun was setting. A good time to be here will be a sunny day 3:30pm - 5pm JP Time, because their last cable car ride is at 5:15pm to head back down. They have a Bottom Garden, Middle Garden, and Top Garden. The cable-car roundtrip ride costs 2000¥ very worth it. The ride had an amazing view too!

We went a bit later in the day. Be prepared to do lots of walking. We bought a round trip ticket for the rope line. We took the rope line up around 4. I don't suggest it if you're scared of heights, but the views are beautiful. You could just walk the entire way if you don't want to ride the rope line. There was an event going on while we were there and it was so much fun! There were fictional characters, riddles, and a story you follow throughout the garden as you collect stamps. It was mostly in Japanese and we didn't get a chance to solve the riddle. In the end, anyone who at least got 1 stamp got a prize. We had the food at the middle rest stop and it was delicious. I wanted to do the footbath but it was under renovation. They have wheelchair access throughout and many things to do like classes to make your own sent with herbs from the garden. But we didn't get to participate in any of the classes since we got there pretty late. The last ride back down the rope line is at 5:15pm. We went back down at 5:10.

This place was wonderful. The scenic ropeway is right next to Shin-Kobe station. So if you are in Osaka. Pay $15 for a non reserved seat on the Shinkansen and 12 minutes later you are in Kobe, it's a short ride. You can book tickets or buy them there. Great views. I wish I went at night. Wonderful. There is a glasshouse with a forest and water features. Some cafe's are there too. There is also a walking trail for the fit people and hammocks to rest and enjoy the view for us ordinary folk.

Hayao Miyazaki-esque. I have stepped into his fantasy world. One of most beautiful botanical herb garden I have visited and the creme de la creme, which of course is the gondola ride. The leisure ride overlook what seems like an endless view of Kobe. Note: The Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway is an aerial lift that connects Shin-Kobe Station to the Nunobiki Herb Gardens. When you get to the top, herb gift shops, restaurants, perfume lab, and museum awaits you. Air noticeably different with a mixture of high elevation unpolluted air & floral gardenings. Note: The Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens are located at an altitude of approximately 400 meters above sea level. Recommend: It would be magnanimous during Chritmas Season with holiday lightings "Christmas of the Old Castle".

Came to Kobe on a Saturday as a day trip from Osaka. Got here early-ish at around 10:30am and the line was manageable. Once you exit out of the station, there are signs directing you to the park/gondola ride. They have an elevator that you can take from the subway station as well as a stairs route. You have the option to buy a roundtrip or one-way ticket for the gondola ride. A lot of blogs I read recommended just buying the one-way ticket and then walking down but because I was already 2+ weeks deep in my Japan trip, my feet were killing me and I didn't want to risk taking more steps than needed. Two one-way tickets were more expensive than just a round trip so I didn't want to go to the top and decide on buying another one-way trip down so I just bought a roundtrip ticket from the get go. Because of the many people, I did have to share a care with others (and everyone else too). I was glad I came when I did because I saw the line behind me get longer and longer as I waited. The scenery was beautiful. It was a crisp, sunny, fall day, and I was glad the windows of the gondola were clear and the car itself was well maintained. As we ascended, it looked like the trail to walks seemed very long. Since it was early December, the buildings and top of the mountain had a Christmas-y feel and a market to browse. It was also quite cold the day I went given the elevation. I ducked into the fragrance museum to warm up a bit and took the time to smell the different fragrances on display. I debated on taking the gondola back down since I already bought the roundtrip ticket but there were greenhouses and other points of interest to see alongside the trail on the way down so I decided to slowly walk. The incline was not terrible and were not harsh on my feet. The path curves so you're not walking straight down. I did pass many people making their way upward. I ended up walking to the station in the middle and taking the gondola down from there. The path was very manageable and the park itself was very calming.

For our 2 day port stop in Kobe, we headed here after leaving Arima Onsen where we overnighted (truly lovely and unique and one of the oldest onsen villages in Japan). It looked beautiful in pics and I kinda expected a small garden with a big glass house and not much else - boy was I wrong! You buy your gondola ticket and you get taken up and up high into the hills of Kobe. Take it all the way to the top and you will see the most breathtaking views of Kobe all the way down to the port. There's also a little European styled village of gift shop, 2 cafes and a little museum. Plenty of restrooms everywhere too. The most common thing to do is to walk down to the midstation and then take the gondola back to the floor - which is what we did. On the way we stopped at various European style gardens showcasing herbs (of course) and various veggies - and of course the Glass House which was a large tropical garden in the main glass dome. We had lunch at the Veranda, where everything was strawberry themed - from the roast beef sandwich to the desserts. Yummmm! We spent about 3 hours there leisurely strolling, though for those who want to walk all the way down, there is a gorgeous waterfall about midway down from mid station to the floor. Absolutely lovely way to spend a few hours in Kobe :)

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden / Kobe -- When I first heard about this place, I thought for sure it would smell of old lady. I pictured packs of obasans (i.e., grandmas) shuffling in their sakura kimonos and probing me about where my wife was. However, I was quite wrong as it was a full-fledged botanical garden that flowed down the majestic Kobe hillside on carefully manicured grounds. It was conveniently located about a ten-minute walk from Shin-Kobe station, which made it an ideal stop before our departure back to Tokyo. We just left our luggage at the station and followed the well-marked signs through a cavernous shopping center. We made it to an elevator that led us to the ticket counter and then got into a quick line for the ropeway. Very efficient. The ropeway cost ¥1,800 per person round trip, and it was the only admission fee we had to pay. Gratefully they didn't pack the cars, so Jamie and I had the tram car to ourselves for the ten-minute ride to the view plaza. The ride provided nice views of the cityscape and the gardens. The highlight was the Nunobiki Waterfall which emerges from the foliage below (photo: https://bit.ly/3XVMDDC). Once we disembarked, we strolled the European-style plaza with Tyrolean-looking buildings housing eateries and shops (photo: https://bit.ly/3Q1jTqZ). We walked around the Rose Symphony Garden and sniffed the sample bottles in the Fragrance Museum. Then it was time for our descent down the hill where we passed by at least a dozen different gardens highlighting different flowers and herbs. The imposing Glasshouse was the main attraction downhill with floral symphonies set up for inevitable Instagram moments (photo: https://bit.ly/3pXv7SL). We stopped to enjoy the veranda and a soft serve cone. Our last stop was at the hammocks set up on the edge of a sea of marigolds with a nice panoramic view of Kobe. We got back on the tram at the midpoint station and headed to Shin-Kobe without smelling like old lady. RELATED - Exploring Japan? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2qrUBZo

If you're in Kobe, the Nunobiki Herb Garden is a must visit. It's tucked away on a mountain and you can ride a gondola up and down. On a clear day, it must be a stunning view. The day we went was foggy and slightly rainy, which obscured any views of the city but made for a mystical and romantic ambiance. You walk down from the top and can enjoy the various plot of herbs and flowers that are so well tended for. The gift shop has cute items that you want to buy it all for friends. We stopped at the Veranda for afternoon tea and to rest our feet. It was strawberry season so every dessert had strawberries. It was hard to pick one but we got the strawberry tart with the strawberry tea. It's definitely pricey but for the hour and half we were there, it was calming and relaxing.

There is no other place on earth like this. Tranquility, nature, beauty, foot soak and more. It's like a different world up here for sure.

I was in Kobe trying to find a souvenir shop, to no avail. After stumbling out of a mall that was oddly devoid of actual businesses, I found these signs for a nearby herb garden. Figuring that it couldn't hurt to have a look, I took the trek up the multiple flights of stairs, and purchased an 1800 yen daytime round trip cable car ride to the top of the Herb Garden. One warning, this thing starts moving wit surprising velocity. Once it gets going, look behind you for a stunning aerial view of the Kobe area. Was pleasantly surprised. I had apparently once again stumbled into another fun diversion. Once I reached the top station (the midway station only takes you to the lower half of the Herb Garden), I took in the view of this odd Alpine-esque village, and then tried to get some food. I dunno why, but the people running the Honeymade counter ignored me for a good 5 minutes, and there wasn't any kind of bell to get their attention. I ordered a currywurst and a softserve ice cream. The currywurst had a great smell, but was kind of lacking in taste. Same thing went for the ice cream. Very mild flavors. However, it was pretty light, which meant I didn't feel laden down when I started my walk down the hill. My first stop was upwards, though, to the Concert Hall and scent section of the garden. There's a section with a number of bottled, concentrated scents, so if you've ever been curious about what people are talking about when they say it smells of "Rosewood", you can help develop your olfactory toolbox. The herb garden section was a bit disappointing. It's all laid out to be a great, very Instagrammable spot, and it you want to chill super hard, they've got benches, hammocks, tables, and cafes galore, but I can't help but feel that the herb and garden parts of this herb garden weren't as impressive as I was hoping. The ride down from the herb garden cable car was another spectacular view, and I decided to buy some gifts from the shop. I grabbed a couple boxes of their curry, as well as their 3-pack of scented herbal bath bags. Once again, these had a disappointingly mild impact. I feel like if I just made a pot of rose tea or lavender tea to drink in the bath, it would have had the same level of scent. So, my overall take: Amazing views, pretty interesting walk that is casual enough for you to enjoy it at your own pace, probably eat before, and stay away from the souvenirs.

Visiting this herb garden in Kobe turned out to be one of the unexpected highlights of my trip to Japan in October. It was a refreshing change after a hectic day at Universal Studios, where I had to wait in long lines for everything, even a basic hot dog. Here, you hop on a Ropeway with breathtaking views of the city skyline on your way up to the garden. I've been on Ropeways in Hakone and Miyajima, Hiroshima, but this one is my favourite. The price is 1800 yen round trip. Since it's not as crowded, you can have the entire Ropeway car to yourself or your group. It's not just a mode of transportation; it's an enjoyable experience. In Hiroshima, they cram you into Ropeways in groups of 6-8, making it impossible to snap good photos. Up at the garden, there aren't tons of attractions, but it's a perfect place for a leisurely stroll by the gardens with hammocks for relaxation and plenty of photo opportunities. There's a glass greenhouse, a couple spots to grab refreshments, a restaurant, and a spot to to soak your feet. I didn't use the foot soak, however if you do they got you covered for about 100 yen to use a towel to wipe your feet afterwards. There's a fragrance museum and gift shop with their own scented products. I didn't buy any since I tested some body mist or eau de toilette on my skin and notice the scent dissipates quite quickly. Too bad they don't have full on perfumes. Their main audience is Japanese as there is little to no English on the displays but that didn't detract from the experience. I didn't try the restaurant due to the reviews being mid, but I indulged in their honey ice cream and charcoal iced coffee while soaking in the views. To top it off, I got a close-up encounter with a hummingbird, which was nothing short of magical. The best part? No crowds and no long lines.

Great way to see Kobe from a hill. The ropeway takes you up to the top and you can walk down half or the entire hill. There is an herbal foot bath behind the glasshouse. You can soak your feet and look over east Kobe towards Osaka.

Nunobiki Herb Garden is an unexpected gem in Kobe; it feels like such a calm and peaceful oasis away from the hustle and bustle of the city below. To start, you can either take the cable car ropeway to the lower station and walk up to reach the top viewpoint, or you can take the cable car ropeway to the top station and walk downhill (recommended route). At the top station you'll get a beautiful view of Kobe, and you can visit some small exhibits, their concert hall, a restaurant, and a souvenir shop selling all sorts of floral/herbal knick knacks. You can then choose to take the walking path down the mountain to the lower station, and along the way you can visit various outdoor gardens and their indoor greenhouse known as the "Glasshouse". I visited during the winter when it was off-season but still really enjoyed my leisurely stroll down through the botanical garden. The Glasshouse was one of the highlights - there were all sorts of plants being grown and even an outdoor herbal foot bath to soak my weary feet. So perfect after days of traveling and walking. Visiting this gorgeous botanical garden was a relaxing way to spend ~2 hours. I bet the garden would be even more stunning in the spring. Also, as a tourist, I loved how there were photo stands at major photo opps to put your camera on for a self timer. No more having to ask around for people to take photos for you!

This garden is so beautiful. Pictures cannot do justice. I am so glad my friends and I decided to come here. To see the garden you ride the cable car rope. Adult round trip was about $15. Once you get to the top you walk your way down and then take the cable car back down the hill. The cable car ride was such an amazing view of the city. The garden was very peaceful and there was a lot of plants and flowers. They even have hammocks in certain spots so it was nice to relax in a beautiful garden.

We took friends from various places here and everyone had a great time, so I recommend going here if you're in the area and don't know what to do! The herb garden is located in the middle of the Rokko Mountains, which is accessible by cable car. The view from the cable car is amazing. You can get off midway of the entire cable car route, where there is another flower garden and event booths. We got off at the middle station and enjoyed the flowers there, and got to try the herb tea samples and buy small flower bouquet made at the spot. After visiting the midpoint garden, we walked up to the actual herb garden located at the last stop of the cable car. We got to see additional gardens along the route, including a garden full of edible plants, so I recommend walking up to riding the cable car. You get a good workout that way, too. The top herb garden offers an outdoor dining option that sells quiche, hamburgers, etc. The herb hamburger tasted great and filled us up pretty well. The cafe had savalan for dessert, which was good too.

While on vacation in Osaka, my family and i decided to take a trip to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb garden and it was really really nice, although on the day that we went, it was a little rainy and foggy up at the top. but overall it was really nice. i really like the ride on the ropeway. great views of the city while sitting in those cute little "pods" i guess you can call them that lol. nice relaxing ride up the mountain past the middle station and on upward till you reach the top. as always, with anywhere you go in Japan, really nice and polite staff. once you get up to the top you can buy all kinds of snacks and things in a couple little gift shops. we bought some really good curry and also some steak seasonings that are perfect for bbqing. then after taking pictures from the scenic points up there you can choose to ride the ropeway back down or walk through the gardens on your way down to the middle ropeway station. lots of nice plants, herbs and waterfalls to look at and take pictures of as you walk down like we decided to do. on your way down you walk through the glass house and the garden terrace. where you can relax and dip your feet into a foot bath. and then make sure to donate 100 yen for the little towel to dry off your feet afterwards. the lavender in the water is supposed to be beneficial. as we made it to the middle station, there is a little stand on the side where you can buy sodas, ice cream and snacks. we tried the lavender ice cream and the lavender soda. the soda was interesting. not like anything ive tasted before. the ice cream was really yummy. make sure you buy the kobe beef chips from the bottom ropeway station. its amazing. soooo good. such great flavor and its not expensive at all. we bought one to try right then and there and ended up buying a few more for the plane ride home and also to eat when we got home. definitely recommend visiting this place when visiting the Kobe area. thank you and i hope you liked my review and i also hope you have a great experience here as we did.

This is one of my favorite places to come and take pictures, and is definitely a must-see spot for people visiting Kobe. It changes with each season, and each time you come, you can expect to see different plants, animals, and insects. To get here, you ride a cable car up the mountain, and on the way up you can see Nunobiki Falls as well as a dam. I would suggest riding the cable car to the top station, then slowly working your way down the mountain. At the top, there is a beautiful, unobstructed view of the city and the ocean. There are a few cafes and shops as well. Working your way down the mountain, eventually you'll come to a glass house. This houses a restaurant as well as an ashi-yu (foot bath). I ate here once and had the herb burger, which was very simple but delicious. The foot bath is a great place to relax. The herbs in the water seem to change frequently, but are always rejuvenating and refreshing. Further down the mountain, there's a small hill that's covered in poppies in the summer. This is a great spot to lounge around and is also close to a small kiosk that serves lavender flavored soft cream, which you should definitely try.

While meandering the Shin-Kobe area, I looked up and watched sky tram after sky tram ascend the mountain. Well, I had to check out the awesome views so I trammed it and got to enjoy the coolest views of the city, harbor, and ocean. Kobe is similar to Hawaii in that the terrain is mountainous and close to the coast. There was a honey-milk soft serve ice cream stand and wow, it was silky smooth! I even ran into a fellow Hawaii native. Traveling is so much fun!

Romantic, beautiful and serene! Loved spending several hours up here with my family ranging from 8 to 71. We took the ropeway to the top and walked half way down and took the ropeway down at midway point. Really amazing gardeners and caretakers turned this mountain into a beautiful oasis. The honey soft serve was silky and yummy. So many gorgeous spots for beautiful pics of Kobe and harbor from many parts of the herb gardens.

This was a lovely ride up the mountain, but it cost $14 for a round trip. If it were warmer weather, I would've just hiked it. The staff is very nice and the views were beautiful. The actual Herb Gardens at the top were nice as well. We went during winter when nine of the flowers were blooming so I would suggest going in the spring or summer time.

Are you an acrophobia? If no, come over here!! This Nunobiki herb garden is a must spot. Ten minutes' ride of ropeway gives you a wide panorama of Kobe and brings you to the entrance of this flower paradise. This is a vast botanical herb garden where seasonal flowers or herbs are blooming. If you come here, it takes a half day to look around all the gardens, shops or facilities. There are a few restaurants or cafes. The largest restaurant provides smorgasbord foods, which are a little pricy. So after lunch you had better come here and have a sweet and drink on the halfway. On the winding slope various kinds of gardens such as lavenders, lilies, seasonal flowers, rose are located. On the halfway a café stands, where you can take a rest. Near the café a foot bath of herb is installed, where you can warm your fatigued foot relaxingly. Here you can enjoy seeing beautiful flowers, scenery, or panorama, at the same time you can take a small exercise by walking a slight slope. You many get on a ropeway again on your return journey or hike in the remaining slope. Either of them would be fun for you.