Mt. Rokko is a beloved symbol of Kobe. It is not only Japanese people who have been captivated by its charm. About 150 years ago, a young Englishman was fascinated by the rich nature of Mt. Rokko and praised its beauty. We invite you to discover the charms of Mt. Rokko through a visit of the unique spots he discovered.

About Mt. Rokko

View toward Kobe and Osaka from Mt. Rokko

Mt. Rokko, located north of the city of Kobe, is a nature spot only 30 minutes away by bus from the city center. It is part od the Seto Inland Sea National Park. No other national park in Japan is so close to a city.

From the top of the mountain, you can see the whole city of Kobe. The night view is especially beautiful, and is famous throughout the world for its spectacular starlit view.

However, Mt. Rokko is not only attractive by night. It harbours many facilities where you can enjoy yourself while feeling close to nature, such as observation deck, art spots, a botanical garden and more.

Let’s step 150 years back in time and look back at the history of this unique mountain.

In 1868, a young man, Arthur Hesketh Groom, came to Kobe from England. He would later make a fortune in trade and become known as the “founder of Mt. Rokko”.

At the time, Japan was in a transitional period during which trade with the West started blooming after the end of the Edo Period, which had long restricted diplomatic relations with foreign countries. Kobe was one of the few port towns that were open to foreign countries, and many merchants like Groom moved there from the West.

Groom was a fervent Japan lover, and he had a particular affection for Mt. Rokko. He and his friends built a vacation home on this mountain, which at that time had no tourist attractions and was just a rough terrain. They also invested their own money to build trails and develop the mountain. It his also them who in 1903, created Japan's oldest golf club, the "Kobe Golf Club", on Mt. Rokko. It is still operating 120 years after its creation.

It is Westerners who started the specific culture of Mt. Rokko, a harmony between nature and amusement. 

Listening to Sounds from 100 years ago at the Rokko Forest Sound Museum

Visitors can experience the atmosphere of the era during which Grooms lived at the Rokko Forest Sound Museum.

Opened in 1994, the Rokko Forest Sound Museum displays music boxes and other automatic musical instruments. The collection mainly consists of items that were popular in Europe and the U.S. about 100 to 150 years ago, which coincides with the period during which Groom lived.

The building is designed with Germany, the birthplace of the disc and music box, in mind.

The largest automatic organ in the facility, the “Decap Dance Organ ‘Kempenaar’” (1938, Belgium)

In this museum, a concert titled “Concert without Musicians” is held, featuring automatic musical instruments.

Featured in the concert, one of the world’s largest dancing organs, automatic dolls that play music, antique music boxes and more. You will be fascinated by their complex and rich tones.

The actual sound of some of the music boxes on display can be heard through your own smartphone by scanning a QR code.

A birdhouse-shaped music box on the museum grounds.

When the wind blows, the wind chimes (Furin*) make refreshing sounds*

The SIKI Garden, with harbours approximately 300 varieties of seasonal flowers and plants, is also a highlight. Here and there, there are birdhouse-shaped music boxes and other mechanisms to enjoy sounds of nature. You will feel as if you have wandered into a fantasy world.

The café offers seasonal drink menus in addition to the standard drink menu. This is the Blue Lemonade, sold during the summer.

Mori-no-café overlooking the SIKI Garden looks like a movie set with its retro interior. The terrace seating is the best location to view the garden.

In addition to dishes using Hyogo ingredients, there are sweets and drinks available.

If you rent the SIKI Dome (a 360-degree transparent dome tent), you can enjoy a picnic lunch

In this place, where time flows leisurely, is like a secret flower garden on Mt. Rokko. You can enjoy the romantic atmosphere not only on a sunny day but also when it rains.

There are museums of various themes not only on Mt. Rokko but also within Kobe city.

Exploring the Charms of Kobe: Enjoying a Museum Guide with Diverse Themes

 https://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/world/feature/13

*Furin : a traditional Japanese summer ornament made of glass or metal. It makes a pleasant sound when the wind blows, so it is hung in summer to create a sense of coolness. It is cherished as a symbol of the season.

* Furins are only displayed in summer. Visitors can enjoy a different exhibit each season.

Encounter rare plants and flowers at the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

The Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden is located next to Rokko Forest Sound Museum.

The Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, created by Dr. Tomitaro Makino, a botanist known as the “father of botany in Japan”, opened in 1933. It is the alpine botanical garden with the longest history in Japan.

Taking advantage of the mountain climate, which is located at an altitude of 865 meters and has an average annual temperature of 9 degrees Celsius, about 1,500 species of alpine plants and cold-district plants from around the world, as well as wildflowers native to Mt. Rokko are being grown here.

Japanese Catchfly（August）

Purple Loosestrife（August）

At the Rokko Forest Sound Museum, visitors can see a well-maintained garden. However, what you can enjoy here are plants that have been cultivated in near wild conditions.

In the 50,000 square-meter park, a natural environment suited for each plant is being reproduced, including an area that recreates the wetlands that once existed around Mt. Rokko and an area where tall trees are planted together.

The rock garden where alpine plants are cultivated in particular is a very unique area, as it allows visitors to see flowers that usually bloom at altitudes of 1,500~3,000 meters on the 865-meter-high Mt. Rokko.

Edelweisses, which are typical of the Alps, and Komakusa (Dicentra peregrina), which is said to be the queen of Japanese alpine plants, can also be seen there (blooming season : from May to June).

Located next to the east entrance of the botanical garden, the café Edelweiss is the perfect place to spend a pleasant time surrounded by greenery.

Inside the hut-like store, there are old photos of Mt. Rokko, retro posters, and books about plants lined-up.

The great thing about Mt. Rokko is that there are places like this where you can feel the great outdoors close to the city. Even those who are not good at mountain climbing can easily come here by cable car and ropeway.

Some tickets give access to both Rokko Forest Sound Museum and Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden. They can be purchased at the ticket office of each facility. For details, please click here.

＞リンク

Going to Rokko Mountain in Kobe. Climbing Up the Mountain with a Cable Car, which has 90-year of History

Rokko Forest Sound Museum

Address: 4512-145 Kita-Rokko Rokkosan-cho Nada-ku Kobe-city Hyogo prefecture 657-0101（Google map）

Available time: 10:00～17:00 （Last entrance 16:30）

Regular closing days: Every Thursday, December 31^st, January 1^st ※May be open on Thursdays during certain periods such as national holidays

Website:  https://www.rokkosan.com/museum/?lang=en（English）

Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

Address: 4512-150 Kita-Rokko Rokkosan-cho Nada-ku Kobe-city Hyogo prefecture 657-0101（Google map）

Open period: From mid-March to late November ※Please check the website for details

Available time: 10:00～17:00 （Last entrance 16:30）※Maybe extended during events

Regular closing days: Yes. Please check the website for details.

Website:  https://www.rokkosan.com/hana/?lang=en（English）