Nunobiki Herb Garden
布引ハーブ園
A hillside herb garden above Kobe reached by ropeway, with views over Kobe Bay and the Kii Peninsula, plus Nunobiki Falls on the walk up
About Nunobiki Herb Garden
The Nunobiki Herb Garden sits on the slopes of Mt. Rokko above Kobe, reached by a 10-minute ropeway ride from a station 5 minutes' walk from Shin-Kobe Shinkansen terminal. The garden covers a terraced hillside with over 75,000 plants across 200 herb varieties, organized into themed sections including a rose garden, aromatic walk, and greenhouse. The main draw beyond the plants is the view: from the upper garden terrace, Kobe city, Kobe Port, Osaka Bay, and on clear days the Kii Peninsula are visible as a panorama. The ropeway ride itself provides aerial views over the forested Rokko hillside. The route to the upper station by foot (alternatively taken by hikers) passes Nunobiki Falls, a series of four cascades historically considered among Japan's notable waterfalls. The garden has evening illumination events in autumn and is particularly popular for its rose season (late April to early June and October).
Essential Tips
The view is the primary reason to come. Check the weather forecast before going; overcast days remove the harbor panorama that makes the ¥1,030 ticket worthwhile
Rose season (late April to early June and October) is the most popular period. Arrive on a weekday or before 10 AM on weekends to avoid ropeway queues
The ropeway station is 5 minutes' walk from Shin-Kobe Shinkansen terminal, easy to add to a Kobe stopover between trains
Hiking option: the Nunobiki trail from near Shin-Kobe Station reaches the garden in 30-40 minutes on a steep but maintained path, passing the Nunobiki Falls series. Buy a one-way ropeway ticket (¥530) to ride down
The garden has a café at the upper station with harbor-facing seating, worth a stop for the view even if not hungry
Evening illumination events (rose season, autumn light-up) are scheduled events; check the official website for dates and note that these draw significantly larger crowds than daytime visits
Combining Nunobiki Herb Garden with Kitano Ijinkan makes an efficient morning: both are 5-15 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station. Do the ropeway first while energy is high, then walk the ijinkan streets downhill toward Sannomiya
Don't Miss
Ropeway Ride and Harbor View
The 10-minute gondola ride from the lower station (5 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station) ascends the Rokko hillside above the city. The cabins are glass-sided and the view opens toward Kobe harbor and Osaka Bay as you rise. At the upper station, the garden terrace faces south with an unobstructed view of the city, port, and bay. On clear days (best in winter and autumn) the Kii Peninsula is visible across the water. The ropeway round trip with garden admission costs ¥1,030.
Rose Garden
The rose season (late April to early June and October) is when the herb garden is at its most popular. Over 200 rose varieties bloom in terraced beds on the hillside, and the combination of the flowers, the hillside architecture, and the harbor view below creates a distinctive scene. The garden runs evening illumination events during peak rose season; the lit roses against the city lights of Kobe below are the most popular evening attraction in the Shin-Kobe area.
Nunobiki Falls Walk
For those who prefer to walk rather than take the ropeway, the trail from near Shin-Kobe Station passes Nunobiki Falls on the way up to the herb garden. The falls are a series of four cascades, the largest of which is about 43 meters. The trail takes approximately 30-40 minutes one way on a steep but maintained path. A one-way ropeway ticket (¥530) allows walking up through the falls and riding the gondola down, or the reverse.
What to Do Here
Ropeway and Garden Half Day
Walk 5 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station to the ropeway lower station. Take the gondola up (10 minutes). At the upper station, walk the main terrace circuit with harbor views (45-60 minutes). Visit the greenhouse and aromatic herb section. Check the rose garden if in season. Descend by ropeway.
Tips:
- The view is the main feature; plan around clear weather. Check the forecast the night before
- Rose season (late April to early June and October): arrive on a weekday morning to avoid weekend crowds
- The garden has a café at the upper station with views over the harbor, worth a coffee stop
- If combining with Kitano Ijinkan: the ropeway lower station is 5 minutes from Shin-Kobe, and Kitano is 10 minutes from the same station, so it is easy to do both in a morning
Plan Your Visit
Opening Hours
weekday
10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (ropeway last ascent 4:30 PM)
weekend Holiday
9:00 AM – 5:30 PM (ropeway last ascent 5:00 PM)
seasonal Extension
Extended evening hours (until 8:00 PM) during rose season and autumn light-up. Check the official website for current season.
closed Days
Generally open year-round; specific maintenance closures vary. Check the website before visiting.
Best Time to Visit
Rose season (late April to early June, and October). Clear winter days for the best harbor and bay views. Avoid overcast days when the view is the main draw.
Avoid:
Rose season peak weekends. Evening illumination events draw large crowds.
Nearby
Shin-Kobe Station
Sanyo Shinkansen terminal and Kobe City Subway. 5-minute walk from the ropeway.
0.3 km
Kitano Ijinkan
Historic foreign residence district. 10-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station.
1.5 km
Nunobiki Falls
Series of four waterfalls on the trail between Shin-Kobe and the herb garden. Free to walk to, no admission.
0.5 km
Sannomiya (Kobe center)
Main shopping and restaurant district. 10-minute walk from Shin-Kobe or 1 stop by subway.
1.5 km
Gallery
The upper terrace view: Kobe city and harbor from the Rokko hillside
The ropeway: 10-minute ride from near Shin-Kobe Station to the garden on the hillside
Rose season (late April to early June, October): 200+ varieties on the hillside terrace
Nunobiki Falls: four cascades on the hiking trail from Shin-Kobe to the garden
History
founding
The Nunobiki Herb Garden opened in 1992 as part of the Kobe International Garden and Horticulture Exposition held on the Rokko hillside. The ropeway and the garden were developed together to create a visitor attraction connected to the Shin-Kobe Shinkansen terminal area. The existing Nunobiki Falls and the forested Rokko hillside environment were incorporated as the backdrop for the garden's development.
significance
The Nunobiki area has historical significance independent of the herb garden. The Nunobiki Falls (布引の滝) were described in Heian-period literature (ca. 900-1100 AD) as one of the most scenic waterfall sites in the Kinki region, and historical records suggest the falls were visited by Japanese poets and nobles as a celebrated natural view point. The falls are included in historical lists of Japan's notable waterfalls.
name Origin
Nunobiki (布引) means 'cloth-pulling' in Japanese, traditionally interpreted as a description of the way the water cascades over the flat rock faces of the falls, resembling cloth being drawn across a smooth surface. The herb garden took its name from the falls directly above which it was built.
Getting There
Walk from Shin-Kobe Station
Station: Shin-Kobe Station (Sanyo Shinkansen / Kobe City Subway)
Exit: North exit
Walk: 5 minutes to ropeway lower station
Exit Shin-Kobe Station from the north exit and follow signs for the herb garden ropeway. The ropeway lower station is a short flat walk. The convenience of access from the Shinkansen makes this viable as a brief stopover addition on a Osaka-Kobe journey.
Hiking Trail from Shin-Kobe
Station: Shin-Kobe Station (Sanyo Shinkansen / Kobe City Subway)
Exit: North exit toward Nunobiki stream
Walk: 30-40 minutes uphill to the garden via the Nunobiki trail
For hikers or those who want to see the Nunobiki Falls without paying for the ropeway. The trail is well-marked and maintained but steep. One-way ropeway (¥530) allows walking up and riding down, or vice versa.
Location
1-4-3 Kitanocho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 650-0002
Nearest: Shin-Kobe Station (Sanyo Shinkansen / Kobe City Subway) (5 minutes from Shin-Kobe Station to the ropeway lower station)
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