Zuihoji Park
Located on the site of the former Zuihoji Temple, the park is famous throughout the Kansai region for its spectacular autumn foliage and its cherry blossoms in spring.
The park is is approximately 10- 15 minutes walk from Arima Onsen and is easily reached by train, bus or car from Kobe or Osaka.
For a great day trip combine a visit to the park with other attractions in and around the town of Arima.
Sorakuen Garden
This beautiful, traditional garden in Kobe’s CBD comprises ancient trees, trickling waterfalls, ponds, winding paths wooded groves and several historically significant buildings across its 19,566 square metres. The garden, which was started in 1885 and completed in 1911, was built on the residence Taijiro Kodera, a former mayor of Kobe, but was opened to the public in 1941.
Rokko Alpine Botanic Garden
The garden was established on Kobe’s Mt Rokko in 1933, making it one of the oldest botanic gardens in Japan.
Sitting at an altitude of more than 850 metres the garden’s collection of more than 1500 species of alpine plants includes a number that are rare or endangered.
Displays change throughout the year so there is always something to enjoy, particularly with the change of the seasons.
While visitors can access the garden by a Kobe City bus or by car the most scenic mode of transport is the Rokko Cable Car which has operated since 1932.It spans the 1.7km between Rokko Cable Shita Station and Rokko Cable Sanjo Station and the trip takes around 10 minutes. Upon arrival at Rokko Cable Sanjo Station the Rokko Sanjo Bus takes visitors to the Rokko Alpine Gardens stop before completing a circuit to a number of other attractions on the mountain.