Home/Hyogo/Kobe/Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway — Mountain Herb Terraces

Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway — Mountain Herb Terraces

Published: Jul 22, 2026
Updated: Jul 22, 2026
Nunobikiherb gardenropewaybotanical gardencity views
Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway — Mountain Herb Terraces

Nunobiki Herb Garden (布引ハーブ園) is a hillside botanical garden featuring 75,000 herbs and flowers arranged in 12 themed terraces — rose garden, lavender fields, kitchen herb section, medicinal plants, and seasonal flower beds. The garden sits on Mt. Rokko's slopes (400m elevation) accessed by ropeway from Shin-Kobe Station, providing panoramic views over Kobe Port and Osaka Bay.

The ropeway journey (10 minutes) passes over Nunobiki Falls (布引の滝, one of Japan's three great waterfalls) and forested hillside before arriving at the garden. Each terrace has different character: formal European-style rose gardens, wild lavender slopes, glasshouse with tropical plants, and hilltop observation deck. The garden's elevation makes it 3–5°C cooler than the city — pleasant escape during Kobe's humid summers.

Essential Information

Opening Hours

10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (summer until 8:30 PM)

Closed: Open year-round

Entrance Fee

¥1,800 adults (ropeway + garden entry, round-trip)

Best Season

May–June (roses and lavender) | October (roses, autumn flowers) | November (foliage)

Visit Duration

2–3 hours

Getting There

Access Information

1-4-3 Kitano-cho, Chuo Ward (ropeway base at Shin-Kobe Station). Ropeway + garden entry: ¥1,800 adults round-trip. Hours: 10:00–17:00 (summer until 20:30). Visit duration: 2–3 hours. Best seasons: rose (May–June, October), lavender (June–July), autumn foliage (November).

Insider Guide

Premium
**One-way strategy:** The ropeway operates continuously between base and summit (4 intermediate stops). Consider riding up to the summit station, walking down through all garden terraces (30–40 min descent), then riding the ropeway from middle station back to base. This 'ride up, walk down' approach maximizes garden time and downhill walking is easier than uphill. Alternatively, take ropeway both ways and use the shuttle buses within the garden. **Restaurant and cafe:** The garden has multiple cafes and a summit restaurant (Herb Dining) serving herb-infused cuisine — herb pizza, lavender tea, rosemary chicken, herb ice cream. The food is above-average for tourist attractions (¥1,500–2,500 for lunch). The summit cafe's terrace provides harbor views with coffee/cake (¥800–1,200). Budget 30–60 minutes for meal break as part of garden visit. **Evening illumination (summer):** Late April–August, the garden extends hours until 20:30 with evening illumination — pathways lit, Kobe night view from summit, and cooler temperatures. This is Kobe locals' date spot — romantic but touristy. Day visits offer better plant visibility; evening visits emphasize atmosphere and city views. If choosing evening, arrive around 17:00 for daylight gardens transitioning to illuminated night garden.

Book Your Stay Nearby

Find accommodation close to Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway — Mountain Herb Terraces on these trusted booking platforms:

Nearby Spots

The closest hidden gems to Nunobiki Herb Garden & Ropeway — Mountain Herb Terraces, by straight-line distance.

Kitano Ijinkan — Western Mansions from the Meiji Era
~0.7 km
Hyogo· Kobe

Kitano Ijinkan — Western Mansions from the Meiji Era

Kitano Ijinkan (北野異人館) is a hillside district of European-style mansions built in the 1880s–1900s for Western merchants,…

KitanoijinkanWestern mansions+2
Updated Jul 2026
Kobe Beef Teppanyaki — Wagyu at the Source
Premium
~1.4 km
Premium content
Hyogo· Kobe

Kobe Beef Teppanyaki — Wagyu at the Source

Walking into Mouriya's fourth-floor dining room, you hear the sizzle before you see it. The chef slides a 120g cut of ri…

Kobe beefwagyuteppanyaki+2
Updated Jul 2026
Kobe City Museum — Art, History & Namban Culture
~1.7 km
Hyogo· Kobe

Kobe City Museum — Art, History & Namban Culture

Kobe City Museum (神戸市立博物館) houses collections spanning archaeology, historical artifacts, and European-Japanese cultural…

Kobe City MuseumNamban arthistory+2
Updated Jul 2026
Kobe Luminarie — Annual Light Festival (December)
~1.7 km
Hyogo· Kobe

Kobe Luminarie — Annual Light Festival (December)

Kobe Luminarie (神戸ルミナリエ) is an annual light festival held in early December, commemorating the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthq…

Luminarielight festivalearthquake memorial+2
Updated Jul 2026
Kobe Chinatown (Nankinmachi) — Compact Chinese Quarter
~1.8 km
Hyogo· Kobe

Kobe Chinatown (Nankinmachi) — Compact Chinese Quarter

Nankinmachi (南京町) is Kobe's Chinatown, a compact 200-meter square district packed with 100+ Chinese restaurants, street…

ChinatownNankinmachiChinese food+2
Updated Jul 2026
Meriken Park — Waterfront Art & Architecture
~2.4 km
Hyogo· Kobe

Meriken Park — Waterfront Art & Architecture

Meriken Park (メリケンパーク) is Kobe's harborfront park featuring modern art installations, maritime museums, and the iconic K…

Meriken ParkPort TowerBE KOBE+2
Updated Jul 2026

More in Hyogo