Kobe is, of course, easily accessible from Osaka and Kyoto, and Mt. Rokko is familiar to both tourists and the local people alike.

The Rokko Music Box Museum and Rokkosan Pasture are but two of the spots near the summit that can be enjoyed by families and friends, and the view from the summit is particularly wonderful. There are magnificent views of Kobe City as well as Osaka, Wakayama, and Osaka Bay.

The best way to reach the summit is by the Rokko Cable Car that went into service in 1932 and marked its 86th anniversary in March 2018. It only takes 10 minutes to go the 493.3 meters from the foot to the summit.

A bus will take you to Rokko Garden Terrace from the Rokko Sanjo Station after you arrive by cable car. After about a 15-minute ride you will arrive at the Rokko Garden Terrace where there are several shops inside the garden area. From here magnificent views are only a short distance away.

The Rokko Garden Terrace, which opened in 2003, is an observatory that utilizes the natural terrain. Spread horizontally along the ridge of Mt. Rokko there are an observatory, observation deck, a beautiful garden with seasonal flowers, 4 dining establishments, 5 shops and a parking lot. Best of all are the magnificent views offered from various spots on the terrace.

Rokko Garden Terrace is dotted with exotic buildings. There is also a garden of beautiful flowers, such as roses and lilies, that bloom each season. This is a good place for a leisurely stroll.

The Rokko-Shidare Observatory Nature Experience Observation Deck, the highest place on Mt. Rokko, is an exceptionally popular spot on the terrace. The building, which was designed by the architect Mr. Hiroshi Sanbuichi, is characterized by a domed frame covering the whole.

It was meant to resemble a large bush standing on Mt. Rokko. The frame, walls, and floor were made from Japanese cypress harvested in Yoshino, Nara Prefecture and the aroma of the cypress permeates the interior. Sunlight filters through the frame during the day creating an air of fantasy. This truly is an observatory with a feel of nature about it.

Incidentally, when night falls the area has a different type of attraction which we will explain a bit later.

There are four restaurants and cafes on the property, each designed to afford excellent views through their large windows. One of these, the Granite Cafe, is especially popular for its stylish dishes as well as the stunning view.

The cafe takes its name from the granite stone used in its construction. Granite is found in abundance on Mt. Rokko.

The cafe boasts fashionable European-style original dishes and desserts using locally harvested vegetables and Kobe beef. In addition to lunch, the pastries served during tea time are especially worth trying!

In the evening, you can choose meat, fish, or one of three types of pasta for a main course, or order individual meat dishes and assorted cheeses; there is even a special dinner course.

The popular cheese fondue made with lots of Emmental and Gruyere cheeses skillfully blended with white wine in a small, round pot has a truly authentic taste.

In addition to the Granite Cafe there are also several other unique restaurants on the terrace. Select one that suits your mood and preferences.

The Food Terrace is a food court on the observation deck that offers an assortment of light refreshments such as ramen, udon, and other snacks. In addition to the indoor seating there are also seats on the deck outside.

The Rokkosan Genghis Khan Palace, another restaurant at Garden Terrace, offers healthy lamb meat in Mongolian-style barbecue, called Jingisukan (Genghis Khan) in Japan. The menu also offers a wide selection of dishes prepared with Wagyu Beef and fresh seafood, Kobe being close to both the sea and mountains.

Rokko View Palace is a cafeteria-style restaurant. The menu offers curries, hamburgers, and other casual dishes which can be enjoyed over lively conversation with family and friends in a relaxed atmosphere.

A unique feature of all of these Rokko Garden Terrace restaurants is that the ingredients they use in their dishes are all locally produced in Kobe and its surroundings.

The result is that everything on the menus is fresh and delicious. Enjoy something out of the ordinary by dining to the chirping of birds in the fresh air as you enjoy a meal while marveling at the spectacular sights before your eyes.

There are also several shops, such as Rokko Souvenir Hall, Kobe Selection, and KOBE +, at Garden Terrace offering a wide selection of primarily food items representative of Kobe and Hyogo Prefecture.

There are also a variety of events held each season on the terrace. An event was held March 17 ~ May 31, 2018 called “Mt. Rokko Swiss Fair ~ Join Heidi, the Girl of the Alps” There were panel displays as well as Swiss food and Heidi goods sold at the event and the whole terrace had a Swiss atmosphere about it.

The Granite Cafe mentioned earlier also had a special menu during the event. One item on it was the Engadiner Nusstorte (caramelized nut-filled pastry), a traditional pastry of the Engadine region of Switzerland for more than 200 years.

Loaded will flavor, and calories, it is also referred to as the Forbidden Sweet. Only a limited amount was available for the month of May during the fair.

A British Fair was held from June 9th to August 31st in 2018. There are plenty of other seasonal events such as the Rokko Photographic Garden and the Rokko Meets Art 2017 Encore Exhibition. For more information please check out the website.

Once the sun goes down the beautiful view during the day is transformed into something special.

Now that we’ve enjoyed the view below, let’s turn our attention to the peak behind us. You should be able to see the brightly lit Rokko Shidare!

The Lightscape in Rokko is an illumination art event held at Rokko Garden Terrace. More than 10 million colorful LED lights are used to light up Rokko Shidare throughout the year using colors of the four seasons.

This is a creation of the lighting designer Mr. Masayuki Fushimi and is themed The Pillow Book. The interior of Rokko Shidare is bathed in a color representative of a season: purple for spring, moonlight blue for summer, setting sun orange for autumn, and silver for winter.

The spring version, Spring Dawn, was shown until May 31. It evoked an image of pink cherry blossoms and white clouds tinged by purple during the morning sunrise.

The colors will be changed through the seasons, each time showing a more mystical world. Illumination was scheduled for 7:00 ~ 9:00 p.m. June 1 ~ September 6 for summer, 5:00 ~ 9:00 p.m. September 7 ~ November 30 for autumn, 5:00 ~ 9:00 p.m. December 1 ~ January 6, and 5:00 ~ 8:00 p.m. only on Saturdays and Sundays January 12 ~ March 10.

In the past an area of the Rokko Shidare was the Jukkoku Observatory which had a slow-revolving floor. Some of the local residents may fondly remember that. This modern and progressive observatory is certain to gain more attention in the future.

What do you think of Mt. Rokko? When you visit Kobe and Osaka, don’t just admire Mt. Rokko from below; take time to go up to the top and spend time there. There are many spots offering excellent views and at Rokko Garden Terrace you can feel like you are walking in the sky.

main photo:Photo provided by the Mt. Rokko Tourism Co., Ltd.