Mt. Rokko lies to the north of Kobe and to its south is the Seto Inland Sea. Kobe is protected from the cold north wind by Mt. Rokko and the relatively-high water temperature of the Seto Inland Sea combine to make for a mild winter. Strong winds blowing from Awaji and the Akashi Strait in the west work to eliminate the phenomenon of heat islands in the summer.

Plus, the sunshine hours are long and as the humidity is moderate it creates an environment that is comfortable for sightseeing.

The city center where Sannomiya is located has a well-developed public transportation system making access by train, subway and bus easy, so there are plenty of places where you can enjoy yourself even in slightly bad weather.

Despite it being the beginning of autumn in Kobe, it is still hot in September.

The average temperature in the past 30 years has been 25.2°C, but due to the effects of global warming, the sun has been shining as strongly as in midsummer August in recent years.

You also need to be aware that this is also the typhoon season when sudden showers and torrential rainstorms may occur.

Towards the end of the month, though, the morning and evening temperatures become noticeably cooler and the days more comfortable.

The early part of the month is not that different from August so you can get by with short sleeves, but towards the end of the month, the mornings and evenings start to become cooler, so if you go out early or return late, you might want to take a light hoodie or cardigan with you. It’s also still a good idea to wear a hat or have a parasol handy, and there are still lots of people wearing sandals at this time.

● Clothing items
Tops: (men and women) T-shirts, polo shirts (women) dresses
Bottoms: (men and women) cotton slacks（women) skirts
Footwear: (men and women) sandals
Accessories: (men and women) umbrellas that can be used for both rainy and sunny days

Nunobiki no Taki is a beautiful waterfall that has been selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls and Japan's Three Great Waterfalls and is only a 10-minute walk from the Kobe Municipal Subway and Shinkansen Shin-Kobe Station. The sound of the waterfall and negative ions created by the splashing water are quite soothing especially on hot September days. If you climb up to the Miharashi Observatory, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view overlooking Kobe and Osaka Bay.

In October the sunshine softens and there are no longer days when the temperature exceeds 30°C, and the average temperature drops below 20°C making it a comfortable time. Kobe gets very little rain at this time and with the average maximum temperature being 22.7°C and the average minimum temperature 16.1°C, the mornings and evenings still not cold, it is a time when the area is visited by many tourists.

You can still get by wearing three-quarter-length sleeves, long-sleeved T-shirts, and polo shirts, but towards the end of the month you will need to wear a vest or a sweatshirt or similar overgarment. Instead of sandals most people wear shoes or sneakers with socks. It's a good idea to have a denim jacket or something similar to wear on days when the wind is chilly.

● Clothing items
Tops: (men and women) long-sleeve polo shirts, sweatshirts
Bottoms: (men and women) cotton slacks（women) skirts + stockings
Footwear: (men and women) sneakers (women) pumps

As the weather is nice at this time of year wherever you go is enjoyable. One place in particular you might enjoy is the Kobe Suma Rikyu Park. This large park overlooking Osaka Bay has a large botanical garden with flowers that bloom throughout the year.

Here you will find about 4,000 roses of about 180 species that are in full bloom from the middle of October to November, a most impressive sight. In addition, at the Hyogo Prefectural Maiko Park, located at the gate on the Kobe side of one of the world's longest suspension bridges, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, you can enjoy a thrilling experience of looking down on the sea from the Maiko Marine Promenade that protrudes above the sea.

November is the best time to see autumn foliage. Every year, many people come to see the beauty of Kobe's autumn leaves. In November as the days grow shorter and the autumn weather becomes more prominent the average temperature is 13.9°C, the average high temperature is 17.3°C, and the average low temperature is 10.6°C. Towards the end of the month when the trees in the mountains have changed color, the approach of winter can be felt in the mornings and evenings which can be quite cold. But as the good weather tends to hold, many people enjoy going to holiday resorts.

The temperature steadily drops in November. Early in the month a thick. knit pullover or a heavy denim jacket that can be worn over a shirt or blouse are just right, but towards the end of the month you will probably need a winter coat. However, the temperature varies from day to day, and when wearing skirts, there are days when you may wonder whether to wear stockings or sheer tights. As the temperature often fluctuates, it's probably a good idea to consider wearing layers of clothes that can be removed or added depending on the weather.

● Clothing items
Tops: (men and women) heavy sweater, jackets
Bottoms: (men and women) wool slacks (women) skirts + thin tights
Footwear: (men and women) sneakers (women) pumps

As the days become increasingly colder at this time of autumn, enjoying autumn leaves and hot springs has long been popular, and if you are interested in doing that we recommend the Arima Onsen which has been popular for centuries and retains the charm of bygone eras. This is a resort area that can be reached by bus from Sannomiya in about 30 minutes or by train in about 40 minutes. The spring water at Arima is of two types; one called kinsen (gold spring) and the other ginsen (silver spring). The hotels and inns here each have their own day-trip plans, so we recommend selecting one that includes a meal so you can spend the whole day there.


Autumn is the best time for enjoying a visit to a hot spring. While you can see the autumn foliage in parks and nearby mountain, many people also enjoy venturing to more distant mountains. As it is the rice and vegetable harvest season, various events such as autumn leaves festivals and harvest festivals are held in each region. By knowing what to wear depending on the weather, you'll better be able to enjoy the beautiful scenery and sensations Japan has to offer.

Reference: Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Meteorological Agency website