Fodor's Expert Review Mt. Rokko
Three cable cars scale Mt. Rokko, providing spectacular views of lush forests. If you think it's beautiful during the day, time your trip so you'll descend after dusk, when you can see the city lights twinkle against the black sea.
You can do this trip in a half day, but you may want a full day to explore the area. To get to Rokko-san, take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Hankyu San-no-miya Station to Hankyu Rokko Station (¥190). From there take a taxi or a bus to Rokko Cable-Shita Station. A funicular railway travels up the mountain to Rokko-sanjo Station (¥600). The spread-out summit area is home to various attractions including a viewing terrace, tea rooms, a botanical garden and even a snow park in the winter; the Rokko Sanjo Bus runs regularly between the various facilities (¥210 to ¥260).
The Japanese were already enjoying the thermal waters at Arima Onsen 有馬温泉 before the 7th century. Arima is on the north slope of Rokko-san and consists of a maze of tiny streets... READ MORE
Three cable cars scale Mt. Rokko, providing spectacular views of lush forests. If you think it's beautiful during the day, time your trip so you'll descend after dusk, when you can see the city lights twinkle against the black sea.
You can do this trip in a half day, but you may want a full day to explore the area. To get to Rokko-san, take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Hankyu San-no-miya Station to Hankyu Rokko Station (¥190). From there take a taxi or a bus to Rokko Cable-Shita Station. A funicular railway travels up the mountain to Rokko-sanjo Station (¥600). The spread-out summit area is home to various attractions including a viewing terrace, tea rooms, a botanical garden and even a snow park in the winter; the Rokko Sanjo Bus runs regularly between the various facilities (¥210 to ¥260).
The Japanese were already enjoying the thermal waters at Arima Onsen 有馬温泉 before the 7th century. Arima is on the north slope of Rokko-san and consists of a maze of tiny streets and traditional houses. Some 30 ryokan use the curative powers of the water to attract guests. Although the water gushes up freely from springs, some ryokan charge as much as ¥10,000 for use of their baths. Go instead to the public bath, Kin-no-Yu, in the center of the village near the bus terminal. Here ¥650 gets you a soak in the steaming waters. Kin-no-Yu is open daily 8 am to 10 pm (closed the second and fourth Tuesday of the month). Take the subway north from JR Shin-Kobe Station, transferring at Tanigami and ending at Arima Onsen (¥680).
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