Hiking near Kobe, Japan

Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza (日時計と青葉の笛広場) is a short climb up the mountain and easily accessible from Suma Station. The trail is mostly a dirt path reinforced with  logs for stairs and some sections turned into concrete path. I would say this was the easier option compared to the trails of Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地). It is a lovely hike although it is very much a city park feel with young trees and in a quite disturbed area.

Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza (日時計と青葉の笛広場)

Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza (日時計と青葉の笛広場)

Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza (日時計と青葉の笛広場)

 Up at the top of the viewpoint there is a lookout structure, benches and a groomed area of hedges and planted flowers. It was really not what I was expecting to get to after walking the dirt path up here.

Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza (日時計と青葉の笛広場)

Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza (日時計と青葉の笛広場)

 Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地) is just a short walk through a residential area in between there and Sumaura Park Viewpoint Plaza. The first stretch goes quite literally up a concrete staircase but provides amazing views of forest and city below as you get up to the ridge. 

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

 Although the only flowers blooming were exotic or planted there were definitely a lot of mushrooms in the understory bearking out of the soil and leaf litter.

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

 Standing up on the open rocks you get a view on either side of the mountain and can see the city and ocean sprawling out below.

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

The rock formations are beautiful contrast against the green and provide a gorgeous view of the open area below. From here Black-eared Kites soar at eye level  and coast over the mountains thermals.

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

Yokooshuhen Ryokuchi Park (横尾周辺緑地)

I was lucky enough to be in town for the Indian festival held at Kobe Waterfront. There isn't much to see in Kobe unless you like shopping so this was a nice excuse to go out to the waterfront and have some different types of food. There was music, dancing, shops and food stands. The food was amazing but still actually not very spicy. Although it was more spicy than some other places in Japan.  

Indian Festival at Kobe Waterfront

Kobe Waterfront

Mount Rokkō (六甲山) is one of the most famous areas to hike near Kobe/Osaka and the is easily accessible from Ashiya Station or Ashiya-gawa Station. Two trails split from Kōza Falls (高座の滝) and varry greatly in difficulty. The main trail is the one I hiked the previous time I visited Kobe and although it is still a large section of stairs uphill it is easier than the river trail that goes on an offshoot to the main trail, which I took this time with a local hiking group.

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

The rock garden trail goes up the river and has a gorgeous view of many small waterfalls as you wind up through the rocky riverbed. This does involve scaling a few of the larger rocks during the climb and can be difficult in some areas when they get slippery.

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

 Getting higher up you reach the 'rock garden' itself that provides a panoramic view of the city below and mountains above.

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

The trail in the rock garden is just dirt and rock and in some places requires a little bit of bouldering to climb up short distances. There are usually side trails that take a bit longer but avoid the harder sections. This trail was incredibly fun and stunningly beautiful,

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

 Looking back on the rock garden from above you can see the winding trail crossing the ridge of the 'garden'.

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

  Higher up is still rocks and dirt and this trail intersects with the main trail from the waterfall (good option for a shorter day hike) however we just crossed that to complete a longer figure eight taking a different trail up and circling back to the take that trail back down from the famous lunch spot at the power lines above the place where we crossed.

Mount Rokko - Rock Garden Trail

 On the hike down we actually saw wildlife including a Japanese Skink, Japanese Woodpecker and a group of young wild boar (Inoshishi).

Japanese Woodpecker

Wild Boar -Inoshishi

Wild Boar -Inoshishi

 The sunset was stunning that evening as we walked back though the city. The hike was the perfect day trip and we made it back just in perfect time for a relaxing dinner.

Sunset over Kobe