Perched above Kobe city and boasting over 75,000 herbs and blooming flowers, Nunobiki Herb Gardens is literally and figuratively a cut above the rest. I’ve visited gardens across the entire length of Japan, and none of them have impressed me as much as Nunobiki did.
Aside from its 12 sprawling gardens, visitors can tour the fragrance and spice museums, witness artistic displays in the herbal house, laze in the herbal foot bath, pilgrimage to the lover’s bell and tuck into a meal at a German-castle inspired plaza.
It’s the perfect setting for a romantic day in Kobe. Even better, the gardens are in bloom all year round. Check out their website for your season’s features.
The Ascent
Getting there is a treat. The gardens are an easy 10-mintue ropeway ride from Shin-Kobe Station, which also serves as Kobe’s shinkansen (high-speed bullet train) station.
The ascent brings you past Nunobiki waterfall (43-feet tall!) and above the gardens. Look behind, and you’ll catch some superb Kobe views. The ropeway docks at two access points to the gardens: one lower and one upper. Being in the mountains and all, the gardens are on a slope.
And I’d recommend getting off at the upper station: it’s much nicer to spend a day gently descending than climbing.
(You can read the rest of the article at this link. This article was first published by Team JJ on August 11, 2019. Check here for deeper and unique insights into visiting Japan, including wellness, travel, cuisine and more. Find us on Instagram and on Facebook.)
