Tree leaves are currently changing color dramatically and vividly here in the Rokko mountain area and the best season for mountain hiking with autumn leaf viewing has just started. Today, we will show you our recommended routes, events, and facilities in the area.
This event & tour will absolutely help people who are interested in mountain hikes but don’t know how to begin them or how to pick appropriate hiking gear, get right information and to take the first step in heading to the mountains in this beautiful season of autumnal hues.
Let’s start off with a reliable and informative place for beginners “TOREKO”!
As a support center for Rokko mountain hikes, Trail Station Kobe (a.k.a. TOREKO) was newly opened in JR Shinkansen Shin-Kobe Station in July, 2023. TOREKO offers a wide variety of beginner-friendly services that include hiking gear rentals.
Trail Station Kobe “TOREKO”
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/toreko/ (English)
A guided tour, which was organized by TOREKO today, is part of the Kobe Mountain Hike project (“Let’s head to the mountains in Kobe! ~Stamp Collecting Event~”). This tour is the first tour, and the goal of the tour is to visit 4 Japanese-style teahouses and collect 4 stamps. During the event period, 6 more fun tours are scheduled. It might be worth trying all of them!
https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/a64051/20240830.html (Japanese)
“Let’s head to the mountains in Kobe! ~Stamp Collecting Event~”
Go get the event leaflet (like the photo shown above) and collect 14 different stamps while enjoying Kobe’s mountain hike and visiting 13 teahouses in the Mt. Rokko area and a resting spot “TREK KOBE Tsukuhara Cabin” in the Mt. Tanjo area.
▼MAP
https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/viewer?mid=1Hiez0vmNMXGHVOeCPjo9B5rEaU9VQEE&ll=34.7107860307821%2C135.1802296&z=12 (Japanese)
Event period: until February 2nd, 2025 (Sunday)
*The leaflets are distributed on a first-come and first-served basis and only a limited number of leaflets are available now. Don’t miss out on this popular autumn event!
The tour guide is the manager of TOREKO, Mr. Ishii.
A beginner-friendly hiking route was arranged, and the route was specially great for autumn leaf viewing. Mr. Ishii guided 10 participants to wonderful viewing spots and 4 teahouses with stamp collecting spots during this 4-hour tour.
(*Route: Shin-Kobe Station→Nunobiki Waterfalls→Nunobiki Reservoir→Futatabi Park→Dairyuji Temple→Taishi Road→Kencho-mae Station）
Many of the participants rented trekking-related gear such as shoes, poles, backpacks, outfits at TOREKO.
(*TOREKO exclusively provides participants, who take part in the TOREKO tour for the first time, with rental gear free of charge.)
It would be a smart and an easy choice to stop by TOREKO to get information about trekking gear or rent some necessary items for mountain hikes.
Departing from Shin-Kobe Station, only a 15-minute hike will take you to this amazingly beautiful “Nunobiki Waterfalls”. As it’s very easily accessible from the gate of Kobe “Shin-Kobe Station”, some of the participants were surprised not only by its serene and mystical presence but also by its geographical conditions.
Nunobiki Waterfalls is known as one of Japan’s three greatest divine waterfalls along with Nachi Falls (Wakayama Prefecture) and Kegon Falls (Tochigi Prefecture).
The first stamp collecting spot is “Ontaki Chaya teahouse”. As a side note, Chaya (jaya) originally means “teahouse” in Japanese but nowadays, it is widely used as a general term of a Japanese-style café diner. Ontaki Chaya started its service in 1914. Since then, their traditional Japanese dishes such as oden (Japanese fish cakes simmered in a soy sauce-based dashi broth) and yudofu (boiled tofu) have been loved by Kobe locals. Savor these signature broth-based items!
Related article↓
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/theme-eat-en/ontaki-chaya/ (English)
The Miharashi Observatory, which is located close to Ontaki Chaya, is one of the best viewing spots in the area. If the weather is good, you can enjoy a breathtaking view of Kobe from the observatory.
Nunobiki Reservoir (Nunobuki Gohonmatsu Dam)
Nunobiki Reservoir is known as Japan’s oldest gravity dam, and it was designated as a national important cultural property of Japan.
The leaves around the dam have started turning yellow and red.
Let’s head to the next stamp collecting spot through the paved road.
“Momiji no Chaya”
Momiji no Chaya (founded in 1927) proudly offers Kobe beef dishes at reasonable prices. Their sukiyaki is highly recommended (Reservation is not needed).
Related article↓
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/theme-eat-en/momiji-no-chaya/ (English)
“Sakura Chaya”
Sakura Chaya is situated along the Rokko Mountain traverse route, and it serves hikers’ favorite dishes as well as firewood for campers in Ichigahara (a camping area nearby).
Let’s walk through Ichigahara and reach Futatabi Park.
Futatabi Park is very famous for its vivid autumn foliage. It’s the best place where you can relax and appreciate the leaves at close range.
After unwinding for a while, why don’t we leave Futatabi Park and approach the final stamp collecting spot?
“Inari Chaya”
Inari Chaya is in Taishi Road (part of Dairyuji Temple pilgrimage path). Don’t forget to try their specialty potstickers with your favorite drinks there!
Related article↓
https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/supportshop/4918/ (English)
After collecting all 4 stamps, let’s walk straight to the final destination “Kencho-mae Station”. It’s about time to end the tour. Please return your rented gear to the manager here. What a great service!
It would undoubtedly be a great opportunity to participate in the event alone and find new mountain hike-related friends. As a matter of fact, some of them became friends through this event.
Stamp collecting events are very popular here in Kobe. Why not take delight in Mt. Rokko’s beautiful view with autumn leaves while collecting stamps and enjoying local food en route. It’s definitely the best part of mountain hiking in autumn.
Trail Station Kobe “TOREKO”
Inside JR Shin-Kobe Station; 1-3-1 Kano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toreko.kobe/
Website: https://kobe-rokko.jp/en/toreko/ (English)
*The business hours may change depending on the season. Please go to the website and see the details in advance.
*Regarding the next tour, please check out the website to get more information.
