Mt. Rokko is a major place where a variety of leisure and sightseeing-related facilities are situated, and visitors can enjoy their favorite activities while feeling the vibes of Mt. Rokko’s bountiful seasonal nature. A long time ago, the presence of Mt. Rokko was not the one we can presently see but it was incredibly desolate owing to the wars, natural catastrophes, extreme development and deforestation. After the grand opening of the Port of Kobe in the Meiji Era (1868), a great number of foreign visitors arrived in Kobe and started interacting with Kobe locals. Thanks to their enduring efforts with great enthusiasm, Mt. Rokko was drastically developed and beautifully revitalized into how it presently looks.
Among them, Mr. Arthur Hesketh Groom put all his effort into tourism development and landscape conservation of Mt. Rokko, and he also founded the first English-speaking club for foreigners in Western Japan “the Kobe Club”. He is acknowledged as the “Pioneer of Mt. Rokko” because of his magnificent accomplishments.
The Rokkosan Groom Festival is annually held in this period for applauding Mr. Groom’s achievements and praying for safety for Rokko mountain-hikes during the summer season. In this article, we will show you the festival as well as valuable and enjoyable information about Mt. Rokko Visitor Center & Guide House which has been used as the venue of the festival!
On the day of the festival, a regular nature observation event was organized by Mt. Rokko nature guides. Along with the regular event, a hiking event was held by the Hankyu Railway with Mt. Rokko Visitor Center designated as the end point of the hike. Due to these affairs transpiring on the same day, over 900 people visited the Center and the festival ended on a high note.
【Shinto ritual】
The Shinto-style ritual was conducted toward the altar which was installed in front of the statue of Mr. Groom. This ritual is a kind of purification ceremony for the safety of Mt. Rokko.
【Event】
It was the first attempt at arranging the exhibition booths from the facilities of the Rokko mountain top area.
At the parking lot, various food trucks served visitors their delectable dishes.
Mt. Rokko Visitor Center & Guide House is about a 20-minute walking distance away or one bus stop away from Rokko Cable Car “Rokko Sanjo Station”. It’s a transfer spot for Rokko Sanjo Bus and Rokko and Maya Shuttle Bus and it is located in between Mt. Rokko and Mt. Maya.
Let’s begin with Mt. Rokko Visitor Center! This is the entrance.
A natural wooden-designed house warmly welcomes your visit, making you feel relaxed.
Eco-friendly measures have been positively implemented in the House. For example, Local wood from Hyogo Prefecture was used as the materials of the building, and also, an ecosystem related to utilizing warm air from the attic has been introduced to contribute to the environment.
Many of the Mt. Rokko hikers tend to search new routes by reading guidebooks or browsing the internet in advance, but as a matter of fact, the necessary information cannot be found very often. It is because there are complicated routes that spread all around the area. It can be a satisfying feeling to find the right routes on your own while hiking; it could even be the best part. However, obtaining the detailed and accurate information from an experienced guide would also be a great option to safely discover something new.
At Mt. Rokko Guide house, a huge guide board mounted on the wall shows Mt. Rokko’s major hiking routes; along with Mt. Rokko-related photos that will make it easy for visitors to gather information about Mt. Rokko. In addition, well-experienced volunteer guides “Yamano Annainin” are stationed at the Guide House on Saturdays, Sundays, and national holidays and ready to support you.
On top of that, a nature discovery tour is conducted twice a day every Saturday, Sunday, and national holiday. (Free of charge)
https://rokkosan.center/guidetours (Japanese)
As the Guide House is conveniently located, hikers often stop by and check the routes on the way to their destination.
Also, a big touch screen can be very helpful to find valuable information.
Next, let’s go up stairs to Mt. Rokko Visitor Center!
In a lush green lawn square, a big arbor and benches are well-arranged. Feel free to swing by, sit back and unwind yourself. The Memorial Monument, the statue of Mr. Groom, and the stone signpost associated with Mr. Groom can be seen in the property.
Mt. Rokko Visitor Center is the facility that conveys the charm of Mt. Rokko to those who visit the Mt. Rokko area in the Seto Inland Sea National Park.
https://rokkosan.center/facility (Japanese)
The manager will welcome you cheerfully at the entrance of Mt. Rokko Visitor Center.
There is an exhibition room right in front of the entrance and you can learn about the history and nature of Mt. Rokko through panels and videos that are provided there.
The Mt. Rokko nature experience theater exclusively offers a 270-degree VR image with Mt. Rokko’s story and abundant nature. Close the curtain and experience its dynamic and fun VR video. Don’t miss it!
The lecture room can be used for multi-purposes such as seminar, training and so forth (reservation required).
Plus, the window seats are open as a freely usable space (free of charge).
(The opening hours of the space are the same as that of the lecture room. Check out the availability beforehand.)
Unique and rare books are lined up at the library section.
Next to Mt. Rokko Visitor Center, a wonderful observation deck is waiting to share the view with you!
A spectacular panoramic view, that includes Awaji Island, Kansai International Airport, Kobe Airport and more, clearly spreads right before your eyes if the weather is favorable.
What do you say to visiting Mt. Rokko Visitor Center, experiencing and learning the history and charm of Mt. Rokko. It would definitely be worth it!
Facility Information
Mt. Rokko Visitor Center
https://rokkosan.center/ (Japanese / partly English)
123 Kita-Rokko Rokksan-chou Nada-ku Kobe
Tel: 078-891-0616
Closed on Mondays (If Monday falls on a national holiday, closed on the following day)
