Global Outdoor Friends

WHEN
Mon, Oct 12, 2026 (Sports Day, national holiday), 13:00 to about 19:50 (Japan time). Relaxed pace: an easy-moderate hike up through the forest with a long rest at a viewpoint, a slow late afternoon at Rokko Garden Terrace, a free sunset at 17:29, optional dinner with the night view, then the cable car down. Lunch is not included, so please eat before you come.
MEETING POINT
13:00 at Rokko Cable-shita Station (六甲ケーブル下駅), in front of the ticket window. Please arrive by 12:55. Restrooms are inside the station; use them before we start (there are none on the trail).
Address: 8-2 Takaha Nishiyama, Nada-ku, Kobe (神戸市灘区高羽西山8-2)
HOW TO GET THERE
• Kobe City Bus No.16 (神戸市バス16系統) from Hankyu Rokko Station (阪急六甲駅, stop on the south side) or JR Rokkomichi Station (JR六甲道駅, stop on the north side) to the last stop "Rokko Cable-shita". About 14 min from Hankyu Rokko, ¥230 (IC cards OK).
• Buses run about every 8 min during the day; aim for a bus around 12:35–12:40.
GROUP SIZE & DIFFICULTY
Max 10 people. Beginner-friendly hike with one steep, stair-heavy section.
• Route: Rokko Cable-shita (about 240m) → 5–10 min up a steep paved road past the Rokko Kakujuen nursing home (六甲鶴寿園) to the trailhead (about 300m) → Abura-kobushi trail (油コブシ道) → Abura-kobushi peak (626m) → Kanten-yamamichi trail (寒天山道) → Tenrandai / Mt. Rokko Sanjo Station (737m)
• Distance: about 3 km
• Elevation gain: about 500m
• Walking time: about 1h15m standard; we plan about 1h20m–1h30m of walking plus a 30 min rest.
• After the hike, we take the bus to Garden Terrace, so no more walking than strolling around.
• Trail note: Kobe City lists this trail as "use caution" (some minor collapse spots, still open; hikers used it normally in Aug and Sep 2026). We stay together and go slowly.
GEAR
• Sneakers or hiking shoes with grip (no sandals or flat shoes)
• Water: at least 1 liter
• Snacks for the rest stop
• Hat, sunscreen, small towel
• Warm layer (fleece or light down): you will sweat on the climb, but it gets chilly on the mountain after sunset
• Small foldable rain jacket (just in case)
• Headlamp or small flashlight (optional, handy after dark)
• Cash or credit card (the mountain buses and cable car do NOT take IC cards)
• Charged phone, any personal medicine
WEATHER (tenki.jp forecast issued Oct 10, 02:00)
Sunny, chance of rain 10% or less all day. Kobe high 27°C / low 19°C, light wind. On the mountain about 17–18°C in the afternoon at 900m (model data, not an official forecast), and noticeably cooler after sunset. Sunset 17:29.
ITINERARY
13:00 Meet at Rokko Cable-shita Station, restroom
13:10 Start walking: steep road to the trailhead, then the Abura-kobushi trail
about 14:15 Grassy viewpoint with benches below Abura-kobushi peak: 30 min rest, snacks and photos over Kobe and Osaka Bay
about 15:05 Arrive Tenrandai (天覧台) / Mt. Rokko Sanjo Station (六甲山上駅). Restroom and rest.
15:20 (or 15:40) Sanjo Bus Route 1 (六甲山上バス1系統) to Rokko Garden Terrace (六甲ガーデンテラス), about 18 min
about 15:40–17:29 Relax at Garden Terrace: free terraces with a wide view, cafés and souvenir shops
17:29 Sunset from Garden Terrace (free)
about 17:45–19:15 Dinner (optional, see DINNER), then the night view
19:26 Route 1 back, arrive Sanjo Station 19:33
19:40 Rokko Cable Car down, arrive Rokko Cable-shita 19:50. Dismiss.
Not up for the hike? Ride the cable car up (¥800) and meet us at Sanjo Station by 15:15.
Staying later? Buses from Garden Terrace to Sanjo Station also at 20:01, 20:26 and 20:47 (last). Last cable car 21:10. After 20:47 it's taxi or walking only.
DINNER (optional, not included in the cost)
Garden Terrace restaurants, holiday hours (Sep 1–Nov 29):
• Granite Cafe (グラニットカフェ): 11:00–20:00 last order. View café; mains about ¥2,400–2,800 with drink bar, desserts ¥980–2,700.
• Rokko View Palace (六甲ビューパレス): 10:00–20:00 last order. Casual food court: curry from ¥1,000, ramen ¥1,200, hamburg steak ¥1,800.
• Rokko-san Genghis Khan Palace (六甲山ジンギスカンパレス): weekends/holidays 11:00–20:00 last order. Lamb BBQ; all-you-can-eat 90 min ¥4,500 (last entry 90 min before closing), dishes from about ¥1,400.
Prefer to eat in town? After the sunset, take Route 1 at 18:26 (arrive Sanjo 18:33) and the 18:40 cable car down (arrive 18:50), then Bus No.16 to Hankyu Rokko / JR Rokkomichi (about 19:10), where there are plenty of casual restaurants. Sannomiya is about 6 min more by Hankyu train.
OPTIONAL
• Rokko Shidare observatory (六甲枝垂れ) at Garden Terrace: ¥1,000, open until 21:00 (last entry 20:30). The terraces themselves are free.
ESTIMATED COST (per person)
• Bus No.16 round trip: ¥460
• Route 1 round trip (Sanjo Station ⇄ Garden Terrace, ¥370 x2): ¥740
• Rokko Cable Car one way (down): ¥800
TRANSPORT TOTAL: ¥2,000
• Participation fee: ¥500 (cash or QR payment, paid to the organizer at the meeting point)
Plus dinner (optional, about ¥1,000–4,500) and snacks.
Everyone pays their own transport and food directly. The mountain buses and cable car do NOT accept IC cards (ICOCA etc.); bring cash or a credit card.
IMPORTANT
• Wild boars live on Mt. Rokko and are active in the evening. Don't feed them, keep food and shopping bags closed, and keep your distance.
• In autumn, watch out for hornets on the trail: avoid black clothes and strong perfume.
• Stay with the group on the trail. The organizer or an experienced member walks last. Tell us right away if you feel unwell.
• If separated, regroup at Mt. Rokko Sanjo Station.
RAIN / CANCELLATION
Decided at 10:00 JST on Monday. If there is a heavy rain, storm or thunder warning or advisory for Kobe, the chance of rain is 50% or more, or the cable car/buses are suspended, the event is cancelled. Any change will be posted on this event page by 10:00. The organizer may shorten or stop the day if conditions get worse.
DISCLAIMER
This is a casual, volunteer-organized hike, not a guided tour, and no insurance is provided. Hiking carries risks (injury, getting lost, heat). Please judge your own fitness and health; you are responsible for your own safety. Outdoor insurance is recommended. Apart from the ¥500 participation fee, everyone pays their own way directly. Official timetables, hours and prices on the day take precedence.
SOURCES
Weather (Kobe, 2-week forecast): https://tenki.jp/forecast/6/31/6310/28110/10days.html
Weather (Mt. Rokko): https://tenki.jp/mountain/normal/6/31/1079.html
Cable car timetable & fares: https://www.rokkocable.com/information/
Bus No.16 & station address: https://www.rokkocable.com/access/
Route 1 timetable (weekdays & holidays): https://www.rokkocable.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/13timetable20260806.pdf
Route 1 fares: https://www.rokkosan.com/top/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2024/08/%E5%85%AD%E7%94%B2%E5%B1%B1%E4%B8%8A%E3%83%90%E3%82%B9%E5%91%8A%E7%9F%A5%E5%8F%8A%E3%81%B3%E6%96%99%E9%87%91%E8%A1%A8.pdf
Garden Terrace hours & Rokko Shidare: https://www.rokkosan.com/gt/operation/
Granite Cafe: https://www.rokkosan.com/top/eat/granitecafe/
Rokko View Palace: https://www.rokkosan.com/top/eat/palacerestaurant/
Genghis Khan Palace: https://www.rokkosan.com/top/eat/genghiskhan/
Trail description & trailhead: https://netlog.jpn.org/r271-635/2019/07/rokko-kozan-syokubutuen.html
Trail conditions (Kobe City): https://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/documents/4281/r80907tsuukoudome.pdf