2 Best Sights in North of Kobe, The Kansai Region

Three cable cars scale Mt. Rokko, providing spectacular views of lush forests. If you think it's beautiful during the day, time your trip so you'll descend after dusk, when you can see the city lights twinkle against the black sea.

You can do this trip in a half day, but you may want a full day to explore the area. To get to Rokko-san, take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Hankyu San-no-miya Station to Hankyu Rokko Station (¥190). From there take a taxi or a bus to Rokko Cable-Shita Station. A funicular railway travels up the mountain to Rokko-sanjo Station (¥600). The spread-out summit area is home to various attractions including a viewing terrace, tea rooms, a botanical garden and even a snow park in the winter; the Rokko Sanjo Bus runs regularly between the various facilities (¥210 to ¥260).

The Japanese were already enjoying the thermal waters at Arima Onsen 有馬温泉 before the 7th century. Arima is on the north slope of Rokko-san and consists of a maze of tiny streets and traditional houses. Some 30 ryokan use the curative powers of the water to attract guests. Although the water gushes up freely from springs, some ryokan charge as much as ¥10,000 for use of their baths. Go instead to the public bath, Kin-no-Yu, in the center of the village near the bus terminal. Here ¥650 gets you a soak in the steaming waters. Kin-no-Yu is open daily 8 am to 10 pm (closed the second and fourth Tuesday of the month). Take the subway north from JR Shin-Kobe Station, transferring at Tanigami and ending at Arima Onsen (¥680).

In the hustle and bustle of this modern city, you wouldn't think that one of Japan's most impressive waterfalls would be just behind the train station. Nunobiki Falls has four gushing cascades in the forests of Mt. Rokko. References to their beauty have appeared in Japanese literature since the 10th century. They are a 20-minute walk from Shin-Kobe Station. After the falls you can pick up the Shin-Kobe Ropeway, which stops just above the falls before continuing on to the Nunobiki Herb Park. The stopping point provides a beautiful view of the city, especially at night. The signs leading you to the falls are in Japanese, but the ANA Crowne Plaza Hotel can provide English-language hiking maps.