• Late departure and return - perfect for a sleep-in, leisurely morning holiday
• Visit Nunobiki Herb Garden, ATOA Art Aquarium or Amerikan Park, and enjoy mountain night views
• Travel with a local, experienced driver who provides reliable, attentive service
• Gain insight into Japanese culture and local lifestyle along the way
• Flexible, all-in-one sightseeing experience covering nature, art, and city landmarks
11:30am – Osaka
Start your beautiful day trip
Meeting Point Pick-up / Drop-off: 11:30 at Exit 2, Nipponbashi (Namba / Shinsaibashi area)
* Please arrive at the meeting point 10 minutes in advance as the tour will depart on time.
12:30pm – Kobe
▼ Nunobiki Herb Garden – Japan's Largest Herb Garden
Approx. 3 hours, self-guided; lunch & ropeway fees not included
Kobe Nunobiki Herb Garden is Japan's largest herb garden, featuring around 200 plant species with a total of 75,000 flowers and herbs. Spread across the hillside are 12 themed gardens, showcasing colorful seasonal blooms. Visitors can relax on hammocks or enjoy the herbal foot baths, and in spring, you can even lie down and admire the cherry blossoms.
Recommended ways to explore:
1.Round-trip ropeway – leave plenty of time to explore the garden.
2.One-way ropeway (up), walk back down – enjoy more natural scenery on the return.
【Nunobiki Ropeway】
Length: 1,460 m, approx. 10 minutes
360° panoramic views of Kobe through glass cabin windows
Garden Highlights:
【Summit Observatory】Enjoy stunning panoramic views of Kobe from 400 m above sea level.
【Fragrance Museum】See antique perfume bottles and scent-extraction tools; try the "Ultimate Scent Experience"with around 80 natural essential oils.
【Lavender Garden】Late May – early July
【Four Seasons Gardens】
Reception Garden (roses mid-May – late June, hydrangeas mid-June – late July)
Relaxation Garden (sit anywhere on the stairs and become the star of your own photo!)
【Glass Flowerhouse】Tropical dome, dried flower art, perfect for Instagram
【Herbal Foot Bath】Seasonal herbs, scenic views of Kobe; towels JPY 100.00
【Wind Hill Garden】Popular autumn spot with a cosmos flower sea
* Notes:
Ropeway closed for maintenance: Sep 1–4.
Garden open year-round except for ropeway maintenance.
In case of strong wind or bad weather, the alternative site is Kobe Ijinkan Street.
15:50pm – Kobe Choose Your Afternoon Activity (Pick One)
Option 1:
▼ ATOA Art Aquarium (AQUARIUM × ART átoa)
Approx. 90 minutes, aquarium ticket not included. (Skip Amerikan Park / Kobe Harbor Ferris Wheel if choosing this option)
ATOA Aquarium, located on Kobe's waterfront, is a theatrical-style aquarium that combines aquatic exhibits, digital art, and stage design. The aquarium features 8 uniquely themed zones, including CAVE / The First Cave and ELEMENTS / Fairy Forest, which are whimsical and imaginative. Visitors can also explore the MIYABI zone, evoking the feel of a Japanese garden in seasonal motion, and the PLANETS zone, centered around Japan's largest spherical tank, illuminated by light and sound for a cinematic, immersive experience.
Additional facilities:
átoa Café: Enjoy desserts and drinks while overlooking Kobe Harbor.
Gift Shop: Offers exclusive souvenirs and Kobe-themed items.
Highlights in the aquarium:
【CAVE / The First Cave】Swim with rainbow-colored fish in an underwater world
【MARINE NOTE / Life's Rhythm】Feel like floating in the ocean
【LEMENTS / Fairy Forest】Walk through an underwater world into a forest of imagination
【SKYSHORE / Sky Garden】Cute animals and beautiful scenery
【AQUA TERRA】Japan's largest spherical tank with stunning light effects
【Wabi-Sabi Space】Experience Japanese aesthetics and seasonal scenery
【FOYER / Exploration Room】Interactive art installations to spark curiosity
【Close Animal Encounters】Hands-on activities with aquarium animals
Option 2:
▼ Amerikan Park & BE KOBE Cultural Landmarks / Kobe Harbor Mosaic Ferris Wheel
Approx. 80 minutes, free exploration. (Skip ATOA Aquarium if choosing this option)
Amerikan Park, located in central Kobe, was built in 1987 on reclaimed land between the Amerikamura Pier and Kobe Port Tower. Nearby landmarks include the Kobe Maritime Museum.
Highlights:
Fish Dance Sculpture on the north side
Hydrangea Bell Tower commemorating the first Kobe Fashion Festival in 1990
Some areas retain the original state post-1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake
Kobe Harbor is a historically significant commercial port with foreign-style architecture. Iconic sites include: Kobe Port Tower, Maritime Museum and Mosaic Ferris Wheel. Visitors can stroll along the harbor, enjoy sea breezes, and walk about 11 minutes to the Mosaic Ferris Wheel (ticket not included).
18:00pm – Mount Rokko
Japan's Top Night Views
▼ Mt. Maya
Approx. 80 minutes
Experience the magical Kobe skyline at Mt. Maya's Kikuseidai Observatory, famous for its million-dollar night view, one of Japan's top three night views. Mt. Maya is part of the Rokko mountain range, standing 702 meters above sea level. From the summit, you can enjoy panoramic views including Awaji Island, Akashi Bridge, and Shodoshima.
* Alternative: If winter road closures or other conditions prevent access to Mt. Maya Observatory, the tour will visit Mt. Rokko Night View instead.
▼ Mt. Rokko
Mt. Rokko is located near Kobe and is part of the Setonaikai National Park, also renowned as one of Japan's top three night views.
Recommended to avoid bus motion sickness on steep mountain roads.
* Rokkō Cable Car Operating Hours: 7:10am – 21:10pm
【Rokko Tenrandai Observatory】
Tenrandai was named by the Shōwa Emperor in 1981 (Shōwa 56). It is located next to the Rokkō Cable Car Sanjō Station and is one of the three most recommended night-view spots on Mt. Rokko. (Open year-round with free admission, except during the art festival period when an entry fee is required.)
Kobe's night view was designated as a "million-dollar night view"in 1953 (Shōwa 28). The name originated from the idea that the electricity cost for the nightscape seen from Mt. Rokko amounted to over one million USD per month at that time (when 1 USD = 360 JPY). Based on calculations in 2005 (Heisei 17), the electricity cost for just one night exceeded ten million USD (1 USD = 110 JPY), giving Kobe's night scenery an even more striking nickname: the "Ten-Million-Dollar Night View."
From here, you can enjoy a sweeping panorama-from the Wakayama area all the way to the Akashi Strait!
19:20pm – Return
End of the tour and depart back to Osaka City.
* The return time is for reference only and may be earlier depending on the day's smooth schedule and road conditions.
20:30pm – Arrival
Arrive and dismiss at Nipponbashi Exit 2 area, marking the end of the tour.
【Shinsaibashi】
Shinsaibashi is Osaka's most famous shopping street, home to major department stores, chain drugstores, long-established specialty shops, and small boutiques. You can find products of all types and styles here, including dedicated Hello Kitty and Disney stores. It is also a favorite spot for many shoppers thanks to the dense cluster of drugstores-perfect for picking up cosmetics and skincare items. Most stores have Chinese-speaking staff and accept UnionPay cards, making shopping hassle-free and enjoyable.
【Dotonbori】
Dotonbori is synonymous with Osaka cuisine. Whether day or night, this lively street never rests. As the birthplace of Osaka's "eat till you drop" food culture, it offers countless local snacks such as takoyaki, okonomiyaki, and Kinryu Ramen. You will also find traditional izakayas and numerous trendy, internet-famous restaurants, including the ever-popular Kani Doraku.
Tips
* Please note that the above itinerary schedule is subject to adjustment due to weather, traffic conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances. Thank you for your understanding.
Visiting Attractions
Nunobiki Herb Garden
Mount Rokko
Meal
B: Excluded, L: Excluded, D: Excluded