Hyogo Autumn Foliage: Mt. Rokko, Arima Onsen & Ankokuji Temple

About Autumn Foliage in Hyogo

Burning red, warm orange, translucent yellow - autumn in Hyogo welcomes travelers with stunning scenery as if the very earth had transformed into a work of art. From early October, when the mountains begin to take on color, until late November, when the last leaf flutters down into the valleys, breathtakingly beautiful autumn-foliage landscapes unfold all over Hyogo Prefecture.

Mount Rokko, beloved by the people of Kobe; Arima Onsen, full of hot spring atmosphere; and Ankokuji Temple in Toyooka, where a single century-old dodan-tsutsuji shrub turns the temple garden crimson. These three spots, each with a different "face of autumn," offer entirely different kinds of awe even though they are all within one prefecture. A refreshing journey gazing out over Osaka Bay from a mountain ridge, a journey immersing all five senses in a lively hot spring town, or a quiet journey to a temple garden open for barely three weeks - in autumn in Hyogo, all of these can come true.

From tricks for avoiding the crowds to insider tips known only to locals, the Tabitabi JAPAN editorial team will tell you everything in thorough detail. This autumn, why not chase the foliage of Hyogo to your heart's content?

Mount Rokko

Mount Rokko, at an elevation of about 931 meters looking down over the city of Kobe, continues to captivate many people each year as one of the Kansai region's premier foliage spots. The sight of the maples and Japanese maples spreading as if to cover the mountainsides all turning color at once is, in a word, spectacular. In particular, the tunnel of autumn leaves viewed from the windows of the "Rokko Sanjo Bus" is so beautiful it draws cries of delight, with picture-perfect scenery flowing past one after another just by riding the bus. You are sure to feel your heart naturally relax at the extraordinary scenery.

From Rokko Garden Terrace, a stunning panorama spreads out where Osaka Bay glitters beyond mountain ranges dyed red and orange, letting you enjoy the rare "collaboration of autumn leaves and the sea" that is hard to experience elsewhere. Many repeat visitors agree in saying that this alone makes Mount Rokko worth visiting. Also, at the "Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden" on top of Mount Rokko, you can enjoy the fantastical water-mirror scenery of autumn leaves reflected in the small stream flowing through the garden, making it a hugely popular spot among photography enthusiasts too. The harmony with the historic Western-style architecture is also superb, and picturesque scenery continues no matter where you frame it. Rich nature that makes you feel you have come up into the mountains even though it is right next to the city - that is Mount Rokko's greatest charm.

Best Season and Recommended Times Kobe City announced the 2024 peak as late October to early November, and also noted that the coloring that year ran about a week behind normal because of the lingering heat. The 2026 forecast has not been published yet, so treat late October to mid-November as a working range and check the official Rokko-san site shortly before you travel rather than relying on a fixed date. The hours when the soft morning sun streams in are when the leaf colors shine most vividly, and they are excellent for photos. Especially right after opening, the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden has beautiful light entry, and the water mirror of the stream looks at its clearest. At dusk, the mountain ridges are dyed orange, showing a dramatic expression different from the daytime. If time allows, the connoisseur's way to enjoy it is to visit twice, in the morning and in the evening, and enjoy the differences in expression.

How to Enjoy It Like a Local and Insider Tips A hidden gem long beloved by locals is the walking trail around "Kinenhi-dai" (Monument Plaza). Compared to the crowded area around Garden Terrace, it has a calmer atmosphere, letting you slowly enjoy autumn-leaf scenery all to yourself. This route, where you can stroll while quietly listening to the rustle of leaves, is a hidden gem of a course we especially recommend to those who dislike crowds. As for evenings, 2026 has two confirmed events. "Hikari no Mori - An Evening Art Walk" runs September 19 to November 29 on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays only, 17:00-20:00 (venues: ROKKO Museum of Forest Sounds and the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden). Entry requires a Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond viewing passport; the night pass is 2,000 yen for adults / 1,000 yen for children on the day. Note that there is no evening opening on weekdays. Separately, at Rokko Shidare Observatory, "Lightscape in Rokko - Plant Lights: Autumn Leaves" runs August 29 to November 29, 17:00-21:00 (last entry 20:30). Utterly unlike the gorgeous colors of daytime, the fantastical nighttime foliage is a sight you will never forget once you have seen it.

Access

The Rokko Cable Car is the standard route

• The Rokko Cable Car (operated by Kobe Rokko Railway) climbs from Rokko Cable-shita Station to Rokko Sanjo Station in about 10 minutes. Fares are 800 yen one way (400 yen child) / 1,550 yen round trip (780 yen child). Departures are at :10 and :40 in the 7 o'clock hour, and at :00, :20 and :40 from 8:00 to 20:00. The view of the autumn leaves looking down from the cable car is itself a fine highlight
• Important: the Rokko Cable Car does not accept IC transport cards (ICOCA, Suica and the like). Bring cash or buy a paper ticket
• On the summit, get around by the Rokko Sanjo Bus (also Kobe Rokko Railway). From the cable car's upper station it is 230 yen to Garden Terrace, 230 yen to the Alpine Botanical Garden and 290 yen to Kinenhi-dai
• Coming from Arima Onsen, the Rokko-Arima Ropeway (operated by Kobe Future City Organization) takes 12 minutes and runs every 20 minutes (at :10, :30 and :50). Fares are 1,400 yen one way / 2,520 yen round trip for adults
• Note on conflicting fares: some pages published by Kobe Future City Organization list the cable car round trip as 1,150 yen, but the operating company, Kobe Rokko Railway, states 1,550 yen. This article follows the operator

Tips for Travelers On weekends during the foliage season, it is not uncommon for long lines to form for the cable car and buses. It is wise to visit on a weekday or aim for early morning right after opening. Note that the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden closes for the season on November 29, 2026 (10:00-17:00, ticket sales until 16:30, 900 yen adults / 450 yen children). The Garden Terrace car park charges the standard 1,000 yen for a car throughout November - the 2026 peak-rate days do not include the autumn season - and is open 9:30-21:00. Also, the summit is 5 to 8 degrees Celsius colder than the city, and the felt temperature drops further when the wind blows. Be sure to bring an outer layer you can put on, or a windbreaker. Since fallen leaves on mountain paths are surprisingly slippery even when it has not rained, easy-to-walk shoes without heels are essential. Prepare well to safely enjoy this hard-won stunning scenery before you set out.

Arima Onsen

Counted among the "Three Oldest Hot Springs of Japan," Arima Onsen takes on a special glow once autumn arrives. The scenery of maples coloring the eaves of the inns and souvenir shops lining the cobblestone alleys looks as if the atmosphere of the Edo period had been preserved just as it was. The way the entire hot spring town is wrapped in autumn leaves is an experience of feeling autumn with all five senses, not just "looking at" the leaves. The scent of sulfur, the sound of geta sandals, the steam drifting from somewhere - all of it blends with the colors of the autumn leaves to create an autumn air found only here.

The standard course for an autumn-foliage stroll in Arima Onsen is the route leading from the hot spring town to "Zuihoji Park." This park, said to have been praised by Toyotomi Hideyoshi as having "the finest autumn leaves in Japan," is spectacular for the way its giant trees, hundreds of years old, blaze bright red, so striking that you find yourself stopping to look up at them again and again. Also, the beauty of "fallen foliage" (chiri-momiji), where scattered, piled-up leaves dye the ground deep crimson, is a charm unique to this park. Furthermore, walking along the Arima River that flows through the hot spring town lets you enjoy the colorful autumn leaves reflected on the water's surface, with new discoveries at every turn of your stroll.

And after leaf-viewing, soaking in the famous Kinsen (gold spring) and Ginsen (silver spring) to warm your body is the Arima-style way to finish. Quietly sinking your tired feet into the reddish-brown cloudy Kinsen while admiring the autumn leaves through the window is a supreme experience you can have only here. Arima Onsen in autumn is a special place where two beauties Japan can be proud of - autumn foliage and hot springs - overlap.

Best Season and Recommended Times The peak viewing is usually early to late November. The foliage at Zuihoji Park has an especially short peak, beginning to fall within just one or two weeks of full color, so timing your visit is crucial. Check foliage information frequently so you don't miss the best condition. If you visit on a weekday morning when there are few tourists, you can have the fantastical world of autumn leaves amid the morning mist almost all to yourself. The deep-crimson world spreading out in the silence is sure to become an unforgettable memory.

How to Enjoy It Like a Local and Insider Tips The area around "Uwanari-sen," a little off the lively bustle of the hot spring town, is a quiet foliage spot known only to regular local visitors. It is not given much prominence on tourist maps, but it is a place known to those in the know, where you can enjoy both autumn leaves and the spring source in a calm atmosphere. Arima also holds the Arima Grand Tea Ceremony in early November. At the 75th edition in 2024 (hosted by the Omotesenke school) it ran on November 2 and 3, with the tea offering ceremony from 10:30 on November 2 at Zenpukuji Temple (first 80 people, numbered tickets from 8:00 that morning). Tea seatings ran 9:30-15:00, all seats reserved, at 4,500 yen in advance / 5,000 yen on the day, with a free shuttle bus running between the information centre and the venues from 9:00 to 16:00. The 2026 edition has not been announced yet, so check with the Arima Onsen Tourism Association (078-904-0708) before planning around it.

Access

Train is convenient (be careful with private cars)

• Get off right at "Arima Onsen Station" on the Kobe Electric Railway. From Sannomiya, it is about 30 minutes via the subway Hokushin Line plus the Kobe Electric Railway - good access
• From the Osaka and Umeda direction, transfer at "Takarazuka Station" on the Hankyu Takarazuka Line and take the Kobe Electric Railway, about 45 to 50 minutes. Using a limited express makes the trip even more comfortable
• By car, it is about 10 minutes from the "Arimaguchi IC" on the Hanshin Expressway Kitakobe Route, but traffic jams are inevitable during the season. You may even lose precious time just waiting for parking

Tips for Travelers On weekends during the foliage season, the parking lots in the hot spring town fill up almost completely, so we strongly recommend using public transportation. There are two decisive reasons to leave the car behind. First, Zuihoji Park has no car park of its own - the official information says so plainly, and you would end up in a paid lot nearby. Second, the streets around Zuihoji Park are subject to vehicle traffic restrictions throughout November (Arima Onsen Tourism Association). Assume you simply cannot drive up to the park. On foot it is about 20 minutes from Arima Onsen Station on the Kobe Electric Railway. Note too that the car park at the ropeway's Arima Onsen Station switches to special autumn rates from November 1 to 30, 2026 (300 yen per 30 minutes, 2,000 yen daily maximum). For strolling, it is best to arrive around 9 a.m., as the number of people increases all at once in the afternoon. The cobblestones become especially slippery after rain, so visit in shoes with a firm grip. Also, if your trip is premised on bathing in the hot springs, bringing a towel and change of clothes packed compactly will make things go smoothly.

Ankokuji Temple's Dodan-tsutsuji (Tanto, Toyooka City)

If you would rather avoid the crowds of the famous spots and see something you cannot see anywhere else, head for Ankokuji Temple in the Tanto district of Toyooka City, in northern Hyogo. What waits here is not maples but a single giant dodan-tsutsuji (enkianthus) shrub, roughly 100 years old, growing in the temple's rear garden. When it turns crimson, the view framed by the temple's dark wooden pillars looks exactly like a painting mounted in a frame - which is why photographers come from all over Japan for these few weeks.

The single most important thing to know: in 2026 the garden is open on WEEKDAYS ONLY.

Because the site is small and the season is short, mornings are far calmer than afternoons. There is no light-up, so do not plan an evening visit.

Access

• By car: about 40 minutes from Fukuchiyama IC on the Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway, about 40 minutes from Yosa-Amanohashidate IC on the Kyoto Jukan Expressway, about 40 minutes from Yoka-Hyonosen IC, or about 45 minutes from Wadayama IC on the Bantan Expressway. Several small parking areas sit within a 5-minute walk of the temple
• By public transport: from JR Toyooka Station, take the Zentan Bus bound for Izushi, then a taxi from Izushi for about 20 minutes. There is no bus that stops at the temple itself, so budget for the taxi in both directions
• Combining Ankokuji with the old castle town of Izushi (famous for its sara-soba buckwheat noodles) makes a natural half-day

Tips for Travelers

Check the dates before you commit to anything. The 2026 opening runs weekdays only, so a Saturday or Sunday trip will find the garden closed - this is the mistake most likely to ruin a visit. Northern Hyogo is markedly colder than Kobe in November, and the temple garden is viewed while seated on the wooden veranda, so bring a warm layer and socks that are easy to slip shoes back on over. Photography is permitted, but the veranda is narrow and crowded at peak time; a wide-angle lens and patience serve you better than a tripod.

Peak Viewing Times and How to Enjoy the Foliage

Hyogo's autumn foliage descends in order from the higher-elevation places down to the lowlands from late October to late November. If you tour in the order Mount Rokko (from late October) -> Arima Onsen (from early November) -> Ankokuji Temple (November 9-27, weekdays only), you can enjoy a journey chasing stunning foliage over about six weeks. "Travel through Hyogo chasing the autumn leaves" - such a special travel theme found only in autumn truly exists here.

If you want to tour them all in a single trip, we recommend a "1-night, 2-day plan departing from Kobe." On the first day, enjoy Mount Rokko and Arima Onsen together (from Mount Rokko to Arima Onsen, it is about 12 minutes by the Rokko-Arima Ropeway! The stunning foliage viewed from the air turns even the travel time into a special experience), and on the second day, an efficient route is to use a car or the limited express to extend your trip north to Ankokuji Temple - remembering that its garden opens on weekdays only. The expressions of the autumn leaves you encounter at each place are entirely different, and new emotion awaits as the journey progresses.

Every spot is expected to be crowded on weekends and holidays. While considering a weekday visit if possible, if that is difficult, the trick for a comfortable foliage trip is to aim for the early hours right after the gates open. Make sure your digital camera or smartphone is fully charged, and be sure to firmly burn the autumn-foliage scenery of Hyogo - which you can encounter only this autumn - into your eyes and your heart.

Practical Information for the Autumn Foliage Season (Based on Official Announcements)

Autumn foliage is all about the day you visit. If you set out without checking fares, illumination schedules, and traffic restrictions, you risk wasting an entire day. The following is a summary of information published by each operator and local authority as of September 2026.

1. Mt. Rokko Is Managed by Three Separate Companies (Get This Wrong and You'll Get the Fares Wrong)

Rokko Cable (Kobe Rokko Railway official)

• Journey time: approx. 10 minutes. Departures in the 7:00 hour at :10 and :40; 8:00–20:00 at :00, :20, and :40 (weekday 12:00 hour only: :00 and :30); 21:00 hour at :10
• Fares: one-way ¥800 (children ¥400) / return ¥1,550 (children ¥780)
• East Rokko Round-Trip Pass ¥2,300 (¥1,150); Rokko-Koe Arima One-Way Ticket ¥2,450 (¥1,230)
• IC cards (ICOCA, etc.) are not accepted. Please bring cash or purchase a paper ticket.

Note on conflicting fare information. A page on the Kobe Mirai Toshi Kiko website states the return fare on the Rokko Cable as "¥1,150 for adults", but the official figure from the operating company, Kobe Rokko Railway, is ¥1,550 return. This article uses the operating company's published fare.

Rokko Sanjo Bus (Route 1) fares: Garden Terrace ¥230 / Alpine Botanical Garden ¥230 / Kinenhi-dai ¥290 / Rokko Cable Sanjo Station ¥370

Rokko Arima Ropeway (Kobe Mirai Toshi Kiko official)

• Arima Onsen Station ↔ Rokko Sancho Station: 12 minutes, capacity 42 passengers, departures every 20 minutes (at :10, :30, and :50 past the hour)
• Autumn timetable (1 Sep–30 Nov): weekdays first departure 9:30, last departure 17:30 / weekends and public holidays last departure 19:10
• Fares: one-way — adults ¥1,400, children ¥700 / return — adults ¥2,520, children ¥1,260 / aged 70 and over — one-way ¥1,120

2. Confirmed Illuminations and Events for 2026

Hikari no Mori — Night Art Walk —

• Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays only, 19 Sep (Sat)–29 Nov (Sun) 2026 / 17:00–20:00 (passport sales at the on-site box office until 19:00)
• Venues: ROKKO Forest of Sounds Museum, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden
• A viewing passport for "Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond" is required. Night Pass (same-day): adults ¥2,000 / children ¥1,000 (online discount: adults ¥1,950); Day & Night Pass (same-day): adults ¥4,300 / children ¥1,800; Day Pass (same-day): adults ¥3,300 / children ¥1,300
• Adding a same-day Night Pass after purchasing a Day Pass costs adults ¥1,400 / children ¥700. The Night Pass is valid on the day of purchase only, and does not include entry to Rokko Shidare

Lightscape in Rokko — Shokubutsu no Akari: Koyo — (inside Rokko Shidare)

• 29 Aug (Sat)–29 Nov (Sun) 2026 / 17:00–21:00 (last admission 20:30)
• The illumination expresses the gradual autumn colouring of Chinguruma (Geum pentapetalum), Inubuna (Japanese beech), and Dodan-tsutsuji (enkianthus) through light (direction: Masayuki Fushimi). Guided tours at 11:00, 14:00, and 16:00
• No illumination in winter

Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond: 29 Aug–29 Nov 2026 / 10:00–17:00 / open every day during the event period (Rokkosan Silence Resort closed on Mondays). Organised by Rokkosan Kanko Co., Ltd. and Hanshin Electric Railway Co., Ltd.

3. Summit Facility Hours and Parking Charges (2026)

Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden

• Open 14 Mar–29 Nov 2026 / 10:00–17:00 (ticket sales until 16:30) = closes for the season on 29 November
• Admission: adults (junior high school age and above) ¥900 / children (aged 4–primary school) ¥450; disability discount ¥450/¥220; aged 70 and over ¥100 off; no pets (guide dogs and assistance dogs permitted)
• Combined ticket for 2 facilities: ¥2,100 / ¥1,050 (sold until 16:00)
• Parking: standard cars — ¥1,000 on both weekdays and weekends (¥2,000 only on busy-period dates 20–22 Sep); motorcycles free; buses ¥2,000

Rokko Garden Terrace / Nature Experience Observatory Rokko Shidare

• Entry to the Garden Terrace area is free and open every day
• Rokko Shidare admission: adults ¥1,000 / children ¥500; open 20 Mar–29 Nov 2026, 10:00–21:00 (last admission 20:30)
• Garden Terrace car park: 20 Mar–29 Nov 2026, 9:30–21:00 / standard cars ¥1,000, motorcycles ¥300, buses ¥2,000
• The only busy-period surcharge dates in 2026 are 2–6 May, 13–16 Aug, 20–22 Sep, and 31 Dec–1 Jan. The November foliage period is not subject to the surcharge, so the fee remains ¥1,000
• "During congestion on the mountain road, right turns into the car park from the Kobe / Sannomiya direction are prohibited"

Do not confuse the car parks. There are two car parks in the summit area with different pricing structures. Garden Terrace car park: ¥1,000 for standard cars; Ropeway Rokko Sancho Station car park: ¥500 on weekdays / ¥1,000 on weekends and public holidays / ¥2,000 on busy days (¥500 discount for ropeway users).

Facility operating hours (as of 4 Sep 2026 update): Rokko Cable 7:10–21:10 / Rokko Sanjo Bus Routes 1 & 3 8:30–20:00, Route 2 10:05–16:05 / Tenrandai 7:10–21:00 / ROKKO Forest of Sounds Museum, Alpine Botanical Garden, GREENIA 10:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30) / Rokko Omiyage-kan 10:00–21:00 / Horti 10:00–20:00

4. Rokko Foliage Peak: Accept That It Varies Year to Year

• Announced 24 Oct 2024: "The autumn foliage on Mt. Rokko is at its best. Peak colour is expected from late October to early November." Temperatures are approximately 5°C lower than in the city below, and "colour turns about one month earlier than in urban areas such as Kyoto."
• Announced 15 Nov 2024: Due to the lingering heat of summer, the best foliage season was delayed by about one week, and Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden extended its season by one week to 1 December (approximately 100-year-old Dodan-tsutsuji enkianthus was at its best).
• Announced 29 Oct 2025: Foliage at Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden was at its peak (Iroha maple, rhododendrons, Japanese beech, larch, Lindera umbellata, hydrangea, Chinguruma, and others).
• No peak announcement for 2026 has been made as of 6 September 2026. A press release from Rokkosan Kanko typically comes out in late October, so please check the news releases section of rokkosan.com before you depart.
• Whether the season will be extended in 2026 has also not yet been announced.

5. Arima Onsen and Zuihoji Park: Practical Information

• Zuihoji Park is a City of Kobe park (managed by the Construction Bureau North Construction Office). Address: Kita-ku, Arima-cho, Kobe
• "The grounds contain many pine and maple trees, and the scenery in late autumn makes it one of the finest foliage spots in the Kansai region" and it has been "selected as one of Kobe's 50 Famous Flower Sites" (Kobe Tourism Bureau). Toyotomi Hideyoshi reportedly praised it saying he could never tire of looking at it — hence the name "Higurashi no Niwa" (the all-day garden).
• For the peak timing, the Kobe City Parks and Green Association's "Kobe Famous Flower Sites" listing states only "Autumn foliage (November)". No official announcement of specific peak dates is made.
• There is no car park in the park (explicitly stated on the official website). "Visitors arriving by car are requested to use nearby paid car parks."
• 20-minute walk from Kobe Dentetsu Arima Onsen Station (official wording from the Arima Onsen Tourism Association)
• Vehicle traffic restrictions apply around Zuihoji Park throughout November (Arima Onsen Tourism Association). ※ No official notice specifying the hours or extent of the restrictions was found. Figures such as "9:00–17:00" appearing in search results could not be traced to a primary source and have therefore not been included in this article.
• There is also no official information regarding opening hours, admission fees, or illumination (no description of a foliage illumination event was found anywhere).

Car parks (Arima Onsen)

6. Momiji Chaya and Arima Grand Tea Ceremony (Only the Dates Are Known for 2026)

• Arima Onsen Tourism Association (updated 25 Jun 2026): "Again this year, the seasonal 'Momiji Chaya' tea house will open during the November foliage period, and the Zuihoji tea pavilion (noten — open-air tea ceremony) of the Arima Grand Tea Ceremony will be held on 2 and 3 November."
• The opening date, operating hours for Momiji Chaya in 2026, and the tea ticket price for the Grand Tea Ceremony have not yet been announced.
• [2025 record] Momiji Chaya: from Thursday 6 November until the foliage ends / 11:00–16:00 (planned). Menu included zenzai sweet red-bean soup, black syrup dumplings, amazake, wine, matcha, hot coffee, and limited-edition "momiji tempura" (maple-leaf tempura). A notice posted on 10 November read "Operations for 2025 have ended" — it wraps up quickly.
• [2024 record] The 75th Arima Grand Tea Ceremony (Omotesenke school), 2–3 November. The dedication ceremony (kensaishiki) was held on 2 November from 10:30 at Zenfukuji temple (first 80 attendees; numbered tickets distributed from 8:00 on the day). Tea sittings: 10 sittings per day, 30 people per sitting, 9:30–15:00, all reserved seating. Tea tickets: ¥4,500 in advance / ¥5,000 on the day. A free shuttle bus from the head office (Arima Onsen General Information Centre) to the venue ran on request from 9:00 to 16:00. Advance tickets were sold at the Arima Onsen General Information Centre (790-3 Arima-cho, Kita-ku; 078-904-0708; 9:30–17:00).

Regarding extended autumn hours on the Rokko Arima Ropeway: [2025 record] According to a press release from the City of Kobe (14 Oct 2025), from 4 Nov to 28 Nov 2025, the last departure on weekdays was extended from 17:30 to 18:10 (the 19:10 last departure on weekends and public holidays remained unchanged). The extension for 2026 has not been announced, and it has not been possible to confirm from the City of Kobe website whether a similar extension took place in 2024. It is therefore not possible to say that the extension happens every year. If you are planning to travel from Arima to Rokko in the evening, please plan on the basis of a 17:30 last departure (enquiries: Ropeway & Cable Division, 078-515-6214).

7. Kingo-no-yu and Gingo-no-yu (The Perfect Way to End a Foliage Day)

※ Weekday rates exclude busy periods such as year-end/New Year, Golden Week, and Obon. The foot bath at Kingo-no-yu follows the same hours as the main bath and is closed on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays. Note that Kingo-no-yu's second bathing room, "Ni-no-yu," was designed to evoke the maple foliage of Zuihoji Park. Having a soak here after viewing the leaves gives it an entirely different meaning.

8. About Kannabe Plateau (An Honest Assessment)

Kannabe Plateau is sometimes presented as an autumn foliage spot, but there is not a single foliage spot in the Hidaka-Kannabe Plateau area listed on the official Toyooka City tourism website's spot directory, and the Ase Valley is also absent from the listings. The annual events calendar of the Hidaka Kannabe Tourism Association shows October and November as blank, and the most recent foliage event announcement verifiable on the association's website is the "43rd Ase Valley Autumn Foliage Festival" from 2019 (shown as ended). No official peak announcement exists either. For this reason, the foliage highlight this article features for this area is the Dodan-tsutsuji (enkianthus) at Ankokuji temple (also within Toyooka City and officially listed as a foliage spot).

Kannabe Plateau itself is still an enjoyable destination in autumn. If you are planning to go, the following is information that can be confirmed from official sources.

• Michi-no-Eki "Kannabe Plateau" / Kannabe Onsen Yutorogi: Open 9:00–17:00 (varies by season) / irregular holidays / operated by Hidaka Shinko Kosha. Reopened after renovation on 2 August 2026. Michi-no-Eki: 0796-45-1331; Yutorogi: 0796-45-1515 (59-13 Kurisuno, Hidaka-cho, Toyooka City). ※ The "9:00–19:00" that appears in search results has no official basis; the correct hours per the Toyooka City official website are 9:00–17:00.
• Kannabe-yama (Mt. Kannabe) hiking trail: Approx. 30 minutes to the summit; elevation 469 m; height gain 119 m. The only volcano in the Kinki region with a remaining crater (last eruption approx. 25,000 years ago; no current volcanic activity).
• Sobu-dake / Osugi-yama course: Approx. 4 hours to Sobu-dake via Osugi-yama; approx. 3 hours 20 minutes via the Valley of Giant Trees. Entry prohibited from December to March.
• Zentanbus [Route 11] Kannabe Plateau Line (Ebara Station – Hidaka Hospital – Kannabe Onsen Yutorogi-mae – Higashikawachi): The timetable changes between the summer schedule (March–October) and the winter schedule (November–February). November — the foliage season — runs on the winter timetable. The number of services and fares are published in PDF format only; please contact Zentanbus Head Office, Joint Transport Division, at 079-662-2133 for details.
• Caution: The Hidaka Kannabe Tourism Association's transport access page still shows "Kannabe Plateau Line — ¥200 fare cap," but the ¥200 fare cap was abolished on 1 April 2022. Do not use this information to estimate your fare.
• Whether Appu Kannabe's ski lifts operate in autumn is not stated on the official website and is unknown (the pricing page covers the ski season only).

9. Bears and Dangerous Wildlife

Mt. Rokko (City of Kobe)

• City of Kobe official "Asiatic Black Bear Information" (last updated 24 Jul 2026): On 11 June and 18 July 2026, sensor cameras captured images of a bear in forest in Dosho-cho, Kita-ku. Experts assessed that it is likely the same individual, estimated to be about 18 months old, and a capture cage has been set up as a precautionary measure. No human injury has been reported at this time.
• Kita-ku is the same ward as Arima Onsen. When entering forest or scrubland, carry a bell, radio, whistle, or other noise-making device; avoid going alone; and limit outdoor activity from dusk to early morning.
• If you encounter a bear: do not run, do not turn your back, and retreat slowly. Shouting or throwing objects can make things worse. If attacked, protect your face and head with both arms and lie face down.
• Report to: Kobe City Wildlife Consultation Dial 078-333-4408 (8:00–21:00, open year-round)
• Kobe City also explicitly warns of hornets, wild boar, Japanese pit vipers (mamushi), deer ticks, and the toxic mushroom Podostroma cornu-damae (Kaen-take) on the Rokko mountain range.
• Some sections of the hiking trails are affected by past disaster damage; Kobe City publishes the current trail closure status in PDF format (Shinrin Seibi Office: 078-371-5937, weekdays 8:45–17:30 / evenings and weekends: 0120-086-106).

Tajima Area (Hyogo Prefecture)

• Hyogo Prefecture "2025 Acorn Crop Survey Results and Asiatic Black Bear Sighting Alert" (updated 12 Sep 2025): Acorn crops in the autumn of 2025 were overall "good" (Japanese oak: very good / Mongolian oak: good / beech: very poor). Sightings and traces as of 31 Aug 2025: 326 incidents. In May 2025, a man working in the fields in Toyooka City was injured.
• The prefecture urges sufficient caution through around late December, and recommends carrying noise-making devices (radio, bell, etc.) in forest areas (Environment Division, Wildlife Coexistence Section: 078-362-3463).
• The 2026 (autumn 2026) edition has not been published as of 6 September 2026 (the previous year's edition was published on 12 September). Please check the Hyogo Prefecture website once October arrives.
• Note that all bear-related pages on the official Toyooka City website currently return 404 errors. For bear information in the Tajima area, please refer to Hyogo Prefecture's published materials.

10. Road Closures and Traffic Information

• Roads managed by the City of Kobe: "There are currently no road closures due to disasters or similar events on roads managed by the City of Kobe" (last updated 31 Jul 2026). However, City Road Byobugaishi Taki Line (Nishihata, Hata-cho, Kita-ku) has been continuously closed since 6 June 2019.
• [2025 record] The Rokko Toll Road Rokko Mountain Tunnel was closed overnight on 31 Oct 2025, 23:00–1 Nov 2025, 5:30 for a disaster prevention drill. Whether a similar closure will take place in 2026 has not been announced.

11. Pre-Departure Checklist

• [ ] Ankokuji temple is open on weekdays only — 9–27 November 2026; closed on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays
• [ ] Ankokuji: ¥500 entry, 8:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30), no illumination
• [ ] To reach Ankokuji by public transport: Toyooka Station → Zentanbus Izushi-bound → approx. 20 minutes by taxi from Izushi
• [ ] Rokko Cable does not accept IC cards. Bring cash.
• [ ] Rokko Cable return fare is ¥1,550 (any page showing ¥1,150 contradicts the operating company's published figure)
• [ ] The Rokko Arima Ropeway's last departure on weekdays under the autumn timetable is 17:30. The 2026 extension has not been announced.
• [ ] Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden closes on 29 November. No entry after that date.
• [ ] "Hikari no Mori" runs on weekends and public holidays only, 17:00–20:00. No evening event on weekdays.
• [ ] "Hikari no Mori" requires a Meets Art Night Pass (adults ¥2,000)
• [ ] Garden Terrace car park: no busy-period surcharge in November — standard cars ¥1,000
• [ ] Zuihoji Park has no car park. It is a 20-minute walk from Kobe Dentetsu Arima Onsen Station.
• [ ] Vehicle traffic restrictions apply around Zuihoji Park throughout November. Do not assume you can drive right up to it.
• [ ] The Ropeway Arima Onsen Station car park charges special rates from 1–30 November (¥300 per 30 min, maximum ¥2,000)
• [ ] Kingo-no-yu is closed on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays; Gingo-no-yu is closed on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays. The closure days differ.
• [ ] The summit is approximately 5°C cooler than the city below. Pack a windbreaker.
• [ ] If entering forest, bring a bear bell. Bears were photographed in Kita-ku, Kobe in 2026.
• [ ] Just before departure, check the news releases section of Rokkosan Kanko's website (rokkosan.com) for the 2026 peak foliage announcement.

12. Information Sources

• Rokkosan Kanko Co., Ltd. (rokkosan.com): news releases, Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden and Rokko Garden Terrace operating information, Lightscape in Rokko
• Kobe Rokko Railway Co., Ltd. (rokkocable.com): Rokko Cable timetables and fares
• Kobe Mirai Toshi Kiko Co., Ltd. (koberope.jp): Rokko Arima Ropeway fares and autumn timetable, Rokko Sanjo Bus fares
• Kobe Rokko Meets Art 2026 beyond official website (rokkomeetsart.jp): Hikari no Mori, passport prices
• Arima Onsen Tourism Association: Zuihoji Park, Momiji Chaya, Arima Grand Tea Ceremony, car parks
• Kobe Tourism Bureau Feel KOBE / Kobe City Parks and Green Association "Kobe Famous Flower Sites": Zuihoji Park
• City of Kobe: Asiatic Black Bear information, Mt. Rokko hiking, road closure information, press releases
• Arima Onsen Kingo-no-yu and Gingo-no-yu official website (arimaspa-kingin.jp)
• Toyooka City official tourism website: Ankokuji Dodan-tsutsuji public opening, Michi-no-Eki Kannabe Plateau
• Tanto Silk Road Tourism Association (tantosilk.gr.jp): Tajima Ankokuji Zen Temple, Dodan-tsutsuji autumn foliage
• Hidaka Kannabe Tourism Association: hiking courses, events calendar
• Zentanbus: bus route information
• Hyogo Prefecture: 2025 Acorn Crop Survey Results and Asiatic Black Bear Sighting Alert

*Dates and prices are subject to change. Please check the latest information on each official website before you set out.*