Kobe Night View Mt Rokko Kitano Ijinkan Arima Onsen Day Trip
Description
Experience the charm of Japan with this unforgettable Kobe and Arima Onsen tour. Discover Kobe’s rich cultural heritage, from the historical Western-style Kitano Ijinkan Street to the iconic Mosaic Ferris Wheel by the harbor. Indulge in the world-renowned Kobe Beef and enjoy free exploration time at Japan's oldest hot spring town, Arima Onsen. The tour concludes with a breathtaking night view atop Mount Rokko, one of Japan's top three nightscapes. Perfect for families, friends, and culture enthusiasts, this journey offers a blend of history, local delicacies, and serene landscapes. Book now for an authentic Japanese adventure!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meeting point and time: 10:30 AM/11:30AM at Nihonbashi Exit 2 . First Stop: Kobe Harbor is one of Japan’s most significant industrial and commercial ports, exuding a unique international charm since the Meiji era. The harbor area is known for its modern architecture and lighting effects, with landmarks such as Kobe Port Tower, the Maritime Museum, and the Mosaic Ferris Wheel. Enjoy a leisurely afternoon strolling along the seaside promenade and taking in the refreshing sea breeze. Mosaic Ferris Wheel: This bright red Ferris wheel is an iconic symbol of Kobe Harbor. Formerly part of the Mosaic Garden amusement park, it continues to operate as a landmark managed by the surrounding mall. It's also a romantic spot for nighttime rides to enjoy Kobe's city lights. Recommended food:Kobe Beef,renowned as one of the world’s finest wagyu, melts in your mouth with its unparalleled tenderness.
Second Stop: Kitano Ijinkan Street (about 1 hour for free exploration) During the Meiji and Taisho periods, Kobe became home to numerous Western-style buildings. The Kitano area in Chuo Ward preserves this heritage most authentically. Stroll along Kitano Street to see foreign merchants’ private residences and former consulates, some of which have been transformed into museums or cafes. This charming area, filled with boutique shops and flower stores, resembles a quaint European town, making it perfect for a scenic walk. Starbucks Kitano Ijinkan Store: Located in a restored 1907 Western-style house, this Starbucks is Japan’s first "concept store" within a historical building. Initially an American's private residence, it was later rebuilt after the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake and recognized as a national tangible cultural property in 2009. Recommended Attractions: Weathercock House/Moegi House/Fish-Scale House
Third Stop: Arima Onsen Arima Onsen, one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts, boasts a history spanning centuries. Wander through its atmospheric streets lined with traditional inns, souvenir shops, and temples. Don’t miss the iconic Kin no Yu and Gin no Yu public baths or explore the variety of private hot spring options. Enjoy local delicacies and immerse yourself in the tranquil charm of this historic getaway.
Final Stop: Mount Rokko Night View Mount Rokko, part of the Setonaikai National Park, offers one of Japan’s top three night views. Take the Rokko Cable Car to the Tenrandai Observation Deck for breathtaking vistas of Kobe's city lights. Dubbed the "Million-Dollar Night View," it’s named after the cost of electricity illuminating the cityscape visible from the mountain.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The departure time is different on Winter time and Summer time: 10:30 am( November 16th to March 31st, winter time) 11:30 am( April 1st to November 15th, summer time)
- If you have tattoo, you are not be permitted to enter to Onsen.
- This itinerary should have minimum 4 participants to operation, We will notify you at least 2 days in advance if there is a need to reschedule or cancel due to not meeting the minimum group size.
- Please be advised that the vehicle arrangement will be based on the number of participants on the day of departure, ranging from the smallest 10-seat Hiace to the largest 45-seat tourist bus.
- If the participants less than 13 person, the tour guide will also service as the driver
Reviews(7)
Our tour guide Caveman was an amazing guide, his jokes were hilarious and provided an amazing experience. Would recommend anyone to join the tour!
If you’re looking for a tour with some information and history of the places on this itinerary, look elsewhere. I guess my assumption that there would be some commentary during the tour was wrong. I think it would have greatly improved the overall experience instead of a silent bus ride between stops. There’s also the issue of incorrect information provided by Viator’s website itinerary. The itinerary said we would have 2.5 hrs.at Arima onsen town. In reality we had only 1.5hrs. to try and experience bathing, shopping and or dining in this charming town. 2.5hrs. would be the absolute minimum to enjoy a small part of this location. As it is now with only 1 and a half hours, you cannot properly enjoy a soak in the many hot springs that are available. Very regrettable indeed. Also the last stop is Mt. Rokko. Although it is stated in the tour description that the city view might not be possible due to clouds, I feel it might be advantageous to have an alternate site to visit when the weather isn’t cooperating. I’m only mentioning this because our driver worked very hard driving us up the mountain in extremely foggy conditions only to have most of the passengers on our bus not wanting to leave the bus because there was nothing to see but clouds. Maybe a short harbor cruise to view the harbor lights from the water. Just a thought.
Rick was great and the tour was super chill. We had 8 in our group and we really had a good time. The shopping was pretty great.
The trip was pleasant and memorable. We were given ample time to spend in each site: Kobe harbor, Kitano, Arima Onsen and Mt Rokko. The nights views of Kobe atop Mt Rokko was spectacular. Matthew spoke English, Japanese and Mandarin so everyone is informed and was respectful and professional.
Our tour guide Yang was great. We had plenty of time to explore all places with no rush. Kobe is such a lovely city to see. Kitano was beautiful and historic and Arima was very picturesque with the waterways and fountains. Overall, a very nice trip.
Even though the tour is all in Kobe, the meeting place is in Osaka. This is mentioned but should be highlighted, as we arrived via Kobe on a cruise and had to make our way to Osaka only to have the first stop of the tour be literally by our cruise. However, Yiyi our tour guide was great and was able to get us dropped off nearer our cruise in Kobe at the end. First stop at the port had a lot to do. The second stop could honestly probably be removed from the tour in order to give more time at Arima, which was awesome! Unfortunately the last stop on the mountain the cable car was being repaired, but the tour bus drove us to the top, only to be greeted by clouds so we couldn’t see anything. Guide was good and spoke many languages. Suggestions would be to only make it three stops.
Such a great tour visiting beautiful places in Japan. We had the best tour guide ever!! Yiyi was great at explaining where we were going and what we can see. She gave us the perfect recommendations to see and experience on our free time at the stops! Would highly recommend her and this tour!
