Glasshouse at Kobe's Herb Gardens

Wonderful tropical plants, great views and a nice cafe

Manish Prabhune Feb 23, 2014 - 1 min read

<p>The glasshouse on a misty morning on the hills of Kobe. Hiking trails to the glasshouse start from the ropeway station.</p>

<p>Walkway leading to the glasshouse. The best seasons to visit are spring and autumn, with the flora and fauna being at its peak.</p>

<p>Inside of the glasshouse, on a bright and clear morning. With all the herbs and different flowers there is a special and wonderful aroma in the air, but honestly, I find it impossible to describe it; you will need to go and experience it yourself please!</p>

<p>Panoramic view from the deck of the glasshouse. The hiking trail to go back down to Shin-Kobe station starts from here.</p>

<p>Night-time view of the glasshouse and the port city of Kobe below, glowing in the "million dollar view" of Kobe.</p>

<p>There are beautiful flowers hanging on the walls of the glasshouse. I do not remember how much time I spent watching these flowers on weekends, let's say "a lot".</p>

<p>Beautiful morning flowers inside the glasshouse. Marigold is just one variety of the more than 200 flowers which bloom here every year. </p>

<p>Another flower at the glasshouse. You can purchase a selection of seeds here, and my plants at home actually all come from Herb Gardens of Kobe.</p>

<p>Mint Kobe Cafe inside the glasshouse. The atmosphere in the cafe and the overall glasshouse experience will certainly make you forget the weekday pressure of work. </p>

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens is a unique garden on the hills behind Shin-Kobe shinkansen station. It is Japan's largest herb gardens with about 75,000 herbs and flowers. The rosemary plantation at the garden is really extensive and many spring flowers definitely make it a worthwhile visit. The glasshouse has some tropical plants—including a banana plantation!—and there is also a museum of spices and herbs. You can reach the gardens by taking the Shin-Kobe Ropeway nearby the Shin-Kobe Station.

Manish Prabhune @manish.prabhune

Travelling to various places and locations in Japan for over 20 years now, I want to share my experiences and also hear about destinations that I still have not been to in the land of the rising sun. Am a photography enthusiast and love to do slow shutter blue hour photography in Tokyo.