Nunobiki Herb Garden, Herb garden in Fukiai-chō, Japan
Nunobiki Herb Garden is a botanical garden on terraced hillsides above Kobe, home to more than 140 herb species and ornamental plants. The site includes greenhouses, thematic zones organized by plant type, and viewing platforms overlooking the bay.
The site opened in October 1991, bringing European herb traditions into Japanese garden practice. Over the following years, the collection expanded and new thematic sections were added.
The name comes from the nearby Nunobiki waterfall, a place long celebrated in Japanese poetry. Walking through today, visitors see how Western herbalism has been adapted into Japanese garden design, with pathways and resting points following local tradition.
A ropeway ride of around ten minutes from Shin-Kobe Station brings visitors up to the entrance area. The pathways are well marked, and you can explore the different sections at your own pace.
The on-site café prepares drinks and dishes using herbs from the collection, so you can taste what grows outside. Inside the greenhouse stands a statue from the Italian city of Terni, marking a lasting connection between the two cities.
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