Kobe Municipal Arboretum

Kobe Municipal Arboretum is a historic botanical garden in Kita Ward, Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, opened in 1940. The grounds are vast—about 142 hectares in total—and the garden is located west of the Maya and Rokko mountain range and north of Futatabi-san. For access, it is convenient to use the free shuttle bus from Kita-Suzurandai Station on the Kobe Electric Railway (about 10 minutes). Highlights include Hase Pond, where beautiful scenery can be enjoyed throughout the year; the Hydrangea Garden, where more than 50,000 hydrangea plants across about 350 varieties are said to bloom; and the Azalea & Rhododendron Garden, with around 25 species planted. Visitors can enjoy a wide variety of flowers and trees in every season. Light-ups are also held during the hydrangea season and the autumn foliage season. Programs such as “Forest Yoga,” birdwatching, and nature observation classes are regularly offered, with plenty of activities and workshops for families. As a nearby forest park where you can escape the city’s bustle and refresh both mind and body, it is a highly popular spot for visitors of all ages.