Introduction: As far as I can remember, the last time I went to Mt. Rokko was nearly 10 years ago. I hope my endurance is as good as that time.
Getting up at 5:00am, I stretched my body and had my breakfast. I made sure my girlfriend woke up for her trip today, then I get ready for the day and left around 6:20am. Under morning sun, the city was still quiet. I like it because of the fewer amount of traffic. The day is expected to be fairly hot, around 26C so it would be a good day for a hike.
Arriving at Ozone station, passed the gate and moved to the south end since I am making a transfer to a bullet train at Nagoya. While having concerns over frequent disrupts on train schedules during the busy holiday period, my train came on time and took me to Nagoya with no problem. People by 6:00am are very much nothing outside of ordinary. Almost everybody is quiet, and some wear formal suits for work. I was sitting in a seat, watching the buildings streaming cross from one side to another over the side windows, and people come and go at each stops. The train arrived at Nagoya with no problem.
After getting off the train, I walked passed the gate for the bullet train connection. The platforms were still near empty because the train only comes every 10-20 minutes or so and having much less people around. I began looking out for the train when the announcement was made, then to my surprise, the train came from the opposite side. It must be parked at nearby sidetrack since the starting point is at Nagoya.
I walked into the reserved car and took a seat. It was only partly filled so I was relaxing and began reading a book. The train began moving towards west, so far the weather is good. The train made stops at Kyoto and Shin Osaka before arriving at Shin Kobe after clearing a couple of long tunnels. By then the train is mostly occupied. I was there about 6 months ago when I was running the Kobe marathon, it was a cold and windy day when I arrived. Today is much better. After getting off the train, I proceeded to the exit.
At 8:15am I was at in front of a big map of Rokko mountains the sign was there as far as I can remember. I adjusted my backpack then began hiking towards the waterfalls behind the train station at 8:15am. There are notable changes since the last time. Many big trees were cut down maybe for the safety or just overgrown. I walked up slowly on uphill, while seeing a lot of people in groups they are up for trail running, notable change over the period where I was not here. Although I am quite interested to sign up, I won't try it since I don't think I can be that agile. Soon I reached one of the waterfall, snapped a picture and moved on to the Nunobiki waterfall. I can hear thundering noise of stream running by.
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Continuing on steps up, I reached the Nunobiki Waterfall at 8:25am, there are small groups of people taking a break there, and also for the pictures. My goal today is still far, so I felt a bit of negatively charged ions from the waterfall then I began climbing up the stairs to get to the paved road, which is a steep uphill path but local elderly people walking around greeting each other in the morning like everyday thing. I am quite amazed that they can walk on such hilly paths.
The weather is good but the sky is a little hazy so Kobe from the viewing point is not crispy clear. It's 8:30am, and it's going to be sunny all day long.
View from outlook spot
After crossing the gate, I then began walking toward Nunobiki dam. The bridge to reach there is old, made of steel enforced concrete, and the dam itself is old as well, built back in 1900.. The surface of reservoir was calm, I can see the reflection of the sky and trees surrounding in fresh blue and green colors. It was a 10 minutes walk from the last break.
From here on, I often pass people who are carrying items for BBQ because there is an area by Ichigahara Dam where people can cook. I reached there at 9:00am
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From here on the trail is no longer paved. There are posts showing the directions and distance everywhere for easy guidance but I still need to be careful knowing where I am heading to. The first point for stop is Kikusei Dai at Mt. Maya, I get there no problem at 10:10am but with a lot of sweat so I needed to take a break. From here I can see more of Kobe area. I took a seat at bench and snacked a while.
Leaving Kikuseidai at 10:30am, the gear and shirt were both wet but I already know it's going to be sweaty all day. began heading towards Mt. Rokko. Walking by closed hotel (Hotel De Maya) and Tenjoji temple, coming down the rocky trail and now walking along Oku-Maya Driveway. I can see cars and bicycles on the road as I walk on the sidewalk. After passing nature house around 11:00am, I am back in the trail and hike in the forest. The view opened up once more around 11:10am, and I crossed the road again, continuing on the trail nearby Sangoku Lake. The path is paved but narrow, many vacation houses owned by various Japanese companies are standing on the both sides. I got back on a highway and walked on the sidewalk towards east. The Rokko Hotel, was closed back in 2015 but the building somehow remained and reopened in 2019. The exterior looked different from what I know but made me feel like meeting an old friend as I pass it by at 11:30am. After further walking to east, I turned to a narrow road by Rokkosan Elementary School, reached Kobe Golf Club at 11:45am, kept going toward the Terrace.
Rokkosan Silence Resort
Reaching to the open area, the first thing in my sight was a long line of cars waiting for the turn to park their cars. I proceeded on sidewalk, passing Miyoshi Kannon (goodness of mercy) status and reached the Rokko Terrace where packed with many people at noon. I wanted to g straight past the plaza to go to the summit but sidewalks were occupied by non-hikers walking slowly.
Back in the trail, and now I am at the last part of the climbing. From here on, the hiking path crosses with driving road many times. and finally reached at the foot of the final stair up to the summit at 12:40pm, went up and saw the summit, I thought about taking a picture of the sign at the peak but there was a long line, which is a trend I did not see 10 years ago. I had to wait in the line for 10 minutes before I can snap a picture of the summit marker, feeling a little inconvenient but at the same time, I am glad hiking is a popular among the people as well.
Walked to find a place where I can sit, and opened up my bag and had my second half of lunch. It was getting hot, and I was getting sunburn for sure. The lunch was at 1:00pm and done in 15 minutes and now I am ready to go back.
Leaving the summit area at 1:15pm and began walking back toward the Rokko Terrace. There are people coming up towards the summit by now. Many times I have to cross the paved road since the paths for the hikers and cars are intersected, I can now see a long line of cars trying to make their way to the parking at the top. I am sorry for those people who will be ended up there for a couple of hours. Reached the Terrace at 1:50pm, where people also lined up at the cafes and restaurants. I kept going and took a path further back the trail by the Golf Course. Then I made a left turn this time to head south towards the cable car station, passing by the club house at 2:10pm. From here the trail was mostly downhill so it was an easy hike, while seeing many vacation houses on the both sides of the road. I finally reached the cable car station at 2:20pm. As I walk closer, I can see another long line of people waiting for the bus. I think they can walk 30 minutes instead of taking a packed bus.
As soon as I get there, I have a bad feeling that what if there is a bus load of people wanting to come down with me on the cable car, so I hurried up and bought a ticket, and took care of my business at restroom before lining up. The next cable car is leaving at 2:40pm so I bought a ticket for 600Yen, which was slightly increased from the last visit.
I was able to walk in the car quick, and it left 2 minutes behind of schedule since the car at the mountain foot still needed some time. The ride was quiet, and I feel good about looking out, seeing greens of the trees. In just 10 minutes, the ride was over and now I needed to head to get on the bus leaving in a few minutes. What a chaos.
At 2:55pm, the bus left with full of people, I dashed the bus so I got a seat. The bus made several stops, picking up and dropping off before arriving at Rokkomichi station at 3:15pm. I walked to the gate to catch a train to west towards Sannomiya.
I passed the gate and walked up to the westbound train platform. A local train came at 3:18pm and took me to Sannomiya in 7 minutes, after making several stops. The train was less occupied, maybe because of the time I am travelling, and all the things coming into the view, they looked familiar to me. It was a familiar path I took long time ago. After getting off the train, I walked around to buy snacks for my coworkers and family.
After finish buying gifts, I walked to the entrance for the city subway and hopped on the one leaving at 3:38pm for a ride taking only 2 minutes to Shin-Kobe station. Exiting the gate and walked up many stairs as the last part of my exercise to the bullet train station, instead of using escalators.
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Due to holiday season rule, all Nozomi seats are reserved, so I cannot just walk in to the platform. I walked up and used a vending machine to select what is available, Window side seats are sold out. so I grabbed a ticket first available, at 3:48pm and hurried up to the platform. As I walk toward the waiting position for the train, announcement of approaching cars are made.
Returning to Nagoya
I made it to the door position, and hopped on the homeward bound train. The car was almost full, and I was sitting in the middle of three seats. I was able to read the book a little more as the train travel to Nagoya. The guy to the right looked busy opening up his tablet and typed a little, then shifted to his phone a bit then went back to tablet. The guy on the left is done for the day, an empty beer can is in his seat basket. The train moved with no problem, passing by Kanzaki river, making a stop at Shin-Osaka, then Kyoto, dashing cross Shiga prefecture and arriving at Nagoya on time. It's amazing that the train can cover the 300km distance in less than 1 hour compare to 3 hours drive.
After getting off the bullet train, I walked to a platform for local train and took one leaving at 5:07pm. There were a few people at start, and some more as the train moves toward out of Nagoya. The train arrived at Ozone no problem. Now I need to go home and get ready to meet my girlfriend who is hurt.
I walked home before 6:00pm, and took a quick shower, unloaded my stuffs and chat with my girlfriend who plan to get on the train at 6:30pm., after confirming, I need to get to Nagoya again at 7:50pm. So I stayed at home until 7:00pm, walked back to Ozone station and took a train again to Nagoya. At the station, while trying to buy a entrance ticket, I had a trouble and had to get a help from station staff. My girlfriend's bullet train was arriving at 7:56pm and I just made in time as the train coming into the platform. I know she is hungry but the station shops had long lines and she cannot walk without a support. I carried her bag and we took a train to Ozone where we are certain to have restaurants with plenty of seats available. We walked into a Mos Burger, and it was my dinner as well. We took a taxi home for 500 Yen, I helped her setup her bed, then came back to Ozone for the third time today to pick up her bicycle parked there. When I returned home, it was already 11:00pm and I think I am done for the day.
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