WATERFALL ADVENTURE in Kobe: Nunobiki Falls, Ropeway, Herb Garden & Easy Hike 🚡 Day Trip from Osaka

[@AzrallDRG]

Awesome video! I've been recently binge watching your videos lately as I booked a spontaneous trip to Japan in January for my 40th birthday. First time for me and I'm so excited!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah how exciting!! That'll be an awesome birthday trip! Where are you thinking of going in Japan?

[@AzrallDRG]

@@cakeswithfaces it's a 10 day trip. Bases in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, so going to see what I can do in and around those areas in the time I have. I'm really hyped. I'll be using your guide book for sure!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@AzrallDRG Excellent - there are lots of fun day trips from all those places too, including Kobe!

[@juliekalitis]

I wanted to come back to comment on this. Thanks to this video we went to the herb garden today and it was glorious! We would never have been if I hadn’t seen this, so thank you ❤

[@cakeswithfaces]

Aww that's great to hear, thank you! Did you walk down or take the cablecar? (I know it's still really hot in Japan for hiking!!)

[@juliekalitis]

@@cakeswithfaces we walked halfway down, had an ice cream and decided that taking the cable car the rest of the way was the best plan. It is really humid right now!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@juliekalitis Haha that sounds like a good plan! The summer heat's lasting longer than usual this year!

[@haroldwillett3]

My wife and I are Japan bound in September. Your videos has been very helpful and I ordered one of your guide books just over 2 weeks ago. Anxiously waiting now for it so I can plan better.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Exciting!! Thanks so much! I've not had an update yet on when the reprint will be ready, but I'm expecting it to be soon! 🤞 Yours will be on the way to you as soon as they're here!

[@user-shinha]

I think Kobe is a good city to live in, the city is surrounded by the mountain and the sea so you can feel nature and you can go to Osaka by taking the JR line. Many foreigners also live in the city with their jobs for trade. The atmosphere is close to many kinds of foreign countries. So different culture is easy to accept there.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Absolutely, it seems like it'd be a lovely place to live. Still a city but not too hectic.

[@heike_p]

I went there a couple of days ago! We also almost walked to those stairs that go the wrong way down, but I said 'Stop! Amy went wrong here too!' 😂 So thanks for the heads up (and the great tip to go there in general!)

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha, I'm glad my mistake helped someone!! 😂😂

[@jacobson_]

glad i found your video, this was exactly i was looking for! we're planning to take the ropeway up to the herb gardens then hike the trail down, but i was having a hard time finding where the actual trail is haha. this will be very useful for our trip later this year. 😁

[@cakeswithfaces]

Great plan - just make sure you get the proper trail, not the one I took at first!! 😂 You'll love it!

[@loopyfrog]

I appreciate that they've made an effort to make it as accessible as possible - can't do much about those steep hills lol, but I sure would give that a go in my power chair haha. And thank you for looking out for that sort of thing. It's rarely mentioned in Japan videos.

[@cakeswithfaces]

We have a few family members with mobility issues so it's something we notice. ☺️

[@loopyfrog]

@@cakeswithfaces ah cool! It's not something most non-disabled would even think of, so you get a gold star! 🌟 hehe

[@MissiBoo]

It looks like a beautiful place to visit 😍 I love waterfalls 💕 and nature. This is definitely worth a visit ☺️ Thank you ❤🫶

[@cakeswithfaces]

If somewhere has a waterfall I always want to go!! :-)

[@akas224]

Kitty shinkansen ❤Kobe is stanning❤. I love Rokko mountain, too. it's cool on top and only few minutes by cable car.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's one of Japan's top night views! 😍

[@gokaijourney2105]

Really loved the "adventure" vibe of this video! Every day in Japan was that crazy for my dad and me -- never totally sure we were going to right way, especially when traveling by bus. Spent part of a day in Kobe in '23 and the harbor area was a great visit. If anyone is interested in woodworking, there is a carpentry museum that is well worth visiting, it is near Shin-Kobe station.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha, Japan really is an adventure! Sounds like you had fun!! Thanks for the recommendation!

[@Chuck8541]

This is going on my list of places to go. Thanks!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Enjoy!! It's a fun little adventure - and so easy to get to!

[@debbiedennis5269]

What an interesting video! I am planning on visiting the herb garden in October and appreciate all the details.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Enjoy!! It's a fun little adventure - and the view's lovely!

[@RSidd]

I was thinking about a quick stop at Kobe Harborland on my way from Himeji to Osaka. But it seems like I gotta dedicate a whole day for Kobe now. Lovely video as always. ❤

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks! The waterfront's really pretty at night time when the lights come on! 😍

[@RSidd]

@@cakeswithfaces Noted!

[@AlanVByrnes]

Kobe where I also want to visit and check out 🤩🤩🤩 appreciate the help here too Amy looks like another interesting and fun place to hang out and learn from 👏👏👏

[@cakeswithfaces]

It was a fun adventure!

[@Ninjabob42069]

I’ve always found your videos entertaining, fun and informative….but this is the first time I’ve actually laughed out loud watching one (twice in fact). Thanks for showing all the silly moments of your day; it’s good to see that I’m not the only one who can get turned around in Japan every now and then!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Haha it happens to everyone!! 😅

[@あいうえお-o6s1f]

Kobe is a big city, but it's good that nature is close to city of center. The mountain is close to the sea, and we can see the town and the sea from the top of the mountain. In that respect, I think Kobe is similar to Hakodate and Nagasaki. It's a really nice city.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's a lovely view! Happy that I've now seen all those 3 views (Kobe, Hakodate and Nagasaki)! :-)

[@Raszero]

I walked up to the observation deck and the dam then turned back, didn't know there was anything behind it!!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Oh no!! I can see how you could easily do that - there's nothing telling you what to find if you continue up the mountain!

[@ChristianNoval]

We went to Kobe, but didn't go to the Herb garden. It's still on my bucket list. Instead we went to a downtown teppanyaki restaurant with a view over the city, where we tasted Kobe, Wagyu, and Japanese beef to experience the differences. An amazing experience. After that we when to the old onsen town Arima just on top of Kobe. I really want to go back to Kobe and see the Herb garden ... and now I know which way not to go :-) Thanks for another great video, Amy.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Sounds good! I actually looked at Arima first when I was looking for an onsen but decided on Kinosaki in the end!

[@PipkinsUK]

I'm hoping to stay for a couple of days in Kobe next April so I'll probably have a chance to go to the herb garden. it looks like a great place. I wasn't aware of it before so thanks for showing it on your video.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah glad you discovered it! It's a lovely break from the city - and I'm sure it'll look even nicer in April than in the video at the start of March, when more flowers are out.

[@rilkeanheart]

i went to the herb garden last year -- really nice and came across two ladies randomly performing an ocarina duet after their hike. my other fave memory was visiting kobe animal kingdom -- a fantastic zoo that lets you get super close to their animals! i have never been so close to red pandas before. i'm surprised you made kobe a day trip, there's actually quite a lot to do there.

[@cakeswithfaces]

That sounds fantastic - and I love it when you come across random little surprises like the ocarina duet! I think Kobe's definitely under-rated, especially when all you hear about it is Kobe beef!

[@swissfoodie3542]

Thanks for another great video Amy ! I havent been to Kobe yet, but its now on my neverending list, thanks to you ;-). Keep on the great work.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's always fun exploring new places - they're always the highlights of the trip for me!

[@HawaiiJapan808]

I love herb garden. Best free footbath with view ive seen. Is this same trip from when I saw you at teamlab in march? Keep up videos🤙🏽😁

[@cakeswithfaces]

This one's from 2023, still got a few vids left that I hadn't edited from that trip!

[@shelwee]

Ropeway up, Gardens down to halfway, out the side gate. Then choose to see the dam or not. If seeing the dam, do the switchback by going up a ways and get into the trail at first opportunity. If not, turn left and head down to the next entry point to the trail. From here, its all the way down to Shin Kobe station. We did this in 2015 when my girl was 12yrs old. This leg of our trip was planned by my son (at the time, 17yrs old). The only daunting part, was trusting that we were headed the right way as we kinda always expect that Japan has every route nicely labelled and drawn out. This hike is the exception to that expectation. Glad you got to the Nunobiki falls! I always advise folks who want to try this, to give your self more time than you think you need. Also to consider lighting conditions. In December it gets dark at about 430pm and you don't want to be caught hiking on this trail then.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Glad you enjoyed it too! It's great how it's so easy to get to but still feels like an adventure - and you pass some lovely spots along the way.

[@siobhanrose1680]

Eeee! I have this on my list of things to do while there in August, am excited to see what to expect!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Have a wonderful time! Kobe's a great city!

[@ervinslens]

You did brilliant job here, absolutely amazing film my friend! Shots and storytelling are stunning!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Thanks so much, so glad you enjoyed it!

[@keithmpire]

I feel your pain about taking the wrong path. I visited South Korea this year, and their paths are extremely well-labeled. It made me realize that in comparison, Japan is really asking people to wing it. I made path mistakes so many times. But luckily, civilization is never very far away.

[@cakeswithfaces]

It's all part of the experience - it makes for funny memories!! 😂 I'd love to visit South Korea one day.

[@keithmpire]

@@cakeswithfaces There's an island off South Korea called Jeju that's very beautiful. It's an inexpensive domestic flight from Busan, highly recommended!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@keithmpire It looks lovely, thanks for the rec!

[@delmethomas86]

Hello! I'm new here - loving all the videos so much! I'm heading back to Japan in September for a month to travel after 6 years of missing it! Are your face masks a personal choice, or is it still quite normal and expected in the country still? Thanks for all your amazing informational videos, they're so much help!

[@cakeswithfaces]

Welcome to my channel, so glad you're enjoying the videos! This was actually filmed in 2023 (even though I have newer videos from this year to edit, I still l have a few left from last year !🙈). At that time, pretty much everyone was wearing masks everywhere in Japan, all the time. However that's no longer the case, and on my trip this year I didn't wear mine at all. There are still people in Japan wearing them - the same as before 2020 when some people chose to wear one for various reasons, but there's no requirement or social pressure to wear one any more.

[@delmethomas86]

@@cakeswithfaces This is amazing, thank you! And so great that you have so much content coming, can't wait to see it!

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@delmethomas86 Enjoy!!

[@akas224]

@@cakeswithfaces 　almost no one wear masks unless you have bad skin troubles or pollen allergy , hey fever from certain plants, and health care workers.

[@areasevenpro]

That's an amazing waterfall, but don't go chasing it.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Best stick to those rivers & lakes 😂

[@alpha4072]

Great video u had a longer more detailed comment however samsung decided right then and there that my phone had to be updated

[@cakeswithfaces]

Oh no, haha! I guess the update couldn't wait! 😂

[@alpha4072]

Yeah it gets pretty crazy, you try to hold iff an update and the apps your using simply stop working until you do update the OS. Though you had the wrong walking trail you experienced and showed us views that no other channel can do. That is the cakea with faces experience! ​@@cakeswithfaces

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@alpha4072 Thanks! Taking you along on the whole journey - not the Instagram highlights! 🙂

[@alpha4072]

Exactly! None of that poor heavily sponsored and stakeholded content.....the Real stuff!​@@cakeswithfaces

[@wannaknit]

I'm interested to know how you learned your Japanese - what method / textbooks did you use?

[@cakeswithfaces]

Mainly the Pimsleur audio course, but I used a few other flashcards & books as well. It's an old video but here's a bit about Pimsleur - they do a subscription now that's more affordable than buying each stage: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ennFc4KBgr15h6c

[@acfbrown1]

I've stayed at the ANA Crowne Plaza by Shin Kobe station but I haven't used the Ropeway. I don't know if I will go to kobe again in September as the Sogo store has now closed down.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Ah I haven't been to the Sogo store, what's it like?

[@acfbrown1]

@@cakeswithfaces It had lots of stationary etc and clothes etc. The one in Hiroshima is still there though and has a good collection of Kimonos and Yukatas.

[@cakeswithfaces]

@@acfbrown1 Sounds good, I love stationery!!

[@axios101]

Hi, When was this video shot? I can see somewhat "mid to heavy" clothes and also face masks... it makes me thing it has been taken some months ago... am I wrong?

[@cakeswithfaces]

This was end of Feb/start of March 2023. While many of my recent videos are from this year, there are still a few videos I hadn't edited from 2023 so it's a mixture; sorry if that's confusing. At the time, masks were still being worn everywhere, but that's not the case now; it's absolutely fine to wear one if you want to, or not if you don't want to. When I filmed this video, it was warm for the time of year; however at the same time on 2024 it was much colder, so it can go either way in early spring!

[@axios101]

@@cakeswithfaces don't worry! Just asking to clarify and soothe my "anxiety" for my upcoming trip to Japan!! Thank You for expaining!!!!!!!

[@evicencio31863]

I hope there's no bear 🐻 problem whatsoever.

[@cakeswithfaces]

Glad I didn't think of that at the time! Although I only saw the sign about wild boars.

[@xenaprincess3144]

I can't believe that Japan requires you to wear masks even outside in 2024!?!?!?😢

[@cakeswithfaces]

This was filmed in spring 2023. I still have a few videos to edit from last year's trip, so it's been a mixture of 2023 and 2024. You don't need to wear a mask now, I didn't wear mine at all this year.