The park’s Garden Fest 2026 -Autumn- event is enveloped in a sea of fire this year that’s perfect for making fall memories.

’Tis the season for kochia (bassia scoparia), nicknamed kokia in Japanese and firebush in English, to have their moment in the spotlight. Mt. Hakodate’s Kokia Park in Shiga Prefecture and Hitachi Seaside Park in Ibaraki are two of the most famous places for viewing kokia in all of their crimson, autumn glory, but this year, a locale in Kobe promises to raise a colorful challenge.

Situated at an elevation of 400 meters (1,434 feet), Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway’s Garden Fest 2026 -Autumn- event from September 12 through December 6 is well underway, but now through the end of October is the peak time to see the kokia looking like they’re on fire. The grounds have three main areas where kokia have been incorporated into the landscaping, including the following spot right outside of the park’s Glass House where they take center stage.

▼ Flames of crimson

It’s a perfect spot to take a photo looking like you’re engulfed in flames.

The second spot is the Windy Hill Lawn Plaza, a windswept spot on slightly higher grounds with Kobe’s modern cityscape in the background.

Here, you can recline in hammocks while admiring the contrast of vivid red and skyscraper silver.

While lounging, enjoy lazily watching the gondolas pass by on the ropeway as well.

The third spot is by one of the flower and herb gardens where the kokia mingle with their other fall cousins like the silver cock’s comb pictured below.

▼ Kokia with orange zinnias

The gardens are home to approximately 200 kinds of plants and 75,000 individual herbs and flowers, so your eyes will never tire of the different color combinations.

The Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway is currently following its fall season hours through November 6, which are from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.) on weekdays and 10 a.m.-8:30 p.m. (last entry at 5 p.m.) on weekends. The ropeway opens at 9:30 a.m. and the last ride down is at 5:15 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on weekends. A standard entrance fee for one adult with a round-trip ropeway ticket and entrance to the Herb Garden is 2,500 yen for adults (US$16) and 1,250 yen for children (elementary through junior high school), though there are some discounts for those entering after 5 p.m. who wish to view the gardens only.

For some gastronomic fun while you’re in Kobe, consider stopping by this retro eatery specializing in sobameshi that we recently enjoyed.

Park information
Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway / 神戸布引ハーブ園／ロープウェイ
Address: Hyogo-ken, Kobe-shi, Chuo-ku, Kitano-cho 1-4-3
兵庫県神戸市中央区北野町 1-4-3
Website

Source, images: PR Times
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