Nunobiki Falls is a group of waterfalls located just behind Shin-Kobe Station, along the Ikuta River. The trail starts only a few minutes from the station and quickly feels like you’ve left the city. The full walk to the upper areas takes around 1.5 hours depending on pace, but you can also just visit the first falls in about 15 minutes.

The falls are collectively called Nunobiki Falls and include four waterfalls: Mentaki, Ontaki, Meoto, and Tsuzumigataki. Mentaki is the first one you reach, about 5 minutes from the station, and has a softer, elegant flow. Ontaki is the main waterfall, 43 meters high, and the most impressive. It is selected as one of Japan’s Top 100 Waterfalls.

Further up, you reach Nunobiki Reservoir, officially called Nunobiki-Gohonmatsu Dam. It is the oldest gravity concrete dam in Japan and designated as an Important Cultural Property. From there, you can continue toward Kaze no Oka Lawn near the Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway, where you get open views over Kobe and the port.

The trail is about 2 km, moderately easy, and combines waterfalls, forest paths, a historic dam, and panoramic viewpoints in one route. I liked how accessible it was directly from the station without needing transport.