Pay a Visit to Rokkosan Farm

ByJustin Hanus

Hyogo Prefecture, Kobe City

Jun 22, 2016

Pay a Visit to Rokkosan Farm

If you love experiencing the natural beauty of Japan, Kobe certainly has all the bases covered. And in addition to the natural scenery within and surrounding this port city, Kobe also offers some unique opportunities to get up close and personal with the animals and wildlife. One such place is called Rokkosan Pasture, and a visit there this summer is sure to delight.

Tucked away in the shadow of Mt. Rokko, just a 30-minute drive from Kobe, is this small but lively farm. Just a ￥500 entrance fee will grant you access to the pasture and all it has to offer. With so many animals roaming around, you could spend an afternoon simply wandering the farm and enjoying the friendly sheep or cow sightings. Or you could choose a more hands on approach to farm life by checking out one of the many options to pet and feed the animals. Goats, rabbits, cows, and sheep all have their own petting and feeding corrals for you to explore! There are also plenty of horses that aren’t only there to be pet— you can ride them too!

If you’d prefer to watch the animal action from a distance, Rokkosan Pasture also offers live animal entertainment like horse shows and sheepdog herding shows throughout the day.

Of course spending time outside at the farm is wonderful but there are also some interesting indoor activities you shouldn’t miss! Cooking classes where you can learn to make stone oven pizza, cheese, butter, soft caramel, sausages, ice cream and more are fun and tasty options to pass the time at the pasture. Class options don’t just stop at food however, you can also join workshops to craft wool sheep figurines or pottery classes.

Even if animals, baking, or crafting doesn’t suit your fancy, simply dining at one of the various restaurants around the farm will be enough to make you want to come back for more! With so many different options to get involved on the farm, Rokkosan Pasture is truly a Kobe gem that is worth a visit this summer.

Kobe Shiritsu Rokkosan Farm

Where: 1-1 Rokkosancho, Nada-ku, Kobe 667-0101, Hyogo Prefecture
Access: 30 minutes from Kobe by private car or from Hankyu Rokko Station take the city bus to Rokko Cable-shita and transfer to the Sky Shuttle Bus and get off at the Rokkosan Bokujo stop
Open: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. (March 20 – November 5)
Admission: Adults: ￥500, Elementary & Middle School Students: ￥200
Tel: 078-891-0280
Website (English and Japanese): http://www.rokkosan.net

By 663highland (663highland) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons