Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Ladies Housecoats At Walmart

The most beautiful view of the Kansai

Japan is a mountainous archipelago. More than two-thirds are occupied by steep mountains covered with forest, and it is sometimes only a few hundred meters of plain wedged between the hills and sea for organizing human life. I propose a trip on the peaks of "Rokko-san" (六甲 山) near Kobe (神 戸), for a spectacular geography lesson Japanese, and probably the best view of the Kansai (关 西). The trip will end in the spa town of Arima (有 马) may be the oldest in Japan.
For the less brave, a funicular railway provides access to the impressive summit plateau. The observation deck near the top station worth a visit for the magnificent view of Kobe. Then, on the plateau, a bus provides a convenient connection between the various attractions. The mountain can also climb on foot from the station Ashiya-gawa (芦 屋 川) Hankyu Kobe line (阪急 神 戸 线). Just follow the direction "Rock Gardens (ロック ガーデン), then the path well marked for the top of Rokko-san. It takes 5 hours for the ascent and descent to Arima. Precautions inherent in hiking in Japan are required.
Mount Rokko is a health resort since 1895, when a British resident, Arthur H Gloom, installed a mountain chalet. The place was later developed as a resort climate to enjoy the coolness of the summit. The mountain is part of the city's identity as the anthem of the supporters of the Hanshin Tigers Rokko is called Oroshi (六甲 颪) or "The Wind of Mount Rokko. According to supporters of the Kansai, it runs preferably after a few beers during a landslide victory of the Hanshin Tigers (阪神 タイガー) against their great rivals Yomiuri Giants (読 売 巨人), the team from Tokyo.
The place has all the attractions of tourist places Japanese: The "Rokko Garden Terrace," a replica of a European village, houses and chic boutiques. The complex even includes a fake castle with a coating that recall Japanese homes as the Cathar castles. Mount Rokko is also famous for its sheep pastures. You can visit the farm, and one local cheese factory. A restaurant obviously Genghis Kahn, a lamb stew, near the "Rokko Garden Terrace. The summit also contains the oldest golf course in Japan, Alpine garden, a park and "Country House" also used as an artificial ski slope.
More than friendly attractions, the most enjoyable is the wonderful view from the top. The terrace of the "Rokko Garden Terrace is well suited to observation. The door next to Kobe Osaka to the sea, only few kilometers away from Kobe. On clear days, the Kansai International Airport, built on an artificial island, is also visible. The city is huge, but large buildings are relatively rare. The Japanese city is often chaotic: disparate buildings gathered together without logic, except the center of Kobe rebuilt well after the earthquake. Artificial land reclaimed from the sea are clearly visible. In Kobe, they are mainly Rokko Island and Port Island. Because of the economic crisis, all land created at great expense are not used. During the earthquake, these waterlogged lands were particularly unstable. This has not prevented the city to build its airport on land reclaimed from the sea, still farther from shore than the port.
After enjoying the view, it is interesting to return to Kobe by the other side. A cable can reach the spa town of Arima. The journey of 12 minutes is very nice above the forest. Returning to Kobe since Arima is fast, but you can probably spend a few hours to enjoy the hot springs . Legend has it that an emperor of the 7th century has been spending several months in the city to enjoy its waters. The city was then known varying fortunes, and a major landslide in the eleventh century. It was rebuilt by General Toyotomi Hideyoshi in the 16th century and flourished since. Both bathhouses "Kin-No-Yu" (金 の 湯) and "Gin-no-Yu (銀 の 湯) welcome visitors during the day, and many ryokan you will host for the night.
You can continue your reading day in Osaka.
Access to Mount Rokko

The funicular "Rokko Cable Car" can reach the summit. The departure station is near the station "Rokko" on the Hankyu line. One-way ticket: Y570 (3.45 Euros) return Y1000 (6 Euros). A formula includes roundtrip bus summit "Omote Rokko Shuyu Joshaken" is proposed to Y1300. Access to the start of the funicular is also possible by bus 16 from the guys from Hankyu Rokko and JR Rokko_michi. The cable

"Rokko Arima Ropeway" links the station to the top of Arima. Tickets cost Y980 (6 Euros) for a one-way, Y1770 (10.80 Euros) for a roundtrip. A formula also includes the bus summit "Ura Rokko Shuyu Joshaken" costs Y1900 (11.52 Euros).

A one-way ticket from Kobe to Arima including funicular, bus top, and cable "Rokko Arima Katamichi Joshaken" costs Y1700 (10.30 Euros).

The return of Kobe Arima done by the company Shintetsu (神 鉄), with a change to Arimaguchi (有 马 口), then a correspondence Tanigami (谷 上) with the Kobe subway directly back downtown. The ride to Sannomiya (三 宫) costs Y900 (5.45 Euros) for 30 minutes.

Kin-No-Yu: Admission Y650 (4 Euros), open from 8: 00 to 22: 00, closed the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month.
Gin-No-Yu: Admission Y550 (3.3 Euros), open from 9: 00 to 21: 00, closed the first and third Tuesdays of each month.

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