HYOGO Arima Onsen & Mt. Rokko Kobe's mountain range features ancient onsen, a ropeway, herb gardens and a horse ranch

If you're in Kobe or Osaka and decide that some time in a cool mountain environment sounds good, nearby Mt. Rokko and Arima Onsen will do nicely.

Located inland from Osaka Bay, the Rokko mountain range towers over Kobe. Behind Mt. Rokko is Arima Onsen , one of Japan's three oldest hot spring resorts, treasured for its healing waters for nearly 1,500 years.

The Mt. Rokko and Arima Onsen areas are accessible via a combination of public transport options.

From central Kobe, take the Hankyu Kobe Line from Kobe-Sannomiya Station to Rokko Station. This will take you to the base station for the Rokko Cable Car, the easiest way to scale the mountainside.

From the top of Mt. Rokko, catch the Rokko Sanjo Bus to the Rokko-Arima Ropeway, which will take you on a scenic ride to Arima Onsen.

A popular way to ascend Mt. Rokko is the Rokko Cable Car, one of three services that transport guests up the southern side. Offering panoramic views of Kobe below, this climb is stunning both day and night.

Several small tourist attractions are arrayed along the mountainside climb. Originally a place where expatriates built summer cottages, the area expanded to include a number of extra sights and tourist hotspots.

Whether you're traveling by bus or on foot, you can stop and explore the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, a music box museum and Japan's first golf course. Closer to the top is the Rokko Garden Terrace tourist complex, housing various cafes, restaurants and gift stores as well as an observation deck.

The mountain is also home to a ranch and petting zoo called Rokkosan Pasture. Run by Kobe City, the ranch is home to Japanese Kiso horses—a unique breed—as well as cattle, goats and other animals. You can enjoy horse and sheepdog shows, and even join a workshop to make homemade cheese or butter.

Coming behind the mountain slopes on the ropeway, you'll find Arima Onsen , nestled in the forest on the opposite side of the mountain from Kobe City. A popular weekend getaway for Osaka and Kobe locals, this hot spring town is one of Japan's three oldest and houses a collection of public baths and private hot spring resorts.

Long valued by Buddhist monks as a place of comfort and healing, the most renowned hot springs in Arima Onsen are Kin no Yu (Gold Hot Springs) and Gin no Yu (Silver Hot Springs).

These two water types reportedly have different beneficial health properties. Kinsen is a golden brown, thanks to large deposits of iron, which is good for skin ailments and muscle pain. Gin no Yu is said to contain trace amounts of radium and carbonic acid, which helps cure various muscle and joint ailments.

You'll also find more than a dozen shrines and temples throughout the town, alongside very old and charming inns.