The filming location is "Takatori Castle" in Kamikoshima, Takatoricho, Takaichi District, Nara Prefecture. "Takatori Castle" is associated with Toyotomi Hidenaga, one of the Toyotomi brothers, and is counted among Japan's three great mountain castles, making it quite a hidden gem. What I want to introduce here is the "Kunimi Yagura Ruins" of Takatori Castle. The Kunimi Yagura offers a panoramic view of the "Asuka-Fujiwara Capital Area," which is set to become a World Heritage site. This photo captures "Mt. Unebiyama (where the Mausoleum of Emperor Jinmu is located)," "Fujiwara-kyo ruins," "Asukamura," and "Mt. Nijo (a symbol of the ancient capital Nara for the people of Nara)." Under good conditions, you can also see "Mount Hiei in Kyoto" and "Mount Rokko in Kobe." The view, especially during the time from sunset to twilight, is magnificent. Have you noticed it? In the distance to the right of Mt. Nijo, the skyline of Osaka's high-rise buildings is visible. One of those buildings is "Abeno Harukas." Getting to the "Takatori Castle Ruins" involves a mountain trail hike. Please check the information and prepare suitable clothing and gear for a short mountain climb to enjoy your visit. Additionally, Takatori Castle has no lighting facilities, and at night it becomes pitch dark, which can be dangerous. It's necessary to have lighting equipment like headlamps. Last year, the Takatori New Tourism Association held a night walk tour. Please consider participating in such events.

The Mt. Rokko Pasture can be reached by winding mountain paths that slowly ascend from Kobe! The scenery on the way is beautiful, but not recommended for anyone with a fear of heights. Once you arrive, though, you are rewarded with a picturesque vista of rolling hills and sheep grazing peacefully. For those who want a more dynamic sheep activity, there are sheep races on Saturday, complete with a champion's stage for the lucky winner! Of course, visitors are welcome to touch the fluffy sheep, and you can hear their cute bleating now and again. I came just for the sheep, but I was surprised by the scale of the pasture's other activities. There are horses, goats, guinea pigs, and at least one giant cow. There were horseback riding experiences, as well as a fossil search activity for children where participants can find and take home real fossils. The pasture makes its own cheese, and also has locally made Kobe wines for sale. Outside of winter, fresh milk is also available. If you would like a relaxing experience with animals away from the city, Mt. Rokko is a great spot!

The Onigiri Kingdom 🍙 that appeared in Rokko This is located in Hyogo Prefecture 　　　　　"Rokko Garden Terrace" This is my personal favorite spot. Located at an altitude of 900m, you can see the night view of Kobe. At night, it's very cold, so dress warmly! 😆

This is one of the photos I took when I went to Rokkoyama Ranch in early summer. Despite being close to the city of Kobe, the scenery was far from Japan. It was an interesting place where you can interact with various animals in addition to sheep up close.

The other day around mid-April, I photographed the flowers of the otome camellia otome tsubaki in the Mt. Rokko of Kobe. This Mt. Rokko area has been designated as the Setonaikai National Park and has been a suitable place for recreation and summer retreat since the Meiji era. Mountain villas and recreation centers have been built here and there in the mountains, and there are sightseeing spots such as Rokko Ranch, which is inspired by a mountain ranch in Switzerland, and Arima Onsen, which is counted as one of the three famous springs of pillow grass. The mountains opened by foreigners in the Kobe Settlement have many katakana names such as Cascade Valley a valley of many small waterfalls and Twenty Cross 20 mountain trails, recalling the history of foreigners opening the mountain. By the way, this time the otome camellia was taken at the place of the Japanese name, Otter Pond in Viper Valley. Aside from the Mt. Rokko area where many names from the Edo period remain, such as the Shojo Pond introduced here last year, Otter Pond is ... I wonder if the pond used to be full of otters, and I still look around for signs. The camellia blooming season is almost over, but now the azalea flowers are brightly colored all over the driveway. Animals and plants are rich in nature, Mt. Rokko how about 😊 hiking?

The morning sun shines from the fresh green of spring... Mt. Rokko in Kobe has been redressed! !! The photo is a morning scene taken near the ridge of the Omote Rokko Driveway in mid-April. I climbed the hill on a road bike, but it was a pleasant cycling that felt moderately sweaty I climbed slowly. Mt. Rokko was opened as a leisure mountain by foreigners in the Meiji era, and Arthur Herkes Groom, who built the first mountain villa, is called the "founder of Mt. Rokko." The first mountain villa was built at a place called Mikuni Pond after climbing the driveway in the photo to the ridge. From there, foreigners and Japan people built mountain villas one after another, forming a village. It seems that there are no mountain villas left from that time now, but you can still see many recreation centers of various companies in the vicinity. Even if you actually climb on a road bike, you can meet foxes, raccoons, woodpeckers, squirrels, moles and monkeys, and you can feel that you have come to nature in a different world from the city. How about 😊 forest bathing for a mental retreat this spring?