ThinkStay Mt.

We'd booked three nights but felt so comfortable that we added another. The cabin's design and projector were both lovely, and the host was warm and great to deal with. It's an easy place to relax in the woods, with hiking, running, and biking nearby. The station is a minute away, and Kobe and arima onsen are easy to reach from there. One of the best places I've stayed.

Make sure to buy food before you get here, since there aren't any conbinis or supermarkets within walking distance. There are cooking facilities, but frying food isn't allowed. The lodge buildings sit beautifully into the hillside, and the staff were extremely helpful. It's a unique, exciting place to stay, right beside the cable car, with lovely views over Kobe just a short walk away.

The people who run this place made us feel so welcome, and that meant a lot. My Japanese wasn't enough to hold a conversation or explain all our questions, but their English was much better than my Japanese. They helped us get through every question and hurdle and went above and beyond. We stayed at the end of March, and three months later we're still talking about how special it was. I hope we can return. We rented the three-story unit, which felt magical and unusual. The main and top floors had small heating and cooling units, and we could warm the room with them, despite a review I'd read saying there was no heat. The main level is mostly kitchen, bathroom, and table, with no real spot to sit and rest. Beds are upstairs, reached by built-in ladder or outdoor stairs, and our unit was at the top of a path. It may not suit someone with mobility issues, but without those issues it felt like being a kid again. The main building is beautiful, and we used the free pass for rentals. It was so peaceful there, watching birds, looking through books, and admiring the antiques over a warm drink. The fire pit is at the bottom of the property, and somehow it stays quiet despite being right by the road. We brought beef, vegetables, and s'mores supplies but weren't prepared to cook them. The staff kindly lent us a few things so we could make our meals, and I'm grateful. It was one of our top three meals in Japan. Next time I'd bring a pan and seasonings. There's also a small kitchen with the advertised microwave and induction stove. Mt. Rokko is gorgeous. We spent the whole day walking around and could have stayed in the area for ages. The woods are beautiful, with lots of views over Kobe and the ocean, and even the larger ships going about their day.

I stayed one night in February when it was below zero outside. The AC blew lukewarm air for about 30 minutes, stopped for 20, then started again. The room got very cold overnight, and we had to use every blanket. I wouldn't recommend coming in winter.