October 31, 2015
Nishinomiya Kitaguchi - Kobe Sannomiya - Shin-Kobe - Nunobiki Waterfall - Nunobiki Herb Garden - Kikuseidai (Maya Peak) - Hotel de Maya - Maya Ropeway - Maya Cable Car - Oji Koen - Nishinomiya Kitaguchi
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Walking east from our apartment towards the train station.
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Looking south along the Tsutogawa (Tsuto river). There are many rivers flowing from the hills and mountains to the north and emptying into Osaka Bay to the south. Because they run through dense urban areas they're now all contained within concrete channels to prevent flooding during rain storms and typhoons.
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Looking north along the Tsutogawa. When they were children, Akemi and her brother used to spend hours along this river catching small fish and insects with nets.
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Nishikita Park and the north-west entrance to Hankyu Nishinomiya Kitaguchi train station.
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'Hankyu Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station'
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The north gates on the upper level of the station.
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Plaza area and shops are located above the track platforms.
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Heading downstairs to the west-bound platforms. According to the displays, the next express for Kobe leaves at 10:33 AM.
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'ACTA' One of the first, big residential/shopping centers built after the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. It's also home to the 'Co-op' supermarket where we do most of our grocery shopping.
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The express train to Kobe enters the station.
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Waiting for the 10:33 to Kobe to depart. I'm at the back of the train so I'll be close to the east exits at Kobe.
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Kobe Sannomiya (Hankyu) station, showing east-side escalators to the lower level and exits.
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East exit gates at Kobe Sannomiya (Hankyu) station.
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Heading downstairs to the north-east exit at Kobe Sannomiya (Hankyu) station. Besides the Hankyu Railway, Sannomiya Station also serves the JR West, Hanshin Electric Railway, Kobe Municipal Subway, and Port Island monorail lines.
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Looking west along the street that runs parallel to the north side of the station. Lot's of night-life here in the evenings.
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The little 'meeting park' near Flower Road on the north side of Kobe Sannomiya station.
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Flower Road. North side of Kobe Sannomiya station.
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Looking north up Flower road toward the mountains.
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Looking north up Flower road with Maya-san, (Mount Maya), in the background.
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One of the many sculptures along Flower road.
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Another one of the many sculptures along Flower road
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Yet another one of the many sculptures along Flower road
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The pedestrian overpass at the intersection of Flower road and Nakayamate road.
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The 'Lee Heim' building from the middle of the pedestrian overpass. This is where Terry Lee, one of Akemi's long-time friends, grew up.
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Another view of the pedestrian overpass from the north side of the intersection.
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Passing through one of Kobe's 'Love Hotel' districts on the way to Shin-Kobe.
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A typical 'Love Hotel'.
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The usual 'discrete' drive-in entrances at one of the hotels.
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A busy corner, yet, not 'sleazy'.
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And, on the next block, the Kobe apartment, (7th floor, middle).
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The Legal Shin-Kobe Parkside.
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The world famous 'Wantage Books'. The best English language used-books store in Kansai, and publishing headquarters of 'Kansai Time Out' from 1977-2009.
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David Jack and Sachiko Matsunaga. Owners of Wantage books, and former publishers of 'Kansai Time Out'.
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Following the Ikuta river north towards Shin-Kobe.
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Looking south along the Ikuta river that flows down from the mountains, runs through downtown Kobe, and empties into Osaka Bay.
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Shin-Kobe station, (Kobe's Shinkansen 'Bullet Train' station). The Ikuta river flows beneath the station.
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The Ikuta river under Shin-Kobe station.
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If you didn't have time to prepare a lunch, the station is a great place to buy some food before heading into the mountains.
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Lots of 'Bento Box' lunches to choose from.
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Even more box lunches.
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Or, you can buy some souvenirs. (Not sure why you'd want to do that before a hike.)
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Exit from the front of the station and follow the service road that goes north under Shin-Kobe.
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This road will lead to the beginning of the lower part of the trail.
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A good place to check out the map showing your location and some of the trails through the mountains.
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The little bridge over the Ikuta river.
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The Ikuta river from the bridge.
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You can pray for 'good hiking' at this shrine.
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Take the loooong stone stairway on the right that leads to the trail along the Ikuta river.
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Finally at the top of the stone stairs.
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Looking down at the river from the trail. Fall colors are just starting to appear.
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There are several little platforms along this section for viewing the river.
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Keep following the river.
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Until you get to the Nunobiki Waterfall viewing platform.
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Take a little rest and enjoy the sights and sounds of the waterfall.
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Continue on up, following the stairs.
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Looking back at the waterfall viewing platform and small shrines.
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Another (of the many) shrine along the trail.
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If you're feeling a bit tired (already?), take a break at the small stand over-looking the falls. Cold beer is available.
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Keep on the path heading 'up' and you'll reach a small rest-area and look-out.
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View looking to the south. Kobe and Osaka Bay.
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This little rest/look-out area is part of the 'Hillside Promenade'.
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After a short break on the 'Hillside Promenade' continue along the trail that follows the Ikuta river.
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... walking...
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Approaching the 'Monkey Bridge'.
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Not sure why it's called the 'Monkey Bridge', but somehow the name fits.
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More river from the trail.
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Not sure who does it, but the trail is always swept clean in the mornings.
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A (usually) photogenic set of 3 parallel waterfalls, when it's not dry like today.
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The Gohanmatsu Dam.
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Some people take an easier route to get part-way up the mountain.
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Getting closer to the top of Gohanmatsu Dam.
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The lake behind the dam.
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Walkway along the top of the dam.
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Concrete torii marks the entrance to the next section of trail.
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And, of course, another shrine to help you on your way.
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It's a twisty route up this steep section of trail.
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Back and forth.
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Damn it's steep.
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I need a rest.
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Are we there yet?
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Finally, a nice, level section of old paved road.
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What the hell is this? It's the service entrance to the Nunobiki Herb Garden. Go through the smaller gate on the right.
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The mid-level station of the rope-way to the top level of the Nunobiki Herb Garden.
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The view of Kobe and Osaka Bay from the mid-level station of the rope-way.
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Lowest level entrance to the Nunobiki Herb Garden. Enter the gardens here and follow the walk-way up.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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Herb Garden.
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The Glass Houses at the Nunobiki Herb Garden.
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The actual 'Herb Garden' section of the Herb Garden. Usually looks, smells, and tastes better than this.
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Map showing the winding path from the bottom to the top of the Herb Garden.
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The Morning Glories are still doing well near the top level rope-way station.
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Entrance to the top-level of the Herb Garden.
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View from the top-level of the Herb Garden with Kobe and Osaka Bay in the background.
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They have a kind of 'German Village/Beer Garden' thing going on here.
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Beer & sausage stands and 'German Beer-Drinking Songs' wafting from speakers. In spite of all this, it's a nice place to score a table and take a short break before hitting the real trail.
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Make your way through the rose garden...
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... and into the fragrance museum.
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Catch up on the history and art of making fragrances and perfumes.
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Give your nose a workout with some 'basic ingredient' samples as you make your way to the back of the building.
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Go out the back door of the building, across the courtyard, and through the gate. Remember to latch the gate behind you... to keep out the many inoshishi (wild boar) living in the area.
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This will put you on the mountain trail to the top of Maya-san.
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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Looking back toward the top level of the Nunobiki Herb Garden.
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... climbing...
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... climbing...
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... climbing...
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... climbing..
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... climbing..
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... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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Watch your step here.
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These big rocks on the right side of the trail hide a great view to the south.
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The view south over Kobe and Osaka Bay from behind the big rocks. Take a break here.
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OK. Get back to... walking...
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... walking...
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... walking...
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These stone steps can mean only one thing... you're getting close to the top.
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Same with these wooden steps... the top is near.
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Yup. The top of most mountains in this area are covered with microwave and tranmission towers.
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TV and radio transmission tower.
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After passing the transmission towers take the wooden steps off the right side of the trail.
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This will bring you to a shrine and the actual 'peak' of the mountain. The concentration of microwaves is so intense here that you can warm up your lunch on any of the nearby rocks. (just kidding)
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After a short prayer at the shrine, head back down the stairs and follow the paved road to the east.
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A small rest area.
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The top of another trail to the peak of Maya-san.
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What the... ?
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You mean I could have taken a bus up here?
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And, what's this?
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A tako-yaki and fried sausage stand?
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Kikuseidai Koen... a large park, picnic area, and look-out near the peak of Maya-san.
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A path toward one of the several look-outs.
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One of the most popular viewpoints in the Kansai area... especially at night.
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The great view from Kikuseidai Park on Maya-san. Osaka is off in the distance to the left. Kobe city is below and to the right. Nishinomiya is between Osaka and Kobe. Osaka Bay is in the middle.
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Maya-san elevation sign (690 meters) in Kikuseidai Park.
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Unfortunately the view is only good in certain directions.
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And of course, there are vending machines. You learn to love these in the middle of winter... hot drinks!
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Lot's of areas to hang out and picnic.
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This covered area is a life-saver on hot summer days, rainy days, and especially cold winter days.
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After enjoying the view, having lunch, and soaking up some sun, it's time to take the trail north and head for 'Hotel de Maya'.
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The early fall colors look a little stronger on the peak of the mountain.
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... walking north...
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... walking...
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Hotel de Maya.
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Hotel lobby and gift shop.
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Hotel lobby and balcony.
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After paying the 540 yen fee at the reception desk and receiving your small bath towel, make your way downstairs to the entrance of the little Japanese-style 'Herb Bath'. (Not an official 'onsen').
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Sinks in the changing room.
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Storage bins in the changing area.
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Head into the bath area and wash-up before entering...
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... the hot herb bath. No better way to recover from a long hike... especially in the middle of winter!
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A bit of the view from the bath windows.
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After a long, relaxing soak, get dressed and head back upstairs to the lobby.
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There's a nice few from the lobby balcony as well.
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The view from the lobby balcony.
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OK. I know. This is becoming less and less like a real 'hike', but I find it hard to resist the 'keki-seto'. (Cake-set... coffee and cheese cake.)
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After that long, hot soak in the herb bath and the tasty cheese cake and coffee, it's time to start heading home.
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Along the trail from Hotel de Maya back to Kikuseidai Park.
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More early fall colors coming through.
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One last look towards Osaka from the Kikuseidai Park lookout.
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Last look towards Kobe from the lookout.
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It must be getting late... the park is almost empty. I'm not looking forward to that long hike back down the mountain. And, this is when those scary inoshishi start coming out.
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What's this? A ropeway! My favorite part about hiking to the top of Mount Maya.
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This is the top level station of the Maya-san ropeway. Get in line...
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... but get your 'one way' ticket down first, (about 860 yen).
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The Maya-san ropeway about to depart from the top-level station.
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On the way down there's a great view and recorded commentary, (in Japanese).
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From the ropeway.
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Approaching the lower level station of the Maya-san ropeway. Doesn't look like we're close to the bottom yet though.
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The ropeway has been operating for decades... the latest upgrade was in 2001.
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Passengers leaving the ropeway car at the lower level station. But I'm still half-way up the mountain!
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Ahhh. The rest of the way down is by cable-car. Top-level cable car station.
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Maya-san cable-car ready to depart for the lower level station.
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Looking back up the mountain along the cable-car tracks.
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Damn! It's steep!
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The lower level station from the cable-car steps.
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Maya-san cable-car.
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Maya-san lower level cable-car station from street level.
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Still a long walk downhill to reach the nearest Hankyu train station.
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An interesting graveyard (pet cemetary?) on the way down.
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Walking along another of the many rivers from the mountains, with the Kobe City highschool grounds on the right.
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... walking... down...
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Netting to protect some of the kaki (persimmon) from being eaten by flying things.
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A local fire station in Kobe city.
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An interesting temple along the road on my way down the hill.
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No hike up Maya-san is complete without a short visit to my feathered friend 'Paco' on the way home.
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Paco loves being scratched on the back of his head and neck... but that huge beak always keeps me cautious.
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Continue on down the river towards the parking area of the Oji Koen Zoo.
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A partial view of the 'Hunter Residence' located on the zoo grounds. This house is a culturally important 'foreign' building from 1889.
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Part of the kiddies amusement park area in the Oji Koen zoo.
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Ferris wheel in the amusement park area in the Oji Koen zoo.
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The big sports stadium beside the Oji Koen zoo.
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Main entrance to the stadium.
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A last look back at Maya-san from the parking area of the Oji Koen zoo.
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Finally the Hankyu Oji Koen train station. Almost home.
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Hankyu Oji Koen train station.
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On the east-bound platform of the Hankyu Oji Koen train station.
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Getting ready to board the local train bound for Nishinomiya.
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The eastbound platform at Hankyu Nishinomiya station with people waiting to catch the express to Osaka's Umeda station.
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Heading toward the North exit.
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North exit gates at Hankyu Nishinomiya Kitaguchi station.
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Back at Nishikita Park outside the station. It's getting dark.
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Walking home.
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The goldfish store is still open. It was here when Akemi was growing up.
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Heading toward our apartment building.
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Our apartment is the second from the right on the sixth floor.
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Building entrance.
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Where the super hangs out during the day.
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Main floor elevator lobby.
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Sixth floor elevator lobby.
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View from the sixth floor walkway, with Kabutoyama in the middle.
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Sixth floor walkway to our apartment door.
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I'm home! It was a great hiking day.
