You'd never guess that such a beautiful natural sanctuary could sit so close to the city. This revered waterfall in four sections (the longest is 43m tall) has been the subject of art, poetry and worship for centuries – some of the poems are reproduced on stone tablets at the site. It's accessible by a steep, 400m path, from Shin-Kōbe Station. Take the ground-floor exit, turn left and walk under the station building to the path.
Note: the hike up the stone steps can leave you a sweaty mess, especially in summer – take it nice and slow and enjoy the river views as you ascend. Alternatively, access the falls in about 30 downhill minutes from the lower exit of Nunobiki Herb Gardens and the midway station of the ropeway (go past the reservoir).
