My wife and I used a pretty structured approach deciding where we wanted to live in Japan. We started with several blank whiteboards and a big wall map of Japan. Then we methodically homed in on where we wanted to live, using a list of our priorities to systematically eliminate options and ultimately find one or more ideal places to live, study, work and play.

We ended up choosing Kobe as home for a lot of reasons, and Number 9 on the list was access to nature. Today we live at the base of Mt. Rokko, a low (931 meters, or a little over 3000’) mountain range that runs East to West about 56km from Sumaura to Takarazuka. Mt. Rokko is beautiful, and very accessible. In just about a 20 minute drive - or a short trip up via cable car - you can disappear from the city and find yourself in cool mountain air and forest nearly everywhere.

Last year, my friend and colleague Nathan Bryan captured some amazing drone footage of Mt. Rokko right after a fresh snowfall and created an awesome flyover of Rokko in the peak beauty of Winter. If you’re in Kobe or visiting soon, head up to the Rokko Guide House to check it out. I’m pretty sure posting it to Youtube is part of the plan, and as soon as it’s available I’ll post it here as well.

This is the warmest Winter we’ve had in decades, so there’s little snow on the mountain this year (so far), but Mt. Rokko is still a wonderful place to get away to if you love nature. Nathan also owns the Rokko Cottages, a wonderful little retreat if you’re If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, and a beautiful place to escape the suburban Japanese jungle. I’ve stayed there which my wife and kids, and we loved it.