Within just a few minutes’ walk of JR Motomachi Station and the bustling downtown area of Kobe, there’s a quiet Japanese garden tucked away behind concrete walls. Although you’re never far from being reminded that you’re in the city–the skyline is clearly visible above the tops of the trees–Sorakuen is a wonderful place to experience nature.
The garden was carefully designed to highlight the beauty of all four seasons. Various flower exhibitions are hosted here, such as the chrysanthemum festival in autumn where cultivators from throughout Kansai gather to show off their best blooms.
On weekends and holidays there’s the opportunity to catch live music performances or bird-watching events. There’s also a cafe where you can enjoy green tea and traditional Japanese sweets. But Sorakuen is most beloved for its many different natural landscapes in miniature: a pond teeming with koi fish, a grove of palm trees, a stone path crossing a gentle stream, a little waterfall. Although visitors can traverse the whole garden in only thirty minutes, each area offers a new perspective, a different experience of color, sunlight, and shade.
Sorakuen is beautiful throughout the year, but November is perhaps one of the best times to visit because of the park’s many maple trees. Another good time to visit is in late April to early May, when the garden’s azaleas are in bloom.
To get to Sorakuen, walk northwest from JR Motomachi Station or north from Kobe City Subway’s Kencho-Mae Station. Entrance for adults is 300 yen. For upcoming events, you can check out the garden’s official website here: http://www.sorakuen.com/Index_en.html
