I still haven’t quite gotten used to the fact one of Japan’s three most famous waterfalls is less than a kilometer from my house.  Actually a series of four cascades, Nunobiki Falls is about 10 minutes walk from Shin-Kobe Station – which is in turn 5 minutes walk from me.  The mountains really are Kobe’s back yard – between the inoshishi (wild boar), the hiking and the views from everywhere in the city, their presence is always part of daily life.

It’s been so hot (and when not, torrentially raining) that I haven’t hiked around these nearby trails much yet, but things have gotten quite tolerable of late.  In addition to the falls, included here are a few pics of Tokkoin, an old Buddhist temple nearby, and a completely unexpected delight – the beautiful Benzaiten Shrine, tucked in-between the temple and the most gorgeously-situated high school I’ve ever seen.  It included an impossibly picturesque little pond thick with turtles – who regrettably thought I was there to feed them, which made me feel a bit guilty.