The one time I didn’t feel like walking...
After the rose garden we began our descent.
Having purchased return tickets for the gondola, you’ll never guess what we did?
It was a lovely stroll with a huge variety of herbs, spices, fruit and vegetables all growing on the hillside.
It looked and smelled amazing.
About half way to the gondola mid station we reached the hammock garden.
I didn’t wait for an invitation.
Before I popped my hat on for a snooze, this was the view from my hammock.
There was a gentle breeze that brought with it subtle smells of various parts of the garden.
In trees all around, birds were chirping and you could hear the sounds of trickling water.
I could easily have nodded off and called it quits for the afternoon.
But in the most remarkable turn of events, Mrs H wanted to keep walking.
Just before the gondola mid station we reached the greenhouse and a terraced area with a cafe/bar.
The view from here was much better as were we slightly closer to Osaka but also there were fewer trees in the way.
As if right on cue the speakers on the terrace burst to life with
@drron belting out a bit of Steelers Wheel.
Osaka to the left
Kobe to the right
To the left of the terrace is a herbal foot bath with room for about six people at a time.
It was warm and relaxing.
I’ll spare you the pic of my hairy legs.
You’re welcome.
But I will share the view.
Technically the herbal footbath is free.
You can buy a small towel to dry your feet for 100 yen or about $1.20 Australian.
We did so, and figured it’s basically a gold coin donation system.
About 150 metres further on is the gondola mid station.
Not wanting to completely waste the return ticket, we rode the gondola the remainder of the way down.
The afternoon breeze cleared some of the smog.
The sun had begun to fall behind the mountains casting shadows on the waterfall.
Which I realised is actually two waterfalls.
You can also see the viewing platform near the lower, smaller waterfall.