Quote: Dec. 27, Tue. 0:30 - 1:00 (UTC) etc. "The Rokko Mountain Range, Kobe" -Mountain climbing in Kobe's backyard- - Radio exercise - Sheep, free to graze in the pastures - Suma Alps The Rokko mountain range lies just north of the city of Kobe. Running east-west following the coast, it rises right above the residential areas. Its highest peak is Rokko Saikoho (931 m.), commonly known as Mt. Rokko. Since ancient times, the local people have followed trails up into the highlands. Now these routes offer plenty of challenges and fun for visitors too. There are many trails to choose from. Some are best left for experienced hikers; others are suitable for first-timers. On this edition of Journeys in Japan, George Bourdaniotis sets off to explore a couple of the trails that offer fantastic views. He is guided along a route that includes a challenging section known as the "Suma Alps". This trail offers great panoramic views of the sea and hills, and eventually ends up right on the sea shore. Next George takes an easier trail that goes straight to the top. He also visits some of these teahouses on the trails. The oldest was built more than 80 years ago. Others are equipped with facilities for playing table tennis or quoits. These teahouses are monuments to the long-established tradition of climbing in the Rokko mountain range. Mount Rokko The summit of Mt. Rokko can be reached by ropeway or cable car. At the top there are various attractions for all ages, including several spots offering panoramic views and a farm where visitors can see farm animals close-up. http://www.rokkosan.com/ (Japanese only) The Suma Alps, a secluded spot in the urban area The Suma Alps Trail takes hikers closest to the sea. The highlight is crossing a narrow ridge of granite rocks popularly known as the Suma Alps, where craggy cliffs drop down steeply on both sides. Traversing the Suma Alps is like hiking through actual mountainous terrain. It's hard to believe it's so close to the center of the city. Daily mountain climbing in Kobe's backyard Mt. Takatori (328 m.) has a relatively gentle slope and offers magnificent views from the top. Local people like to climb this peak early every morning. At the top they join in "radio exercises" which help them to keep fit and supple. After that, many go to relax with their friends in their favorite teahouses. There's always a welcoming atmosphere. Access Map Access: From Tokyo, it takes about 3 hours by slinkiness bullet train to Shin-Kobe. To get to the cable car terminal, it takes about half an hour, by local train and by bus. The cable car runs every 10 to 30 minutes, and reaches the summit in 10 minutes. `<br></br>Dropped video frames<br></br><br></br> Found average frame timing of 32.66 ms<br></br><br></br> Line Duration (ms) Time window<br></br> 36280 167 0:20:09.265 -> 0:20:09.432<br></br><br></br>Total frames: 50420<br></br>` **alternate download: <http://www.fileserve.com/file/Kr8uHCU> and more shows at <http://www.hellofuntime.com/>**