Officially crowned as one of the Three Great Night Views of Japan (日本三大夜景), Kikuseidai literally means "the platform where you can scoop up stars by hand." Perched at 700 meters atop Mount Maya, it commands an intoxicating 180-degree panoramic vista stretching from Kobe Port and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge all the way across Osaka Bay to Kansai International Airport, glistening with millions of twinkling urban lights popularly valued at "10 million dollars."
- Best time
- All year
- Entry
- Not checked · Check the official site ↗
- Parking
- Nearby parking · 10 min walk · Navigate ↗Nearby parking · 17 min walk · free · Navigate ↗
- Getting there
- Plan the route from your start ↓ · Open in Google Maps ↗
- Official info
- kobe-rokko.jp ↗
Weather for your date
Today shows live hourly weather. Future dates show the best available report.
19°C
Clear sky
💧 0% rain chance · wind 9 km/h
Hourly forecast
Forecast: Open-Meteo
Directions to Mount Maya Kikuseidai "10 Million Dollar Night View"
Leave the start blank to choose your current location in Google Maps. The pin is an approximate landmark; check the entrance and live services in Maps.
When to see this place
Typical viewing windows. Weather and bloom dates vary each year; these are not live forecasts.
No month-specific guide yet for Oct. This does not mean the place is closed.
Suitability
Stroller: Not recommended
Nursing room: Not available
Noise level: quiet
Kids: Steep observation decking and cold mountain wind at night; warm layers and child supervision recommended.
Rules
Fire: no fire
Drones: banned
Nearby places
Within 30 km, closest first.
HyogoNunobiki Falls
A series of forest waterfalls immediately behind Shin-Kobe Station, reached by a stepped walking trail.
HyogoKobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens and Ropeway
A ropeway climbs from Shin-Kobe to hillside gardens with seasonal flowers and panoramic city-and-bay views.
HyogoKitano Ijinkan Historic District
A hillside district of preserved Western-style residences built by overseas merchants after Kobe port opened.
HyogoMount Rokko Garden Terrace
A road- and cable-accessible ridge viewpoint with restaurants and far-reaching views over Kobe, Osaka Bay and Awaji Island.
HyogoNankinmachi — Kobe Chinatown
A compact Chinatown of food stalls, restaurants, gates and seasonal celebrations near Motomachi.
HyogoKobe Port Tower
Kobe’s red lattice harbour landmark offers observation floors above Meriken Park and the city waterfront.
HyogoMeriken Park and Kobe Waterfront
Kobe’s harbourfront park brings together Kobe Port Tower, the sail-shaped Maritime Museum, the BE KOBE monument, memorial displays and broad waterfront walks. After dark the tower and museum form the city’s best-known illuminated harbour composition.
HyogoKobe Harborland
A waterfront shopping and dining district with harbour promenades and illuminated evening views.
Sources, photo credits and verification
Place information: Official tourism source
- 1. Kikuseidai viewing plaza illuminated path atop Mount Maya · 663highland · Source ↗ · CC BY 2.5
- 2. Breathtaking 10-million-dollar night panorama of Kobe Harbor and Osaka Bay from Kikuseidai · Laitr Keiows · Source ↗ · CC BY-SA 3.0