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Although Futatabi Park is nice, I usually choose to have my celebratory ABOC (alcoholic beverage of choice) after all the uphills have been conquered - at the tiny, little-known park you see here. In the photo on the left, taken from central Kobe, it's just to the left of the cross, above the symbol on the hill formed in foliage. (This is the symbol for the city of Kobe, depicting two of the many rivers that flow down from the mountains; it's illuminated at night.) On the road down from Futatabi, it's just before the unusual solar-powered structure that was apparently built by the city as a demonstration of solar energy use.
 

It's not much of a park, really - just a table and a couple of benches in a clearing. However, few places have such a spectacular view of the harbor and city center - and few are as little-known. Only hikers and the occasional taxi driver playing tour guide will show up here. If you saw the NHK "Hello Nippon" special devoted to KANcycling and its webmaster, some of the early scenes were filmed here. I often cycle up here from central Kobe (a short but very steep climb) to enjoy the view.

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