Hyogo Prefecture offers tourist attractions such as Himeji Castle, Arima Hot Springs, and Kinosaki Hot Springs; sightseeing events such as Tenjin Festival, Inagawa Fireworks Festival, and Kobe Marathon; and local delicacies such as okonomiyaki, onion soup, and Akashiyaki.
Hyogo Prefecture is located in the western part of the Kinki region, with the northern part bordering the Sea of Japan and the southern part bordering the Seto Inland Sea, including Awaji Island. The climate differs greatly between the northern and southern parts of the prefecture, with the southern part of the prefecture being warmer, while the northern part has some areas with heavy snowfall.
Although not well known, Hyogo Prefecture is home to 28,882 archaeological sites and 18,351 burial mounds, indicating that people have lived here since prehistoric times.
In addition, there are surviving structures such as Tatsuno Castle, Haga Castle, Ako Castle, Izushi Castle, and Sasayama Castle, indicating that this was a prosperous area from ancient times.
Himeji Castle, also known as Shirasagijo Castle, is a World Heritage site and is one of the 100 most famous castles in Japan. On a clear day, the castle keep and its beautiful white walls are highly acclaimed around the world and attract many tourists.
Hyogo Prefecture has long flourished as a trading port, and the Port of Kobe, an international strategic port under the Port and Harbor Law, is a good port with features that make it one of the deepest ports in Japan, with its steep water depth.
Around Kobe Port, there is Kobe Harborland, where visitors can enjoy shopping, an amusement park, and gourmet food, while the Kobe Port Earthquake Memorial Park, which records the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, is located to convey the horror of the earthquake disaster.
Hyogo Prefecture, including Awaji Island, also offers island scenery. The Kanrin Maru, which crossed the Pacific Ocean to the United States, has been restored, and visitors can experience a whirlpool cruise on this ship from Awaji Island's Fukura Port.
The whirlpools created under the Onaruto Bridge connecting Awaji Island and Shikoku are one of the world's three major tidal currents, and are a sightseeing spot where visitors can feel the energy woven by nature.
Hyogo Prefecture is also a place of endless culinary delights, with many stores famous for their sweets in particular. Hyogo Prefecture has the highest consumption of bread and sweets in Japan, making it a Western-style prefecture for those who love sweets.
There are many famous western confectionaries such as sweets and chocolates made from Tanba chestnuts, which are large, soft, and sweet, and the headquarters of famous western confectionaries such as Morozoff and Euheim are also located in Hyogo Prefecture. For those who love sweets, how about a sightseeing tour of Hyogo called a sweets tour?
The castle, the largest of its kind in Japan, has eight buildings designated as National Treasures, including the castle tower, and 74 other buildings designated as Important Cultural Properties. It was also registered as a World Cultural Heritage in 1993. The castle is characterized by its linked towers and beautiful white plaster exterior walls, and is a valuable source of information on castles...»
Kinosaki Onsen has a long history, dating back to before the Heian period (794-1185), and the elegant scenery and people enjoying the baths in yukata make it seem like a time slip back to old Japan. Surrounded by the Maruyama River to the east and mountains to the rear on three sides, the hot spring resort is built along the Otani River in the shape of the letter "K". The three-story wooden inns...»
Hanging above the world-famous Uzushio, this suspension bridge connects the narrowest part of the Naruto Straits between Awaji Island and Tokushima Prefecture. The bridge is 1,629 meters long, with a center span of 876 meters, a width of 25 meters, and a height of 144.3 meters at the main tower, and was completed over a period of nine years. The bridge is illuminated during the Awaodori dance fe...»
This hot spring boasts a 1300-year history and appears in Sei Shonagon's Pillow Book (circa 1000). Together with Dogo Onsen and Shirahama Onsen, Arima Onsen is known as one of the "Three Oldest Hot Springs in Japan. In the Muromachi period (1336-1573), it was called one of the "Three Famous Hot Springs" along with Kusatsu Onsen and Gero Onsen, and since the Edo period (1603-1868), it has been reg...»
This theme park combines a safari park and an amusement park. There is a drive-through safari where you can go around in your own car, a walking safari where you can see the animals on foot, and a sky safari where you can view the animals while enjoying the view from the sky from a ropeway. Visitors can also interact with dogs and small animals at Childs Farm. In summer, visitors can enjoy a swim...»
Kitano-machi is located on a hilltop at the top of Toa Road, overlooking the harbor.The area is famous for its ijinkan (foreign residences), and many boutiques and restaurants operate out of them. Kitano Town, with its glamorous atmosphere, has a long history, beginning with the construction of Kitano Shrine by Taira no Kiyomori, who modeled it after the Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto. Ijinkan-...»
Takeda Castle is a Japanese mountain castle that once existed in Takeda, Wadayama-cho, Asago City, Hyogo Prefecture. From the ruins of the castle, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the sea of clouds. It is also known as "Torafusujo" (lying-in-the-tiger castle) because of the way the castle's layout looks like a lying-in-the-tiger. Takeda Castle is designated as a national historic site, and ...»
The ropeway offers an elegant 10-minute walk in the air while enjoying the view of Kobe. From the wide windows of the ropeway, you can also see famous landmarks such as "Nunobiki Falls" and the "Gohonmatsu Weir," an important cultural asset. The ropeway is popularly known as the "Dream Balloon. Its total length (incline length) is 1,460 meters, and the difference in elevation is 330 meters. Once ...»
Visitors can enjoy exciting dolphin and sea lion shows, Steller's sea lion diving, penguin walks, and other realistic shows. There are also attractions that make you feel as if you are under the sea, and the "Dive" interactive facility where you can interact with dolphins and other sea creatures. In the fishing zone, visitors can catch horse mackerels and taste them as tempura on the spot. Visit...»
Akashi specialty "Akashi baking" uses egg and soup stock soup much. The firmness of the clothes which baked soft plumply and the octopus made KORI soaks in soup stock and eats by the feature. It's also called "omelet" at localness, and it's said that "Akashi baking" is roots of an octopus pancake from Osaka....»
Located on the maritime city of Rokko Island, the museum is the hub of the fashion city of Kobe, and focuses on fashion, food, clothing, and housing. The exterior of the museum has a novel design reminiscent of a UFO. The interior consists of four levels, with a total floor space of 17,000m2, making it a large-scale facility. The museum exhibits costumes and textiles from the past, present, and ...»
There are two areas, "Green Hill" and "England," where visitors can enjoy cooking, farming, and interacting with the animals, of which the craftsmen are very proud. In the "Green Hill" area, there is a "Koala Pavilion," where visitors are greeted by eight koalas. Other animals such as wallabies, emus, prairie dogs, and many more await your encounter. Visitors can also interact with rabbits and gu...»
Located on a hilly area at the foot of Mt. Gobozan, this urban park is surrounded by lush green forests and overflowing with nature. The park is dotted with large and small ponds and hills, and visitors can enjoy the natural scenery. The rose garden and garden of the four seasons are particularly attractive: the 1.5-hectare rose garden has a fountain in the center, where visitors can enjoy variou...»
The museum introduces the changes in the city of Kobe and the history and future of the sea, ships, and port in an easy-to-understand manner through the use of documents, models, videos, and graphics. Also on display is Kawasaki World, a corporate museum by the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group, which has walked the path of the Port of Kobe since its opening. Located in Meriken Park, this comprehen...»
Kawasaki Good Times World, located within the Kobe Maritime Museum, is a corporate museum of the Kawasaki Heavy Industries Group. Here, a variety of machines, including motorcycles from past generations, are on display. In particular, visitors to the motorcycle exhibit can actually touch and straddle the machines. There is also a simulator that allows visitors 140 cm or taller to enjoy a simulated...»
Meriken Park, built by reclaiming the Meriken Wharf and Nakatottei, has facilities such as Kobe Port Tower, Kobe Maritime Museum, a hotel, and an observation deck. There are various ways to enjoy the park, and visitors can enjoy the unique atmosphere of the port city of Kobe. Meriken Park" and "Harborland" were created by reclaiming Meriken Wharf, a port for unloading foreign cargo built in the f...»
This is a park where a portion of the Meriken Wharf, a 60-meter quay damaged in the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, has been preserved and maintained as it was. The preserved quay wall has collapsed, showing the horror of the earthquake and the extent of the damage. The park displays models, videos, and photo panels showing the damage and restoration process of the Port of Kobe. Through these dis...»
At this fun toy theme park, visitors can enjoy popular rides such as go-karts, roller coasters, Ferris wheels, and merry-go-rounds. In addition, various events and popular character shows are held on holidays. In summer, the Acapulco leisure pool is open, so visitors can also enjoy playing in the water. The "toy" theme park offers visitors the opportunity to see, touch, and experience toys. Upon ...»
The Moegi-no-Yakata was built in 1903 as the residence of the U.S. Consul General. The two-story, clapboard structure features two differently shaped bay windows, a staircase with an arabesque pattern, and a massive mantelpiece. In addition, the second-floor veranda offers a spectacular view of the Kobe city center. Moenokan was designated as a National Important Cultural Property in 1980. The f...»
The Kobe Cruise Concerto is a cruising ship that satisfies all five senses. While enjoying gourmet food and music, passengers can enjoy the luxurious scenery of Kobe, including the Rokko mountains, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, and the sea at Kobe Airport. Kobe offers beautiful scenery of mountains, sea, and city respectively. The cityscape and mountains viewed from the sea have their own unique and ...»
It is a traditional Islamic temple and symbolizes the oriental atmosphere of Kobe as a cosmopolitan city.It has a distinctive four spires and dome with a crescent moon at its apex. Built in 1935 by Muslims living in Kobe, it has historical value as the first mosque in Japan.It has survived major disasters such as the Kobe Air Raid and the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, and continues to exist tod...»
Itami Sky Park is a vast park located on the west side of Osaka International Airport (Itami Airport). The entire park covers an area of 9 hectares and is close to the runway, allowing visitors to watch planes take off and land in a powerful way. Parks that allow visitors to see airplanes up close in this way are rare in Japan. As a result, families and aviation enthusiasts visit the park for spo...»
In the "Miniature World," world-famous architectural structures such as the Arc de Triomphe and the Great Wall of China are displayed at 1/25th the size, and are well worth seeing. In the "World of Remains," sculptures and ruins of ancient civilizations are on display. In the "Forest of Fairy Tales," eight scenes from fairy tales from around the world are on display. Visitors can also enjoy a tot...»
Sakura Masamune Kinenkan "Sakura Banquet" is located in the center of Nada-Gogo, and was established to convey to future generations the identity of the origin of Masamune sake after overcoming the ordeal of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. It includes a restaurant, exhibition room, gallery, store, and café. At the Sakura Banquet sake brewery dining room, a special dish unique to the brewery, ...»
This is a complex facility where visitors can enjoy dining, entertainment, gourmet food and leisure activities. Within the facility is the Uzushio Science Museum. There, you can encounter the mystery and excitement of Uzushio. There are exhibits on the history of the Onaruto Bridge, powerful images, and the science of Uzushio. There is also an observatory restaurant on the upper floor where you c...»
Snappers caught in Akashi, which are fat, firm and tasty, are one of the high-grade snappers in Japan. Taimeshi is the best of the specialty dishes using the snappers which are considered to bring good luck. It is cooked with grilled head and flesh put them on rice along with ginger and kobu, and cooked slowly. Using the head and bones with rice gives more flavor into the rice. You will surely enj...»
Boar hunting is pretty active in Tanbasayama area in Hyogo Prefecture from the early winter. Hunters go into the mountains after dawn, and come back to the town with their games. Botannabe is the typical dish among boar meat cuisines. It was named after the way sliced boar meats placed on a plate looked like flower called botan. It is a hot pot with sliced boar meat, hakusai, carrots, gobou and mu...»
“Bokkake” is a local homemade dish of stewed cow line meats and konnyaku flavored sweet and salty in the Kobe district. Bokkake can be eaten with booze, and sometimes eaten on top of udon noodles. Bokkake Yakisoba is a dish of fried noodles mixed with bokkake, and the combination of flavored tender meats, konnyaku and the sauce is well harmonized. It also has a good reputation for its rich collage...»
“Bokkake Udon” is a popular local udon noodle dish topped with stewed cow line meats and konnyaku called“bokkake”and green onions. It is said that the name came after the way it is made “bukkakeru (pouring).”The combination of the crunchy beef lines and chewy udon noodles is well suited with light flavored Kansai udon noodles. The dashi (stock) of the soup differs depending on a restaurant, so the...»
A specialty of a city of salt called Banshuakou, Ako Shio Ramen. Salt Ramen was created for the revitalization of the community, and was promoted by eight different ramen shops. Each serves its unique salt ramen, and one of the best Ako Ramen should be the one "Ichimaru" serves. Though the soup is crystal-clear, it has a rich flavor in it. The soup is made of chicken broth mixed with dried shrimps...»