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 t...»
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 sprin...»
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, an...»
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 Spr...»
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. Visitor...»
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 Kit...»
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 l...»
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 ...»
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. ...»
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 fr...»
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, makin...»