You will receive a free quarterly E-mail Newsletter! Ryokan & Restaurants in Hyogo which are English-friendly. Guided Tours Available by volunteers in Hyogo Translation Service is also available. ~Castles & Castle Towns~ Castles & Castle Towns [ Sample Itinerary ] Himeji Castle(Harima) / Akashi Castle(Harima) / Ako Castle(Harima) Tatsuno Castle(Harima) / Takeda Castle Ruins(Tajima) / Izushi Castle(Tajima) Sasayama Castle(Tanba) / Sumoto Castle(Awaji) IZUSHI CASTLE RUINS are famous as a popular cherry blossom viewing spot and also for IZUSHI SOBA, buckwheat noodles and NOODLE MAKING. IZUSHI Town has prospered as a castle town and is called the Sho-Kyoto (Little Kyoto) of Tajima, a town where you can still find traditional scenes once seen in the ancient city of Kyoto. The specialty here is buckwheat noodles, called Izushi soba, and there are about 50 soba restaurants in this town. A Soba Speed Eating Contest is held in April during the cherry blossom festival. From Kobe to Izushi (by Public Tranportation) Sannomiya Station – about 3 hours by JR(2.5hours by Ltd.Exp. "Hamakaze") – Toyooka Station – 30 minutes by bus – Izushi Eigyosho (Bus stop) (by Car) Kobe – 3 hours by car – Izushi Izushi Eigyosho (Bus stop) on foot Izushi Soba Restaurant and Soba Making Class Izushi soba, buckwheat noodles, is a local specialty. The noodles are served in tiny Izushi ware dishes with sweet soy sauce from an Izushi ware sake flask. There are about 50 soba restaurants in Izushi, and at some restaurants you can try to make your own soba and can eat the soba you make *Restaurants where you can try your hand at soba making. *Reservation necessary Ikkaku TEL:0796-52-6655 http://www.ryokou-net.co.jp/izushi/ikkaku/ikkaku.htm Morino-yakata TEL:0796-52-2248 http://www.inaker.or.jp/~sarasoba/ Sekijyoukaku TEL:0796-52-4336 http://www.izushi.jp/sarasoba/sekijyoukaku.htm on foot Shinkoro Tower TEL:0796-52-4806 (Izushi-cho Kanko-kyokai, Information center) ShinkoRo Tower, standing on the remains of the castle main gate, is a symbol of Izushi and a large clock was placed in it after the Meiji Era and has since been cherished as a Japanese-style clock tower. 7 minutes on foot Izushi Castle TEL:0796-52-4806 (Izushi-cho Kanko-kyokai, Information center) Izushi Castle was constructed in 1964. There is also a shrine on the premises. The contrast between the 37 very bright red torii, gateways at the entrance to the shrine and the castle is beautiful. The place is popular for cherry blossom viewing in spring. 4 minutes on foot Karo Yashiki (the former residence of a feudal lord) TEL:0796-52-5456 High-ranking warriors once lived in this house with white earthen walls. Although it looks like a one-storied house, it has a hidden second floor in case of raids. It displays various Daimyo-gyoretsu (the feudal lord’s processions), and the official travel records of the feudal lord to Edo from the 17 to 19 centuries. Open: 9:30-17:00 (Closed :from December 28 to January 4 ) Admission: ¥100 10 minutes on foot Sake Brewery TEL:0796-52-2222 (Izushi Shuzo, Sake Brewing, Corporation) The red earthen walls of this old brewery create a rich atmosphere. The color of the walls is said to change subtly in each season. Concerts are held at the brewery, and you can also buy locally brewed sake. 5 minutes on foot Sukyoji Temple TEL:0796-52-2333 Takuan, a Buddhist priest said to be the teacher of Musashi Miyamoto, a famous swordsman, restored the devastated temple in 1616. The garden made by Takuan is designated as a cultural asset, and is certainly a worthwhile visit. Open: 8:00-16:30 Admission: ¥200 15minutes on foot Izushi Eigyosho (Bus stop) The Top of This Page Hyogo Tourism Association Hyogo Prefectural Government Bldg. No.1,5-10-1 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan Postal Code:650-8567 Tel:078-361-7661 Fax:078-361-7662 e-mail: