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. Akashi City / Miki City / Kakogawa City / Sidelight Akashi City [Akashi Municipal Planetarium] Located on the Hitomaru Hill, the Planetarium stands exactly on longitude 135 degrees east that determines Japanese Standard Time. Here you can enjoy a splendid view of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Seto Inland Sea. The Planetarium show lasts for about 50 minutes, 5 times a day. Open 9:30 – 17:00 Closed Monday and the second Tuesday of each month (when national holidays fall on those days, closed the following weekdays.) December 27 to January 4 ¥ 700 for Adult. A 3 minute walk from Sanyo Hitomaru-mae Station. A 15 minute walk from JR Akashi Station. TEL:078-919-5000 The Top of This Page [Uo-no-tana Fish Market] Uo-no-tana, that means shelves of fish, is a fish market famous nationwide. The market dates back to 380 years when the Akashi Castle was built to the north. The market stretches from east to west for 350 meters, being composed of around 115 shops. Fish sold is mainly caught in the Seto Inland Sea where the rapid current makes fish tasty. Sometimes octopuses slip out of their boxes and walk on the street. Akashi-yaki, dumpling containing boiled octopus, is also worth trying. Open about 8:00 – 18:00 Closed Thursday (some shops open everyday) A 3 minute walk from JR or Sanyo Akashi Station. TEl:078-911-9666 The Top of This Page [Akashi Park] The 550,000 square meters parkland are centered around the ruins of Akashi Castle. The park was selected as one of the 100 most beautiful cherry blossom spots in Japan. The red leaves in autumn are also splendid. A scenic view can also be enjoyed from the observatory. A 2 minute walk from JR of Sanyo Akashi Station. TEL:078-912-7600 The Top of This Page Miki City [Miki-yama Forest Park] An approximately 80ha forest spreads out over a terraced hill at 60-120m above sea level, with a mild open valley. Walking on an arranged 14km promenade, you will find azaleas, red pines and maples followed by a lawn with water amenities such as a pond and canal to enjoy the fresh air to your heart's content. The entire park itself seems like a picture book of trees. Also, the Forest Culture Museum has a glassed-in restaurant for viewing enjoyment while eating meals. You can enjoy a whole day here observing the natural greenery and sunlight in the park with fountains, field-athletic facilities, observation/rest deck, outdoor theater, teahouse, laboratories, etc. Open 9:00 – 21:00 (January 5 - December 27) Closed Wednesday Admission free A 10 minute bus ride from Kobe Dentetsu Ebisu Station or Miki Railway Miki station to Shinrin Koen-mae bus stop. TEL:0794-83-6100 The Top of This Page Kakogawa City [Kakurin-ji Temple] Kakurin-ji Temple is the most famous temple in Kakogawa City, containing national treasures and important cultural assets in its precincts. The Temple is said to have been built by Prince Shotoku Taishi who introduced Buddhism to Japan in the 7th century. Kakurin-ji Park is next to the Temple, displaying an old locomotive engine. Open 9:00 – 17:00 Admission ¥300 for Adult (in the precincts). ¥ 200 for Adult (Museum). ¥ 200 for Adult (allowed to enter the building). A 20 minute walk from JR Kakogawa Station TEL:0794-54-7053 The Top of This Page Sidelight [135° East Longitude Meridian] This was established as Japanese standard time in 1886 to be used nationwide as of January 1, 1888. Noon is determined when the sun arrives on the 135° east longitude meridian. The hour on this meridian is 9 hours earlier than that of the original meridian which crosses Greenwich Observatory in England. The meridian sign was remade several times after 1910, and was moved to the correct location in order to adjust the longitude of the original Japanese map point, and is due to the improvement in accuracy of astronomical observation. However, the present Akashi Municipal Planetarium was constructed on the 135° east longitude meridian determined by astronomical observation in 1951. The Top of This Page [Akashi-yaki] Toward the end of the Edo period (circa 1850), a turtle shell craftsman, Iwakichi Edoya, created a glossed ball called "Akashi-tama" that was used to substitute coral as an ornamental hairpin. It is said that while using a great amount of egg white to make these balls, he eventually came up with a way to utilize the left-over egg yolk for food, combining flour and octopus pieces with the yolk, which became what is called Akashi-yaki. Incidentally, this Akashi-yaki is called "tamago-yaki" among the locals. The Top of This Page [Cutlery Forged in Miki] Miki cutlery, originating in the Azuchi-Momoyama Era (1568-1603), had its foundation as a modern industry during the mid-Meiji Era (1868-1912) through the introduction of Western iron and steel. Primarily based on carpentry tools, Miki products are now oriented toward do-it-yourself and gardening goods while responding to demands for power tools and do-it-yourself supplies. Saws, planes, chisels, levers and knives from Miki were also designated as national traditional crafts by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry in 1996. 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: