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. Kobe City / Akashi City / Tajima Area / Tanba Area / Awaji Area Kobe City [Kobe Beef] Made from Tajima cows, Kobe Beef has surprising tenderness, fine marbling and rich flavor. Its tenderness and delicious taste are highly appreciated both in and abroad. This world famous beef is excellent as steak, shabushabu and sukiyaki. Please ask more information on the Kobe beef restaurants Kobe Meat distribution Promotion Conference TEL:078-333-6004 [Japanese Sake] Japanese Sake is a type of rice wine. Delicious chilled, the sake's flavor is further enhanced by heating and drinking it hot in winter. Breweries in Nada, Kobe are the best in Japan. This is because Nada has easy access to good rice, water and geographical advantages. There are many different brands, both sweet and dry Sake are created in this area. The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum TEL:078-822-8907 Kikumasamune Sake Museum TEL:078-584-1029 Sawanotsuru Sake Museum TEL:078-882-7788 [Confectionery] The techniques of Western style confectionery were introduced by foreign cooks moving into Kobe after the opening of the Port of Kobe. These techniques have passed unchanged to the present.  The confectionery industry is firmly established in Kobe which is sometimes said the best place in the nation to purchase cakes and pastry of high quality. Kashi's Patrie Kobe TEL:078-393-0222 a la campagne TEL:078-322-0130 Henri charpentier TEL:0797-31-2753 [Bread] Because of its long history of foreign influence, Kobe has become well known for its many bakeries especially in the central Sannomiya area and exclusive residential districts such as Ashiya. Nationwide famous bakeries are gathered in these area, mainly baking Germany and French type bread. Froindo TEL:078-222-0700 Bigot no mise TEL:0797-22-5137 Isuzu Bakery TEL:078-241-1480 [Chinese food] After the opening of its port, a great number of Chinese restaurants naturally came into existence throughout the city of Kobe, known for its large Chinese population. In Kobe there is a China town called Nankin Machi, which is one of three biggest China town in Japan. Accordingly, Kobe is famous for its concentration of Chinese restaurants and needless to say competition among the restaurants allows for delicious Chinese dining not only in Nankin Machi but also anywhere in the city.  High on the priority list include Shanghai cuisine, Cantonese cuisine, as well as Yum Cha(Dim Sum). For the detailed information on Nankin Machi, please contact Nankin Machi shopping arcade promotion secretariat (Nankin Machi Syotengai Shinko Jimukyoku) TEL:078-332-2896 The Top of This Page Akashi City [Akashi-Yaki] The well-known Akashi dish, Akashi-yaki. A small piece of octopus is put inside a ball- shaped mold containing a mixture of flour and eggs to be fried. Akashi-Yaki is eaten by dipping in a thin soup.  Akashi-yaki is sold from no less than 120 eateries and vendors around Akashi City. Okonomiyakidojo TEL:078-911-8084 Syochiku TEL:078-912-0091 Kodama TEL:078-913-0160 [Conger] Conger, living in the sands of the Inland Sea, is said the best in Japan for long time. It has a superb taste and served as Sushi, Tempra, broiled conger and steamed conger. After the inside of the fish cleaned, it is cooked. Hayaki (Broiled conger, Take away only) TEL:078-911-2853 Daizen (Broiled conger, Take away only) TEL:078-911-2853 [Octopus] Octopus raised in the fast currents of the Akashi Straits has firm meat and excellent taste. Takozukushi is the full course meal of Octopus. It offers Sashimi, tempura, tako-meshi(rice boiled with octopus meat) and many other dishes tempt visitors to the area. Akashiya TEL:078-911-2551 The Top of This Page Tajima Area [Matsuba Crab] The nuber of one winter delicacy from the waters of the Japan Sea is Matsuba Crab. It is indispensable dish in Tajima in winter.  It can be cooked sukiyaki Style, seasoned with a vinegar-flavored sauce, served as sushi or enjoyed in countless other ways such as grilled crab and crab entrails, a full-course meal can be created from this versatile animal. As almost all of the Ryokans and Hotels in Tajima District offers Matsuba Crab winter, please contact following association; Toyooka City Port Toursim Association TEL:0796-28-3244 Kinosaki Onsen Ryokan Cooporative Society TEL:0796-28-3244 Kasumi Town Tourism Association TEL:0796-36-1234 [Izushi Soba] Made from powdered buckwheat, Izushisoba is a type of noodle unique to Japan, and usually eaten by dipping in sweet soy sauce mixed with a raw quail egg.  Izushi soba noodles are traditionally served on small plate. There are about 50 Izushi Soba restaurant in Izushi town, so for more information, please contact; Izushi Town Tourism Information Center TEL:0796-52-4806 The Top of This Page Tanba Area [Botan Nabe] Botan-Nabe can be tasted mainly in south part of the prefecture from November to March. It is a stewpot dish of wild boar meat cooked in miso stock. The thin slices of wild boar meat are beautifully arranged on a large platter in the shape a peony flower or botan. The nabe is the pot which it's cooked - thus the name botan -nabe. Please Contact: Sasayama City Commerce, Industry and Tourism Section TEL:079-552-1111 The Top of This Page Awaji Area [Pike Conger (Hamo)] Hamo is mainly fished in summer. As it has small and hard bones, skilled boning technique determines the taste of the dish. Hamosuki, boiled hamo, sashimi, and broiled hamo all offer excellent taste. Please contact: Nandan Town Toursim Association TEL:0799-55-233 [Horakuyaki] "Horakuyaki"is a rustic type of cuisine featureing sea bream, shrimp and wreath shells all grillled together over hot rocks or an earthen pan. All the seafood is taken right from the waters off Awaji island and the freshness you will taste from this special dish is perfectly pure as if the ocean itself was offered to you on a platter!! For detail information on Horakuyaki, please contact: Seidan Town Tourism Association TEL:0799-36-4079 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: