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. Himeji Castle Area / Around Himeji City Around Himeji City [Japan Toy Museum] Japan Toy Museum, housed in 6 traditional white plastered warehouses, has a collection of 80,000 items, including Japanese folk toys and the toys sold at cheap sweet shops, as well as toys and dolls from 140 countries overseas. The size of its outstanding collection has made it one of the world’s unique museums. The museum includes a wide variety of toys like kites, hina dolls, nostalgic toys, and silk crafts. Special play corners allow visitors of all ages to enjoy both handling toys and playing with them. The museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00.  It is closed Wednesdays and from December 28 to January 2. Open everyday in spring and summer holidays. A ten-minute walk from Kouro Station on JR Bantan Line. TEL:079-232-4388 The Top of This Page [Shiota Hot Springs (SHIOTA ONSEN) Yumesaki-cho] Shiota Onsen has a quiet and homely atmosphere of an old hot spring resort with about 300 years history. It is blessed with abundant nature and the view of cherry blossoms is breathtaking if you visit in the spring. You can enjoy both woodland food and seafood, such as fresh water fish cuisine, boar stew, and fresh seafood from the Seto Inland Sea. It is conveniently located; 30 minutes by car from Himeji, 90 minutes by car both from Osaka and Kobe. The water is good for nerve pain, muscle ache, upset stomach and so on. Himeji City Yumesaki Office TEL:079-336-0001 The nearest station is JR Shiota Station. The Top of This Page [Harima Science Garden City] An international science garden city developed on a hill in the western Harima area with the theme "Harmony between man, nature and science," this area is being prepared as a major science center in the Kansai area. The site has research / educational organizations, public facilities, etc., to create for the future, including the world's highest-level, large-scale radial light facility, 'SPring-8', Prefectural Advanced Science / Technology Support Center with lodging facilities and restaurants, and Optopia (inside Optical City Plaza) which presents the city in models and images. Scientists visit the city from around the world. The Top of This Page [Optopia / Optical City Plaza] Hours: 10:00-16:30 Open everyday (Closed Dec.28 - Jan.4) Admission: free TEL:0791-58-1155 (Optopia in Optical City Plaza) 25 minute ride from JR Aioi Station by bus. 60 minute ride from JR or Sanyo Himeji Stations by bus. 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: