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. Sannnomiya/Motomachi Area / Kobe City Port Area / Mt.Rokko/Mt.Maya Area / East Kobe Area / Hyogo/Nagata Area / Suma/Maiko Area / West Kobe Area / North Kobe Area East Kobe Area [The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution]   A great earthquake devastated the southern part of Hyogo prefecture including Awaji island on 17 of January, 1995.  8 years later, newly-rebuilt houses line the streets and at first sight there seems to be no trace of the damage the earthquake caused.  But in reality, uncountable cracks still remain in both the buildings and in people’s minds.  No less than 6,400 people lost their lives in the quake, so a large number of citizens continue to live a painful life, missing their loved ones. The museum introduced here, a crystal of glass floating on water flowing around a large pool, has unique architecture that attracts visitors' attention and embodies the spirit of the invaluable experiences of the citizens.  This museum was designed to help visitors realize the force of nature in a facility that realistically reproduces the experience of the earthquake. Looking back on how we abused nature in the excessive pursuit of human advancement, it is possible to think of the quake as an invaluable lesson taught to us by nature.  When you humbly face nature, a feeling of awe arises from your heart and leads you to realize the preciousness of life. To make sure that the loss of life was not in vain, it is our mission to make this institution useful for the future.  It is not about the past, it is about the future. Anyone who visits this museum will surely learn some important lessons. Services available from volunteer guides in the following languages: English, Chinese,Korean and Spanish. A room can be arranged for groups of more than 20 members on request for a personal story of the quake told by one of the volunteers. Open 9:30 – 17:30 on weekdays except July to September. 9:30 – 18:00 on weekdays of July to September 9:30 – 19:00 on Friday and Saturday The last admission is 1 hour before closed. Closed Monday (when national holidays fall on Monday, closed the following Tuesday) and December 31 and January 1 Open everyday during "Golden Week."  (April 29 to May 5) Admission The Disaster Reduction Museum ¥500 for Adult. The Human Renovation Museum ¥500 for Adult. The Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation ¥800 for Adult A 10 minute walk south from JR Nada Station. A 8 minute walk south from Hanshin Iwaya Station. A 15 minute walk south from West Exit of Hankyu Oji Koen. TEL:078-262-5050 URL:http://www.dri.ne.jp/ (English) The Top of This Page [Hyogo Prefectural Museum Of Art] Built as a symbol of cultural restoration after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake and  designed by Tadao Ando, the Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Art is the largest art museum in western Japan. Address:1-1-1 Wakinohama-Kaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe Tel.:078-262-0901 Open:  10:00 - 18:00 (last entry 17:30) 10:00 - 20:00 on Friday and Saturday during special exhibitions (last entry: 19:30)  Closed:   Monday Admission:  Adult: ¥500, Senior High School/University Student: ¥400, Junior High/Elementary School Student: ¥250 *An additional fee is charged for special exhibitions Access: 8 minute walk from Hanshin Iwaya Station 10 minute walk from JR Nada Station South Exit 20 minute walk from Hankyu Ojikoen Station West Exit The Top of This Page [Kobe City Oji Zoo] Representing 200 varieties, approximately 1,000 animals are housed here, in addition to which facilities such as a Western-style residence (the former Hunter Sharp house) and a Zoological Science Museum can also be enjoyed giant pandas, brought to Japan for China-Japan joint care/breeding research, have been on public display since August 2000. 9:00 – 17:00 (16:30 Nov. through Feb.) Closed Wednesday (But open on national holidays.) ¥600 for Adult, ¥200 for Junior High School Student Elementary School Student and under for free TEL:078-861-5624 5 minute walk from JR Nada Station or Hankyu Oji-Koen Station. The Top of This Page [Sake Brewery Districts ] The Nada Gogo, the five sake-producing areas in Nada district, are sake brewery districts with 600 years of history. They are famous for "pure Nada sake." The districts start from Nishi-go in Kobe-city in the west, to Mikage-go, Uozaki-go, Nishinomiya-go in Nishinomiya City, followed by Imazu-go, with brewery museums located here and there. Nada Gogo Brewer Association URL: http://www.nadagogo.ne.jp/ The Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum Open 9:30 – 16:30 (Closed Mondays, Bon holidays, New Year holidays) Free of charge 5 minute walk from Hanshin Sumiyoshi Station. 15 minute walk from JR Sumiyoshi Station. Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. TEL:078-822-8907 / FAX:078-822-4891 The Top of This Page [Kobe Fashion Museum] Located in Rokko Island, this museum represents fashionable Kobe. World fashion and art exhibits can be appreciated in the permanent collection and rotating display rooms, etc. 11:00 – 18:00, closed Wed. ¥500 for Adult. TEL:078-858-0050 2 minute walk from Rokkoliner Island Center Station (open holidays, closed next day, open till 20:00 Fri.). 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: