Visit HYOGO

This famous castle is representative of Japan, being the country’s first registered UNESCO World Heritage site together with Horyuji Temple in Nara. Its beautiful white walls have given it the nickname “white heron castle,” and visitors are captivated by its elegant shape, resembling a heron spreading its wings. This castle boasts around 400 years of history, and has been passed down to us today in its original form as a castle that escaped the fires and ravages of war.

Its ingenious design to prevent enemy invasion is one reason for its fame. The castle’s clever tricks, such as its complex, maze-like pathways and steep steps, excite each time you step inside. We also recommend looking for the kokuin, the carved seals of the stonemasons engraved all over the stone walls. The top floor of the keep offers a superb 360-degree panoramic view! Enjoy picturesque scenery as you look out over the castle town and the distant mountains.

Himeji Castle’s countenance differs in each season. In the spring, the blooming cherry blossoms create a contrast between the white keep and the pink flowers, with particularly breathtaking beauty. Plus, you mustn’t miss the castle when it is lit up at night in white, bringing out the white plaster, and in seasonal colors.

Koko-en garden is located on the former site of the Nishi-oyashiki, the western residences of World Heritage Site Himeji Castle. It is a Japanese stroll garden that incorporates the sight of Himeji Castle in its vista. Koko-en was opened in 1992, and nine tasteful gardens stretch across its wide area, created in the style of the Edo period (1603–1868).

The Oyashiki no Niwa (Garden of the Lord’s Residence) in the center of Kokoen offers dynamic scenery with a waterfall, pond, and small river. The graceful koi carp in the pond and the seasonal flowers draw the eye with their bright color. The Nagare no Hiraniwa (Flatly Landscaped Garden) lies in the midst of a bamboo grove; here, you can spend a special time in the Souju-an Teahouse, with the comforting sound of clear water. Savor matcha green tea and confections with a moment of relaxation. There’s also a number of other elaborately designed gardens, such as the Nae no Niwa (Seedling Garden) where lots of different flowers bloom in each season, that captivate visitors.

Koko-en Garden displays different scenery throughout the year, with cherry blossoms in the spring, fresh greenery in the early summer, crimson leaves in the fall, and snowscapes in the winter. The vividly colored leaves illuminated in the fall are a particular highlight, standing out against the darkness of the night with breathtaking beauty. Why not spend some time in these picturesque gardens, filled with a feeling of history, and experience the four seasons of Japan?

Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum is located in Nadagogo, an area known for producing Japanese sake. The brewery, built in the early Taisho period (1912–1926) and in operation until 1969, remains unchanged and is now used as a museum. The greatest attraction of this museum isn’t just learning about its history, it’s experiencing the traces of sake-brewing with all your senses.

Inside you’ll find real reproductions of traditional sake-making processes with life-sized figures and equipment. Experience rice-steaming, malt (koji) cultivation, and the preparation of the fermenting mass (moromi) in huge barrels as if you are actually present during these steps. The Projection Mapping Theater, which presents sake-making over the four seasons, enables visitors to get a profound sense of the charms of Japanese sake through highly realistic visual effects.

After looking around, head to the fun sake-tasting area. Here, the museum offers free tasting of seasonal limited drinks, as well as a paid tasting machine that enables you to try high-class sake. The nearby shop sells not only sake but also an array of appealing products such as confections made with sake lees and the brewery’s sweet sake ice cream. Tax-free transactions are available for foreign tourists, making these products perfect as a souvenir of your trip.

Kiku-Masamune is a refined sake, and this is a museum of Kiku-Masamune sake-making located on the site of its maker’s brewery. It is an important location, where the history and tradition of 350 years of sake brewing are passed on to the present day. Entry is free, making it easy to drop in when sightseeing around Kobe.

The Sake Brewing Exhibit Room displays rows of Nada sake-making equipment that was once in actual use, all of which is designated as important tangible folk cultural property by the government. Experience the historic way of making Japanese sake for yourself through traditional equipment, including huge sake barrels and koshiki tubs used to steam rice.

After looking around, head to the area where you can try various types of Kiku-Masamune sake, including pure, unblended sake. Their well-loved Sake Brewery Soft Ice Cream is so popular that it sells out! In the adjacent shop, you’ll find a plentiful array of limited products from this classic brand that you can only enjoy here. There’s even sakamanju (steamed buns) made using junmai ginjo sake—perfect for souvenirs.

Kobe Shushinkan is well-known as the original brewer of the refined sake “Fukuju,” and this brewery stands in a corner of Nadagogo. It is made up of four buildings, including a brewery, and visitors to this facility complex that shares the traditions and culture of sake-brewing can experience the charms of Japanese sake and warm hospitality.

In the Fukujugura, where sake is made, you can learn about the processes of sake-brewing through images and window glass free of charge in a way that is easy to understand. The Tomyogura next door houses the brand’s shop, where you can taste and buy all kinds of Fukuju products, including limited drinks that can only be tried here. You can also enjoy confections such as specially made soft-serve ice cream and sweet treats made using sake lees, making this perfect for selecting a souvenir.

Enjoy an exquisite traditional multicourse “kaiseki” dinner, made using local ingredients and home-made tofu, in the brewery ryotei restaurant Sakabayashi (Suimeigura). The seasonal ingredients and pairings with Japanese sake offer extraordinary flavors. Shushinkan Hall (Homeigura), once used as a brewery, is now a multi-purpose hall characterized by unique acoustics and the wonderful warmth of wood. Events such as Rakugo (a form of Japanese verbal comedy) and concerts are held here, so you can spend time combining tradition and performance.

Kobe Shushinkan offers a rich visit during which you can experience the traditions of sake-brewing and savor delicious sake and cuisine. We recommend it not only for lovers of Japanese sake, but even for people who are not so fond of alcohol.

Rokko Garden Terrace lies near the summit of Mt. Rokko, approximately 30 minutes by car from the urban area of Kobe City. You can enjoy great scenery, gourmet food, and shopping in this area at an elevation of 880 meters.

Its greatest attraction is the extraordinary panoramic view, looking over the streets of Kobe, the Akashi Strait, and even Osaka Bay and Kansai International Airport. Mt. Rokko’s night scenery is known as a “10-million-dollar night view”—make the most of the fantastical vista, seemingly studded with jewels.

The terrace itself is dotted with wonderfully individual shops and restaurants, and you can savor grilled dishes made with local ingredients and Mt. Rokko’s specialty “Jingisukan” dish made with mutton and vegetables here. We recommend relaxing at a cafe and listening to the sounds of nature and plants fluttering in the wind.

Rokko-Shidare Observatory, the symbol of Rokko Garden Terrace, is a unique work of art made of a cypress frame. It was designed so that people could experience the natural world of Mt. Rokko with all their senses, and you can see it covered with frost in the winter. It is illuminated at night, creating a fantastical space. Another must-see is the Shidare Museum, an experience-based artwork, which can be enjoyed by adults and children alike.

The English Garden on the Terrace is a British-style garden with a lovely natural ambiance. Many different flowers bloom in each season—tulips in the spring, hydrangeas in the summer, silver grass in the fall, and violas in the winter—so you can enjoy beautiful scenery in each of the four seasons. It is cold in the winter, so make sure you wear warm clothing.

Arima Onsen lies at the base of the northern side of Mount Rokko. It is one of Japan’s three ancient hot springs, as well as one of Japan’s three great hot springs. It is well-known that Arima Onsen was loved by Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a famous samurai of the 16th century, and this hot spring resort is still filled with a historic atmosphere. You can enjoy touring the hot springs here—visit the two public baths and five hot spring sources, and you’ll also find plenty of accommodation facilities that offer bathing for people on day trips.

Sasayama Castle was constructed as a nationwide public work in 1609, in accordance with orders given by military leader Tokugawa Ieyasu for the compulsory labor of 20 feudal lords from 15 provinces. Ikeda Terumasa was appointed as the official responsible for the construction, with Todo Takatora responsible for the territory, and Matsudaira Yasushige, Ieyasu’s illegitimate child, served as the castle lord, protecting this strategic location connecting Kyoto to the San'in and Sanyo regions.

People have known about these hot springs since the Heian period (794–1185), giving them a history of 1,300 years.
Kinosaki Onsen, together with Arima Onsen and Yumura Onsen, are the representative hot springs of Hyogo Prefecture.
Staying in a traditional ryokan inn in this hot spring resort enables you to visit the open-air baths free of charge. You can enjoy strolling the streets in a yukata (an informal kimono) here.

Genbudo Park in Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture is a special place designated as a national Natural Monument.

Visitors are captivated by its magnificent landscape, formed around 1.6 million years ago by volcanic activity.

Its greatest appeal is the overwhelmingly impactful columnar jointing.

Formed when magma cooled and hardened, the regular hexagonal columns stretch out in an innumerable row: truly art shaped by nature.

Within the park, the Genbudo (basalt) Cave (the cave after which the park is named) stands out for its vastness and the beauty of the splendid columns spread along the inside. Stand before them and you’ll certainly feel the power of the Earth for yourself.

In addition to the Genbudo Cave, there are four other caves in the park: Seiryudo Cave, with a mysterious blue-tinted rock surface, Byakkodo Cave, with white columns, and the impressive North and South Suzakudo Caves. New discoveries and inspirations await each time you explore them.

In the nearby Genbudo Museum, you can have fun learning about the story of the creation of Genbudo, globally important ores, and fossils. It also houses a restaurant, cafe, and souvenir corner, so make sure you drop in for a visit.

Why not experience a trip to cleanse your heart, away from the hustle and bustle of the everyday, where you can listen to the beat of the Earth?