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.

Mitsui Outlet Park Marine Pia Kobe stands in a great location with views of Kobe’s sea and sky. It’s more than a simple shopping center; this facility complex offers the fun of an extraordinary resort experience that makes the most of the seaside scenery.

The indoor mall hosts a number of famous brand stores from Japan and overseas, and you can buy a wide range of items at outlet prices—everything from fashion to miscellaneous goods and sports supplies. It offers the excellent advantage of leisurely shopping even when the weather is bad.

The vast grounds provide an abundance of outdoor leisure. They are full of places where you can make the most of the outlet park’s seaside resort-like mood, including a lagoon area where you can experience kayaking and Hobies, and the KOBE Food Resort Zone where you can enjoy a BBQ without having to bring anything! The large, covered plaza, where you can watch live performances and movies, also hosts a wide variety of events.

Don’t miss the food court, where you can savor a meal while looking out at the scenery of Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, or the food marche where you’ll find an assembly of local tasty treats. From shopping to leisure to gourmet, this facility certainly offers a day of non-stop entertainment!

This park where you can admire flowers through the four seasons was the venue of Awaji Hanahaku Japan Flora, held in 2000. It also hosts events throughout the year—the flower beds made up of interweaving bulb plants are particularly impressive. Enjoy flowers in various settings, including large flower beds, border flower beds along the park paths, and a walking trail where rare flowers bloom.

Nijigen no Mori, in Hyogo Prefectural Awajishima Park, is a unique theme park where you can experience a world of anime and games with all your senses.

Attractions based on popular works are dotted around a vast natural landscape: become the protagonist of the story and walk around the area!

It’s free to enter the park, but you’ll need paid tickets for each attraction you want to use.

Take on athletic challenges as a ninja in the Shinobizato that recreates the world view of NARUTO and BORUTO, or experience a realistic RPG as an adventurer on Dragon Quest Island, the setting for the world of Dragon Quest.

Nijigen no Mori also hosts limited-time collaborations with popular works, making it an irresistible place for anime fans!

At night, the park is illuminated and enriched by projection mapping, creating a fantastical space different to the daytime.

There are also plenty of limited goods only available here, as well as character goods!

Why not make some wonderful memories of a full day out with your family, friends, or as a couple?

Awaji Hanasajiki is a prefectural park located on the hills of the northern part of Awaji Island, a gently sloping highland that faces the sea.

This park is characterized by vast flower fields spread over approximately 15 hectares, with sweeping views of the Akashi Strait and Osaka Bay, and here you can enjoy the stunning scenery of a “carpet of flowers.” The name “hana sajiki” literally means “flower gallery,” reflecting its status as one of the finest viewing spots; here, flowers bloom through the four seasons and captivate visitors. It also has the great advantage of being free to enter.

The seasonal flowers charm visitors: field mustard and poppies in the spring, spider flowers and sunflowers in the summer, cosmos in the fall, and stock in winter.

The cafe-restaurant Galleri, named for the Danish word for “gallery,” is an eatery where you can savor food as you gaze at the wonderful view of the flower fields. You can look out over a great panorama made up of seasonal flowers, the Akashi Strait, and Osaka Bay from inside the glass-sided building or from a seat on the terrace. Enjoy a light meal and drinks menu, including souffle pancakes and smørrebrød, a type of open sandwich from northern Europe.

The farmers’ market on the first floor of Hanasajiki Terasu-kan sells local agricultural produce, including Awaji Island’s specialty onions, marine products, and souvenirs. It’s a perfect place to search for memories and souvenirs of your trip! Make sure you have a taste of their delicious soft serve ice cream, too.

Standing in a location with sweeping views of the beautiful Harimanada Sea and its sunsets, this facility offers creative cuisine made using local Awaji Island ingredients and a place where visitors can enjoy the world of Hello Kitty.

In this mysterious under-water world presented by Hello Kitty dressed as Otohime, the daughter of the dragon god, you can enjoy media art that really could have come from Ryugu Castle and meals made with ingredients from Awaji Island.

This greenhouse boasts world-class beauty and is one of the best and largest in Japan. Based on the theme of “the coexistence of nature and people,” its eight exhibition rooms each house unique sensory displays that focus on plant shapes, colors, and scents.

This is a facility that shares information about fragrances—inside, you’ll find a huge greenhouse where around 100 different herbs grow, and the Large Farm where you can have a go at picking flowers.

The Pavilion houses an area with fragrance displays, through which you can learn about the history of scents, and you can enjoy hand-making fragrant herbariums, gel candles, perfumes and more in the potpourri room.

You can also enjoy a lunch buffet featuring dishes made with locally grown Awaji Island vegetables, as well as a natural hot spring infused with the scent of herbs.