Visit HYOGO

This flatland coastal castle was built over 13 years on the orders of Asano Naganao, the feudal lord. Its construction shows a keen awareness of war—the castle is characterized by a complex, winding moat and stone walls, and various gates standing at divergent angles. The Honmaru and Ninomaru Gardens were designated as a National Place of Scenic Beauty in 2002, and the castle grounds have become a public park.

Ako Oishi Jinja enshrines the 47 Ronin. This includes their leader Oishi Kuranosuke, the hero of “Chushingura,” the famous narrative based on their story. The remains of Oishi Kuranosuke’s residence can be found within Banshu-Ako Castle. On the shrine grounds, you’ll find the Oishi residence’s longhouse gate and garden, as well as the “Gishi Treasure House,” which exhibits armor, paintings and writings connected to the Ronin. The wooden statues of the Ronin, created by the best sculptor of the day, are also a must-see.

Oysters from Ako are large-bodied and plump, boasting a strong sweetness with little astringency. One of their other characteristics: they rarely shrink when heated.

These hot springs flow in an area that holds historic remains, including famous locations connected to the 47 Ronin such as Oishi Shrine and Ako Castle. In 2000, as the amount of spring water decreased, a new natural hot spring source was unearthed from 1,600 meters underground to supply hot water, and the area took the opportunity of the new supply to rename itself “Ako Onsen.” Here, you can enjoy leisure activities such as swimming in the sea and golf, as well as the scenery from the cape, with stunning views.

Did you know that there’s a place called the “castle in the sky” in Hyogo Prefecture?

In the early morning of a late autumn day, shrouded by a thick morning mist, the castle ruins on top of the 353-meter-high mountain appear as a solitary island floating in a sea of clouds. This magical vista that has captivated so many people has led to the castle being known as “the castle in the sky” and “the Machu Picchu of Japan.”

You’ll see this wondrous view from late September when the temperature is particularly low to early December. Fine, cold mornings offer the opportunity to discover the cloud sea. For the best way to appreciate the castle ruins floating in the clouds, we recommend viewing them from a place called Ritsuunkyo, located across the way.

However, Takeda Castle’s charms don’t stop with the cloud sea. It appears completely different in each season. In spring, cherry blossoms bloom along the stone walls, enabling you to enjoy the contrast between the powerful stone walls and the brilliant flowers. In summer, you can see the imposing castle ruins against the backdrop of a blue sky as the greenery flourishes. Then there’s winter. On snowy days, the castle transforms into a snowscape. The monochrome scenery possesses a calm, mysterious beauty different to every other season.

The Takeda Castle Ruins are full of a historical spirit that will make you feel as though you’ve slipped back in time. Simply standing by the stone walls, which have carried the castle’s original appearance down over 600 years to the present day, enables you to feel the weight of their history and magnificent spirit.

Whichever season you visit, you’re sure to find unforgettable views. Why not choose Takeda Castle Ruins as a destination on your next trip?

Kinosaki Marine World is more than just a place to see marine creatures!

Here, you can feel excitement that transcends an aquarium through experiences that you can enjoy with all your senses.

You can watch the dynamic swimming shows by the dolphins and sea lions with popcorn and drink in hand, as if you’re in a movie theater. There’s also an area where you can learn about the fascinating ecology and secrets of these creatures as you listen to audio guides created by their keepers.

The park includes plenty of exciting experiences for adults and children alike—for example, there’s the “fish dance,” which enables you to watch the surprising and previously unknown behavior of the marine creatures from up close, and the “rock world” where you can directly touch starfish and sea urchins.

Once you get hungry from having so much fun, head to a cafe or restaurant inside the facility. Here, you can savor gourmet foods that you can only taste here, including soft serve ice cream made with salt from Takeno Beach and juicy hamburgers made from 100% Tajima Cattle meat.

After a full day of fun, relax and sooth the tiredness of your travels in the park’s attached hotel, Hotel Kinparo. Staying here grants you the privilege of re-entering Kinosaki Marine World multiple times during your stay.

“What could be more than an aquarium?” The answer lies in lots of excitement and discoveries. Why not visit and make your own unique, special memories?

This hot spring resort lies along the Otani River, a tributary of the Maruyama River. It boasts 1,400 years of history, and one of its appeals is touring its outdoor baths such as Kono-yu and Mandara-yu (inexpensive public baths). Kinosaki Onsen was loved by the literati, and its name became known all over Japan as the setting of Shiga Naoya’s novel “At Kinosaki.” Kiyamachi Street, which opened in the summer of 2008, brings a touch of “traditional liveliness” to Kinosaki Onsen resort town, and consists of rows of charming stores offering healing, food, and souvenirs.

Amarube Railway Bridge was once the tallest in Japan, and supported the main JR San-in Line for around 100 years. It was replaced in 2010, but three of the bridge piers were preserved on the JR Amarube Station side to pass its history down to later generations. Then, in 2013, some of the tracks of the old bridge were put to use and transformed into the “Sky Station” on a platform 40 meters high.

This Sky Station looks out onto the vast Sea of Japan. You can also see the combination of the trains that travel over the new bridge and the sea. The railway tracks of the old bridge were used for the viewing platform, so you can touch the actual rails and sleepers! Feel the sea breezes as you try walking on a line that would normally be inaccessible.

The Amarube Crystal Tower glass-sided elevator is the most convenient way to access the viewing platform. An approximately 45-second trip through the air enables you to enjoy the view as you ascend and descend safely. At night, the crystal tower is illuminated by fantastical lighting. This has different colors depending on the season and events, so you can make the most of a romantic atmosphere that is somewhat different to the daylight. Lucky visitors get to see the rainbow illuminations!

In the park below the Sky Station, you’ll also find the home of Sora-chan, the tortoise station master of Sky Station, so why not have a peek inside?

The roadside station Michi-no-Eki Amarube also stands at the foot of the Sky Station. This offers a plentiful array of fresh, locally caught marine products and specialty goods, and you can savor dishes made using local ingredients in the restaurant. There are even very popular Sora-chan goods.
After enjoying the views, why not look for a reminder of your trip in the Michi-no-Eki?

Standing on the western edge of Kasumi-ku, this lighthouse lies in the Misaki area, famously mentioned in the legends of the Heike family of samurai from the 12th century.

The lighthouse alone is 14 meters tall, but the light source is 284 meters above the sea, making this one of the tallest locations in Japan.

The coast forms a cove here, creating a calm atmosphere. This is an ideal place to bring young children, with a pure white sandy beach and beautiful shallow sea.

You can also enjoy autocamping here.

These terraced fields in Nukita were chosen as one of Japan’s best 100 rice terraces.

The terraces, which skillfully make use of land prone to landslides, are one of the geosites in San’in Kaigan Geopark.

They are also one of the vistas symbolizing Ojiro-ku in Kami Town, a member of the “most beautiful villages in Japan” association.

Welcome to a forest of healing.

This botanical garden is characterized by its high humidity and position at 666 meters above sea level, at the upper limit for lowland plants, the lower limit for alpine plants, the northern limit for southern plants, and the southern limit for northern plants. More than 1000 species of plant flourish in this botanical garden that cherishes the natural environment in its optimal state. 

Visit to see pouring spring water—around 5,000 tons a day—and the tree that serves as its symbol, Wachi no Okatsura (huge Japanese Judas tree in Wachi), which is over 1,000 years old. This is a place where you might find yourself questioning the mystery of the source of life.

Make the most of a great natural world, unchanged since ancient times.