Visit HYOGO

This is the major station for sightseeing in Kyoto, serving Shinkansen and limited express trains. It offers easy access to shrines, temples, and famous sites, and is used by large numbers of people as the starting point of a trip around the different areas of Kansai.

This place of scenic beauty is counted among Japan’s three most scenic views. You can see a panoramic vista of Amanohashidate, a sandbar that seems to continue to the heavens, from the observation deck—have your fill of this wonderful landscape created by nature.

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?

Sozoro aruki (the act of strolling around) and visiting the open-air baths are popular activities in this hot spring area. The wooden ryokan inns and willow trees lining the river create wonderful scenery, and the town bustles with large numbers of visitors throughout the four seasons.

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 facility was created as a base for efforts to reintroduce storks into the wild and save them from extinction. In its vast grounds, you can learn about the ecology of storks as you walk around the peaceful rural landscape.

Izushi is a quiet castle town in Toyooka City in Hyogo Prefecture.
The Izushi Castle Ruins, which are the symbol of the town, are the remains of a castle built the Koide family, who once ruled these lands.
This was a hirayamajiro, a castle built in a low area at the foot of a mountain, and its proximity to the town meant that the people of the town lived cooperatively with the castle lords, and the two prospered together.
An order given to abandon castles during the Meiji period (1868–1912) led to most of the building being demolished, but the nozurazumi walls, made by piling rough, natural stone without any processing, still retain their original appearance today. Plus, the watchtowers that stand at the corners of the castle and the entry gate and bridge used to access the castle have been reconstructed based on historic designs, so you can picture what the castle once looked like as you enjoy a leisurely walk around.
　
As you approach the castle ruins, you’ll first reach a flight of stone steps that evoke its history. Ascend these steps, and you’ll find the bright red torii gates of an Inari Shrine. The rows of vermillion torii, rising higher and higher, make for a spectacular sight. Through these torii, at the top of the steep steps, lies a magnificent view! You can look out over the castle town, built in the form of a grid, and its symbol, the Shinkoro Clock Tower that stands tall in the center, and enjoy beautiful scenery that combines history and elegance.

After taking a walk around the castle ruins, make sure you try the local specialty, Izushi sara soba noodles. This style involves soba noodles served on multiple small plates, and you can add condiments to each to your taste. As each eatery offers different combinations of soba and condiments, you can have fun trying the different options.

Izushi Castle Ruins appear different in each of the four seasons, with cherry blossoms in the spring, crimson leaves in the fall, and snowscapes in the winter. Why not take a leisurely walk around a town where you can feel the weight of history as you savor delicious food? It’ll surely make for a special and unforgettable day.