Visit HYOGO

This airport—an international hub—lies in Osaka Bay. It flies to major cities in Japan and overseas and offers easy access to Osaka and Kobe by rail and highway bus, making it a great starting point for sightseeing in Kansai.

Osaka Castle is a famous castle that is representative of Japan. This popular spot offers sweeping views of the streetscapes of Osaka City from the main tower—feel the romance of the Sengoku (warring states) period of the 15th and 16th centuries through historical materials and exhibits here.

This popular spot, representative of Kobe, allows visitors to enjoy both the beauty of nature and views of the city at once.

Take the ropeway that leaves from the Bottom Station, five minutes’ walk from Shin-Kobe Station, and start a comfortable 10-minute journey through the air to the Top Station. The glass-sided gondolas offer panoramic views of the streetscapes and port of Kobe, as well as the scenery of Nunobiki Falls, selected as one of Japan’s 100 best waterfalls.

The mountaintop stands at approximately 400 meters above sea level. Here, you’ll find one of Japan’s largest herb gardens, where around 75,000 herbs and flowers of about 200 species bloom through the four seasons in 12 themed gardens. One of the herb gardens’ greatest appeals is the different scenery created at different times of year, with tulips and roses in the spring, lavender and sunflowers in the summer, and cosmos in the fall.

You can also enjoy various experience programs in the herb gardens. Making items for everyday life and aromatic goods using seasonal herbs will leave you with a perfect memory of your trip! Plus, you can taste herbal cuisine and original teas in the restaurant, which offers fantastic views. We recommend sitting back and relaxing in the herbal footbath after taking a stroll.

This is a spot that you can visit as a couple or with family, as well as a place you can feel at ease if you are travelling alone.

This museum introduces the carpentry tools and skills that have come to support Japan’s traditional architecture. Learn about the beauty of the techniques created by people and wood through elaborate models and displays of authentic items.

Inside this facility that combines light, sound, scent, and living creatures is a “theatrical aquarium” that clearly differs from the conventional image of an aquarium. Take a step inside to find a fantastical space stretching out in the darkness.

átoa is divided into multiple zones, each with different themes. Each zone consists of a completely different world, such as “CAVE,” created in the image of a magical cave, “PLANETS,” a blend of light and water, and “MIYABI,” which creates a Japanese-style space. Encounter various living creatures as you walk around a stunning area that resembles a work of art, and enjoy a new sensory experience.

The appeal of átoa lies not only in its beautiful space but also in being able to see happy Asian small-clawed otters, capybaras, and Humboldt penguins up close. The information panels also introduce the ecology and charms of the creatures from átoa’s unique perspective, employing ingenuity so that adults and children can have fun learning. It also offers experience programs, such as feeding the giant tortoise, pirarucu, and koi carp, feeding time while listening to the keeper’s explanations (watching feeding), and a back yard tour where you can learn about what goes on behind-the-scenes at an aquarium.

When you’re walking around, we recommend the “Find and stick! Creature sticker note” that enables parents and children to talk with each other as they search for creatures and art, and the “stamp note” that resembles a foreign illustrated encyclopedia—you might find yourself wanting to put it on display. You’ll enjoy yourself even more if you write down information on the fish and animals as you walk around.

Don't miss the átoa cafe gourmet! The cute, eye-catching dishes, such as the sweet otter cuddle hot-dogs and potato fries, and churros in the shape of piranha and octopus legs, are definitely photo-worthy. You can also buy limited goods in the átoa LAB shop. Search for souvenirs of your trip for yourself and your friends.

Kobe Port Tower stands lofty in the port as the symbol of Kobe. Its shape, similar to a red taiko drum, has given it the nickname “steel tower beauty,” and it has been loved by the people for many years. It was opened in 1963, commemorating 90 years since the opening of the Port of Kobe, and its unique architecture was the first in the world to be created from pipes.

It underwent a large renovation in 2024, and was reborn with new, additional appeal. A rooftop deck was created at its apex, with sweeping views of Kobe’s streets and sea. Here, you can gaze out at a 360-degree panorama of Kobe’s glittering streetscapes, the vast Osaka Bay, and the magnificent Mt. Rokko from a height of 100 meters. You can enjoy not only open daytime views, but also seemingly bejeweled magical night scenery, making this a popular dating spot for couples.

Inside, the tower is packed with areas of interest, including the Brilliance Museum that exhibits works based on the theme of “light” and a cafe & bar where you can savor a meal together with the view. The fifth floor has plenty of photo spots—perfect for a snap with your family as a reminder.

Experience both the history and future of Kobe in Kobe Port Tower. Its changing façade in the daylight and night makes it different each time you visit, so you can come for multiple trips.

This disaster-prevention learning facility shares records and lessons learned from the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Experience the preciousness of life and the importance of disaster prevention for yourself through images and authentic materials.

This key station provides excellent access to the different parts of the city of Kobe. Close by, you’ll find an expansive shopping area and the scenery of a port town—this is your starting point for sightseeing and gourmet.

Uonotana Shopping Street is located around three minutes’ walk from Akashi Station, and is a well-loved shopping area affectionately known as Uontana by the locals. This approximately 350-meter arcade is home to around 110 stores, and fascinates visitors with its overflowing rows of fresh fish and shellfish, as well as Akashi’s unique specialty produce and seasonal seafood only available at certain times of year. We recommend buying the glinting, fresh marine produce for souvenirs! As they can be delivered using chilled delivery, you can enjoy shopping with peace of mind.

It's fun to just look around Uonotana, but the real thrill is definitely trying the different foods! There’s such a variety you’ll be at a loss as to what to choose—perhaps the sushi, rice dishes, or grilled seafood? If you’re heading to Akashi, one thing you must try is Akashiyaki, a kind of omelet, freshly cooked and fluffy. There are several eateries that are well-patronized by local people and tourists. The authentic Akashi style involves eating this with dashi stock. You should definitely have a taste!

After you’ve eaten your fill, try walking around the shopping street. The excitement continues with Akashi’s unique products: there are souvenir shops with popular goods based on Akashi City’s colorful, patterned manholes and octopuses, and sake stores that stock Akashi’s local sake. Enjoy a wonderful time as you mix with the local people. Then, as the sun sets, Uonotana’s appearance changes and the night begins. Relax and enjoy some sake with oden (a type of hotpot) or carefully savor sushi at a counter—there’s different ways of having fun for everyone. Make the most of a lively time here from morning until night.

This vast park was created with the remains of Akashi Castle, a nationally designated historic site, at its heart. The towers and stone walls retain their ancient forms, and the seasonal flowers and pathways for walks are loved by city residents and tourists alike.

This station offers convenient access to sightseeing locations such as Akashi Castle Park and Uonotana Shopping Street. It connects to both the Shinkansen and regular train lines, and is a very popular hub for sightseeing in the Harima area.

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?

This ancient temple of the Tendai School was built on top of Mt. Shosha, rising above Himeji City. As this is also a place of ascetic practice, like Mt. Hiei (a historically significant mountain on the border of Kyoto and Shiga prefectures), it is known as the Mount Hiei of the West. It was founded in 966 by Shoku-Shonin, a holy priest. It is well-known as the 27th temple of the 33-temple Saikoku Kannon Pilgrimage, and is visited by a large number of tourists and worshippers.

Head up the mountain on the Mt. Shosha Ropeway, and the first thing you’ll see is the Mani-den, a magnificent building with a stage-like structure. Built upon a precipitous cliff, it is reminiscent of Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto, and has an overwhelming presence. If you go inside, you’ll find a tranquil and solemn space with three sites of worship arranged in a U shape: the main Daiko-do, Jiki-do, and Jogyo-do.

The large temple grounds are dotted with nationally designated Important Cultural Properties and Cultural Properties designated by Hyogo Prefecture—you’ll need around an hour and a half or two hours to see all the highlights. Participate in a sutra-copying or zazen meditation experience and try vegetarian Buddhist shojin ryori cuisine; here, you can make the most of a precious experience to purify your mind and heart among history and nature.

This temple is also known as a location used in a number of movies, including the Last Samurai and Rurouni Kenshin. Why not spend a peaceful time in a space where history and nature intertwine?

Himeji Station stands in an ideal location: step outside and you can see Himeji Castle straight in front of you. It’s a stop on the Shinkansen line, making it easily accessible, and a starting point for you to walk around the castle town and see the sights in the area.

This area of scenic beauty is centered around the World Heritage site of Itsukushima Shrine. Its highlights include the great torii gates and main shrine building, which take on different appearances with the ebb and flow of the tide. Enjoy a magical landscape where the sea and the gods exist in harmony.