Visit HYOGO

Three railways run between Osaka and Kobe—the JR, the Hankyu Railway, and the Hanshin Electric Railway—offering excellent access to the big cities. This is the Settsu (Hanshin) area, where a lush satoyama natural world remains on the outskirts, attracting visitors who enjoy the true hybrid of urban areas and nature. It is known for Amagasaki City, an industrial city that developed as a castle town; Nishinomiya City, famous for Nishinomiya Shrine and the Koshien stadium; Takarazuka, home of the Takarazuka Grand Theater; Itamigo, said to be the birthplace of refined sake; and other locations. Another highlight is the unique culture known as “Hanshinkan Modernism,” which grew with the development of the railway networks from the Meiji period (1868–1912) onward.

The Takarazuka Revue has more than 100 years of history. Inside its theater are nine cafes and restaurants, an official shop, and an extraordinary entertainment space that anyone, fan or not, can enjoy. Immerse yourself in the world of the Takarazuka Revue by seeing displays of the activities and costumes of historic stars in the Takarazuka Hall of Fame and experiencing realistic dresses and make-up in the Stage Studio.

When people hear the word “Koshien,” many of them will think of hot summers for high-school baseball players. Since its opening in 1924, this baseball stadium with over a century of history has been a special place where not only baseball fans but every visitor can experience its high energy and history.

Pass through the outer wall, covered in ivy, to find yourself in a truly sacred place. During the baseball season, the stadium is rocked by wildly enthusiastic cheering for the Hanshin Tigers, the intensity creating excitement you cannot find anywhere else. There’s plenty of gourmet choices—taste the specialty Koshien curry, or make a toast with a cool beer in the interval of a baseball game, and you’ll surely make some wonderful memories.

Stadium tours, which take you around the inside of the stadium, enable participants to enter the bullpen and players’ locker rooms, which are normally off-limits. Plus, to the south of the stadium stands the Museum of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, where you can enjoy a valuable experience connecting you with the history and joy of baseball.

The stadium hosts various events, even on non-match days, so you should definitely drop in for a visit.

Standing on high ground with views of the high-class residential area of Ashiya, this is a nationally designated Important Cultural Property designed by the master modern architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The building is a symbol of “Hanshinkan Modernism,” characterized by a blending of Western and Eastern styles. In appearance, it remains almost entirely as it was when it was completed in 1924, making it a valuable building that evokes Wright’s architectural ideas, such as celling and window lattices, at every turn.

There are plenty of highlights in the Settsu (Hanshin) area in addition to famous tourist spots such as the Koshien and Takarazuka. For this section, we’ve picked out places that enable you to experience history, culture, and/or nature, such as a park where you can watch planes from Osaka Itami Airport take off and land from up close and a walking trail along a disused railway line that takes you through the natural world of the Mukogawa River Valley.

The urban cultures associated with Kobe and Osaka coexist with a lush natural world in the Settsu (Hanshin) area, and you’ll also find both a unique food culture and refined gourmet dishes here. This section introduces three recommendations from among these.

This area was once known as Settsu Province, and includes key places such as Osaka City, Kobe City, and Nishinomiya City, making it a very important region both historically and culturally. This section introduces experiences and activities that evoke this area’s unique culture and history.

What do you think? We hope you have even more fun on your trip around Settsu (Hanshin), filled with history, culture, and nature!