Health and sightseeing combined: Soothe your mind and body! Feature: Wellness tourism in Hyogo
A trip to fine-tune your mind and body: Hyogo Wellness Tourism
Hyogo is a place where the characteristics of five provinces (Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji) resonate with each other.
Deep forests and glittering seas lie close to cities, and a history that spans the ages is still alive and well.
Why not spend a special time here balancing your mind and body, fostered by this abundant land?
If you want to look closely at the contrast created by the seas and mountains of Awaji and Settsu and reset yourself...
If you want to be surrounded by the blessings of Tamba and the natural world of Tajima and take back your true health...
If you want to experience the history of castle towns and traditional culture and refresh your sensitivity through intellectual stimulation...
Hyogo proposes “wellness tourism,” a new form of travel, to grant your wishes.
Enjoy the cities, experience the history, fill yourself with delicious food, and surrender yourself to the natural world.
Why not come and explore beauty, health, and solace just for you, something that can only be realized in Hyogo?
We invite you on a trip through Hyogo so you can return to yourself.
INDEX
What is wellness tourism?
Wellness tourism refers to a new form of travel that makes the most of Hyogo Prefecture’s bountiful environment and regional resources—an atmosphere that blends the charms of hot springs, forests, history and culture, nature, and cities—to offer health programs that promote exercise, relaxation, beauty, meals, and more.
Soothe yourself in a hot spring or spa
With Arima Onsen, which takes pride in its long history, and the waters of elegant Kinosaki, loved by literary master Shiga Naoya, Hyogo Prefecture boasts a rich hot spring culture that has balanced mind and body since ancient times. Spend a moment sharpening your senses at a spa with fantastic views of the majestic sea and mountains. Relax in the hot waters, a gift from the earth, and escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life to find a deep relaxation that enables you to take back your true self.
- Arima Onsen
- Arima Onsen, surrounded by lush nature, is a historic hot spring area that has long been loved by emperors, nobles, and warlords. Here, you can enjoy two different types of hot springs: the red-brown “golden waters” (Kinsen) that warm you to the core and the colorless and clear “silver waters” (Ginsen), said to be good for the skin. Another appeal of Arima is its location, which is easily accessible from Osaka and Kobe.
- See More
- Kinosaki Onsen
- Kinosaki Onsen, where the Otani River is lined with beautiful willow trees, opened 1300 years ago. It was loved by many of the literati, including novelist Shiga Naoya. Here, you can enjoy a hot-spring tour, visiting seven open-air springs in close proximity, each with their own merits. Another appeal is the opportunity to savor seasonal marine produce, including crabs.
- See More
- Yumura Onsen
- This historic hot spring area lies in the mountains of the San'in area. It shot to fame as the setting of the NHK Drama “The Diary of Yumechiyo” (1981). The original spring waters are very hot—98℃—and in winter their steam shrouds the area and creates an atmosphere of elegance. The historic “yugaki” culture of cooking vegetables and other foods in the hot spring waters has been passed down to the present day.
- See More
- Sumoto Onsen
- This is one of Kansai’s leading hot spring resorts, located mainly on Awaji Island. Large ryokan inns and hotels line the sea cliffs, offering plenty of gourmet dishes and activities. Sumoto Retro Komichi, in the castle town of Sumoto, incorporates fashionable social medial-worthy cafes in old folk residences and miscellaneous goods shops.
- Ako Onsen
- Ako charms as a location that commands stunning views, including of the islands of Shodoshima and Ieshima in the Setouchi area and the setting sun at Ako Misaki, selected as one of the best 100 sunsets in Japan. The mineral-rich spring waters are also called the “yomigaeri no yu,” meaning the “springs of revival,” and are well-known for relieving tiredness and helping to beautify your skin.
Relax in nature and wonderful landscapes
The Sea of Japan extends to the north, the Seto Inland Sea lies to the south, and in the middle of the prefecture stand mountain ranges with lush greenery. The diverse natural worlds of Hyogo offer visitors both tranquility and energy. There’s the coastline of Awaji Island, embraced by sea breezes, and glittering night views visible from Mount Rokko. Place yourself in the changing seasons and mysterious scenery and you’ll surely feel yourself fill with vitality from the inside.
- Retreat in Kobe and Awaji Island
- Hyogo Prefecture, adjacent to the cities of Osaka and Kyoto, is surrounded by sea and mountains, offering beautiful scenery. The route from the historic port city of Kobe to Awaji Island in the Seto Inland Sea allows you to enjoy wellness tourism—an experience where you connect with nature and engage with your own mind and body.
- See More
- The Beauty Woven by Nature: San'in Kaigan Geopark ✖️ Human Creativity: Setouchi Triennale A Journey Through Two Forms of Art
- Facing the Sea of Japan, Toyooka City (in northern Hyogo Prefecture) is an area rich in nature, with its entire territory designated as the San'in Kaigan UNESCO Global Geopark. It boasts dynamic topography and thriving ecosystems. Abundant spots allow visitors to fully enjoy natural beauty, including mysterious rock formations that tell the Earth's history and highlands offering diverse activities throughout the seasons.
- See More
- A Journey to Experience Hyogo’s Rich Nature and Diverse Culture Through Sustainability
- Hyogo Prefecture, blessed with a plethora of diverse landscapes, is often called a “microcosm of Japan.” Offering unique travel experiences that immerse visitors in the region’s distinct ecosystems, culture, and cuisine, the journey outlined below takes you through globally rare stork habitats to sensory Zen retreats and farm-to-table restaurants on Awaji Island to enjoy while rejuvenating mind and body—not to mention the many one-of-a-kind “Made in Hyogo” products on offer, such as comfortable wear crafted from Nishiwaki City ’s traditional Banshu-ori textiles, perfect as souvenirs.
- See More
Refresh yourself with delicious food, sports, and art
“Food” cultivated in the rich land of the five provinces, “sports” that get your heart pumping, and “art” that stirs the senses. Hyogo overflows with healthy motivation to sharpen the mind and body with full use of all the senses. Taste the blessings of the earth, move your body in the natural world, and experience beautiful creation. Liberate your sensitivity, hardened by everyday life, and regenerate your energy for tomorrow.
- Zenbo Seinei
- You can experience Zen in this building standing in a hilly area in the midst of Awaji’s spectacular natural world. It’s naturally calming—immerse yourself in the environment, and you’ll find that your breathing has deepened before you know it. Why not visit to calm your mind and body in the stillness?
- See More
- From the Seto Inland Sea to Harima—Salt, Hishio, and a Story of Fermentation
- Cross the calm waters of the Seto Inland Sea and you enter a world shaped by salt and hishio (salt-fermented foodstuffs). In the Edo period (1603–1868), ships laden with salt from Ako called at tide-waiting ports before reaching Shodoshima. There, fine salt met soybeans and wheat; under the island’s warm climate, fermentation took its course, and soy-sauce making on Shodoshima began. On this “island of hishio,” the aroma of koikuchi (dark) soy sauce—brewed in wooden vats and handed down for more than 400 years—still remains to this day.
- See More
- Mineral Tourism
- With the calm Seto Inland Sea, hot springs where you can take in superb views of the sea and sky melding together as you soothe your body to the core, and salt from a place long known as a famous production area, Ako is a perfect destination if you want to have your fill of minerals.
The minerals formed by Ako’s topography and history will gently satisfy your tired mind and body. 
- See More
- Cycling and e-bikes
- Hyogo Prefecture boasts a variety of cycling routes, from a course for cyclists affectionally known by the name “Awaichi” to routes that focus on sightseeing, traveling around local tourist destinations and experiencing scenery and streetscapes.
Hyogo is a prefecture with a huge area that faces two seas (the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea). Try and experience Hyogo for yourself in a way that's only possible on a bicycle! 
- Golf tourism feature: Make the most of golf and sightseeing in Hyogo, a hallowed land of golf! You can even enjoy hot springs and gourmet too
- Did you know that Japan’s oldest golf course lies on Mount Rokko? Hyogo boasts large amounts of hilly terrain that is perfect for golf courses, and is home to over 160 of them; more than 100 of these are easily accessible from Kobe within an hour. The ability to make the most of the sights, hot springs, and gourmet unique to Hyogo as you enjoy golf is another reason for its popularity.
- See More
- Kobe Rokko Meets Art
- This art festival, limited to certain seasons, fuses the natural world of Mount Rokko with contemporary art.
It’s an experience-based event, where visitors move around the mountain peak and encounter diverse works of art. 
- See More
- Toyooka Theater Festival
- The Toyooka Theater Festival started in 2020. It uses all kinds of places as a stage—not only theaters but also hot spring resorts, coastal areas, plateaus, and wooden rural stages passed down in shrines.
- See More
Experience history and culture
Ancient temples marking the passage of ages and the streetscapes of castle towns that tell us of the elegance of times long past: a trip offering experiences of Hyogo’s history and culture provides opportunities to touch the spirituality treasured by those who came before and time to look at yourself in a new light. Traditions and an aesthetic sense that have been passed down through the ages will surely create a “margin“ in the hearts of busy modern people, offering deep tranquility and once again making you aware of your own core.
- Find Himeji Castle, the remains of Akashi Castle and Ako Castle, and plenty of other historic destinations in the Harima area
- The Harima area was an important stage for events in Japanese history—for example, it holds World Heritage site and National Treasure Himeji Castle and was the location of the revenge of the 47 Ronin. Visitors can enjoy both its long history as a strategic spot for transport connecting the capital (Kyoto was the capital of Japan until 1868) with the western regions of Japan and its lush natural world facing the Seto Inland Sea, and this article gives a full introduction of its charms!
- See More
- Explore the castle town of Tanba Sasayama in Hyogo Prefecture, registered as a Japan Heritage site—where the scenery remains unchanged for 400 years?
- In Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture, a 400-year-old highway remains preserved in its original state, with the entire town designated as a Japan Heritage site. Step inside, and history rewinds, transporting you on a journey that transcends time and space.
- See More
Summary
What do you think? After soothing yourself with hot springs, nature, and history, why not savor a plate of bliss, filled with the wisdom of the earth? “Food” that satisfies the senses is the vital essence of a trip through Hyogo to balance your mind and body. The nourishing ingredients cultivated in the rich soil and oceans of the five provinces will awaken the vitality in your body from the inside, and help you return to true health.
