Visit HYOGO

From Korea, a country renowned for its beauty culture, this journey takes you to Hyogo, following the restorative power of nature from one destination to the next. Connect with the natural world, turn your attention inward, and restore balance to mind and body on a journey designed to bring out your inner beauty.

Donguibogam Village in Sancheong. ©Photo Korea - Korea Tourism Organization

The journey to wellness begins in Korea. Located in Sancheong County in western South Gyeongsang Province, Donguibogam Village is known as a theme park dedicated to hanbang, Korea’s traditional medicine, which has long been deeply rooted in Korean life.

From Gimhae International Airport, take the Busan–Gimhae Light Rail Transit to the Busan Seobu Intercity Bus Terminal, then continue by intercity bus to Donguibogam Village. The journey takes around three hours.

 A panoramic view of Donguibogam Village. ©Photo Korea - Korea Tourism Organization

Hanbang has its origins in traditional Chinese medicine, which was introduced to Korea and subsequently developed in its own distinctive way. Donguibogam Village was established in Sancheong, an area renowned for its medicinal herbs, and its expansive grounds are home to a variety of facilities devoted to hanbang. Visitors can learn about its history and medicinal herbs at museums and exhibition halls, as well as try experiences such as thermal healing. At the end of the day, unwind with an overnight stay amid nature in the Hanbang Natural Recreation Forest.

Donguibogam Village

 Address: 45-6, Donguibogam-ro 555beon-gil, Geumseo-myeon, Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do

 Tel.: +82-55-970-7216

 Hours: 9:00–18:00

 Closed: Donguibogam Village is open year-round; the museum is closed on Mondays, New Year’s Day, Seollal, and Chuseok

 URL:  https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?menuSn=351&vcontsId=86263 (EN)

Delicious Hanbang Tea Made with Medicinal Ingredients

Hanbang tea at Tea Therapy. ©Photo Korea - Korea Tourism Organization

Hanbang tea is a traditional wellness drink enjoyed for ailments associated with imbalances in the mind and body, such as insomnia, indigestion, and headaches. One place to experience it for yourself is Tea Therapy in Seoul’s Jongno district.

From Donguibogam Village, take an intercity bus to Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, then take Seoul Subway Line 3 to Anguk Station. The journey takes around four hours.

Tea Therapy carefully selects medicinal ingredients for their pleasant flavors and aromas. Answer a series of questions about your constitution, and you’ll be guided to a tea suited to your particular type. There is also a footbath area, where you can soak your feet in a warm bath infused with aromatic bath salts while relaxing with your chosen tea.

Tea Therapy

 Address: 74 Yunboseon-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul

 Tel.: +82-2-730-7507

 Hours: 10:00–21:00

 Closed: Seollal and Chuseok

 URL: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?menuSn=352&vcontsId=188076 (EN)

Ontaki Falls plunges dramatically from a height of 43 meters. ©KOBE TOURISM BUREAU

Kobe, in Hyogo Prefecture, is connected to Seoul by direct flights. With its sea and mountains, hot springs, and food culture shaped by the region’s rich natural environment, Hyogo is an ideal destination for a wellness journey. Spectacular ocean views, forest bathing, and healthy meals made with local ingredients are just some of the experiences here that engage all five senses.

A direct flight from Incheon International Airport to Kobe Airport takes around two hours. Kobe Airport’s international terminal is compact, making immigration procedures and baggage collection quick and convenient. From the airport, a direct bus reaches Shin-Kobe Station in around 25 minutes, providing easy access to the heart of the city.

One of Kobe’s great attractions is how close the city lies to the Rokko Mountains, putting abundant nature within easy reach. Start with Nunobiki Falls, counted among Japan’s three great sacred waterfalls alongside Nachi Falls in Wakayama Prefecture and Kegon Falls in Tochigi Prefecture.

Nunobiki Falls is the collective name for four waterfalls: Ontaki, Mentaki, Meotodaki, and Tsutsumigadaki. A hiking trail leads from Shin-Kobe Station, with Ontaki, the farthest upstream, just a 15-minute walk away. Plunging 43 meters, the falls make a powerful and beautiful sight.

Mentaki Falls. ©KOBE TOURISM BUREAU

The Nunobiki stream also comes with a fascinating story. Its water was once prized by sailors, who are said to have found that it remained fresh even on voyages across the equator, earning an international reputation as “Kobe Water.” Standing beside this pristine stream, take in the refreshing surroundings and let the experience leave both mind and body feeling renewed.

Nunobiki Falls

 Address: Fukiai-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

 Tel.: 0570-090800 (Kobe Tourism Bureau)

 URL:  https://www.feel-kobe.jp/en/attractions/detail_1014.html (EN)

Seasonal Flowers to Soothe the Eyes and Mind

 The View Plaza at Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway.

Herbs such as lavender and chamomile are known for their relaxing qualities. Located on Mount Rokko, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway is one of Japan’s largest herb gardens, with some 75,000 flowers and herbs representing around 200 species. Surrounded by greenery and seasonal blooms, it is a popular place to unwind and recharge.

From Shin-Kobe Station, it is about a five-minute walk to the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Ropeway. Take the ropeway to the top station to reach the Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens. The approximately 10-minute ride offers sweeping views over the city of Kobe along the way.

The ropeway offers views of Kobe landmarks, including Nunobiki Falls.

The Four Seasons Garden – Relaxation Garden – takes on a different character with each season.

Set around 400 meters above sea level, Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens features 12 distinct themed gardens. Alongside herbs, roses, hydrangeas, sunflowers, cosmos, and many other flowers bring changing colors to the gardens throughout the four seasons.

The colorful Garden Plate Collection is inspired by the Herb Garden.

At The Herb Dining, the restaurant at the top of the mountain, a popular choice is the Garden Plate Collection, featuring herbs and edible flowers grown in the gardens. This colorful lunch course combines eight appetizers with a choice of main dish. As pleasing to the eye as it is nourishing, the meal offers a moment to recharge from within.

The Emerald Lounge.

For spectacular views, The Veranda at Kobe is also well worth a visit. Its new Emerald Lounge, opened in April 2026, has an almost dreamlike atmosphere, as though suspended within the forest—a tranquil setting where you can slow down, relax, and lose track of time.

Kobe Nunobiki Herb Gardens & Ropeway

 Address: 1-4-3 Kitano-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

 Tel.: 078-271-1160

 URL: https://www.kobeherb.com/en/ (EN)

Kobe’s Former Foreign Settlement, where many historic buildings remain. ©KOBE TOURISM BUREAU

About 20 minutes by taxi from the ropeway’s lower station, Kobe’s Former Foreign Settlement was developed following the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868. Its orderly streets lined with imposing stone buildings retain a distinctly cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The lobby of The Orient Kobe offers views over Kobe Port.

Here, The Orient Kobe combines an elegant sense of refinement with inviting comfort. It also enjoys an exceptional location, with views over Kobe Port in one direction and toward the Rokko Mountains in the other. Sannomiya Station, one of the city’s main transportation hubs, is just a seven-minute walk away.

The living room of a Junior Suite.

A bathroom with a sauna and Jacuzzi.

Located on the upper floors, the Junior Suites with Sauna offer approximately 77 square meters of space. Each features a living room and bedroom, along with a marble bathroom equipped with a mist sauna and Jacuzzi, as well as a walk-in closet. Surrounded by carefully selected interiors and furnishings, guests can unwind in a luxurious setting designed for a relaxing stay.

 Enjoy Kobe beef and Kuroge Wagyu at STEAK HOUSE MEDIUM RARE.

The hotel is also home to a selection of Japanese and Western restaurants, including STEAK HOUSE MEDIUM RARE, where chefs prepare carefully selected Kobe beef and seasonal ingredients right before your eyes.

The Orient Kobe

 Address: 25 Kyomachi, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

 Tel.: 078-326-1511

 URL:  https://theorient.jp/en/ (EN)

Zenbo Seinei stands amid the forest, enveloped in a sacred atmosphere.

After Kobe, the journey continues to Awaji Island. Said to lie along a ley line known as the “Path of the Sun,” the island has long been associated with purification and powerful natural energy. Located at 135 degrees east longitude, Zenbo Seinei is a Zen retreat facility around 50 minutes by express bus from the Kobe Sannomiya Bus Terminal.

A wooden deck where you can take in the warmth and fragrance of the wood.

Surrounded by nature as far as the eye can see, the striking wooden retreat was designed by Shigeru Ban, recipient of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, widely regarded as architecture’s highest honor. The first floor houses a lounge and 18 guest rooms, while the second floor features a 100-meter-long deck constructed from Japanese cedar. Here, under the guidance of instructors, guests can experience Zen meditation, yoga, and other wellness practices.

Journaling, or written meditation, is also offered as part of the program.

Zenbo Cuisine makes generous use of wholesome, body-friendly ingredients.

Overnight plans include Zenbo Cuisine designed with well-being in mind. With an emphasis on fermentation, an integral part of Japanese food culture, the cuisine uses no animal-derived ingredients, wheat flour, oil, or refined white sugar. Even the seasonings are carefully selected, with traditionally produced varieties aged for one to three years.

In this tranquil space, stripped back to the essentials, take time to slow down and turn your attention inward—a chance to reset both mind and body.

Zenbo Seinei

 Address: 2594-5 Bajanaka, Kusumoto, Awaji, Hyogo

 Tel.: 0799-70-9087

 URL: https://zenbo-seinei.com/en/ (EN)

Villa Rakuen, the exclusive guestroom wing at Hotel New Awaji.

For the final stop on this journey, unwind at Sumoto Onsen on the east coast of Awaji Island. Around 50 minutes by taxi from Zenbo Seinei, Hotel New Awaji stands on a beautiful stretch of coastline, with ocean views from every guest room. Among its accommodations is Villa Rakuen, an exclusive collection of suite-style rooms, each with its own private open-air bath and thoughtful touches designed to make guests feel at home.

The private open-air bath in the Umi no Niwa guest room.

The spacious Japanese-style room and living area of Umi no Niwa.

One of the most popular rooms, Umi no Niwa, offers more than 150 square meters of space, with a Japanese-style living and dining area, wooden terrace, and beautiful private garden. Here, guests can enjoy their own open-air bath in complete privacy, with the expansive sea and sky of Awaji Island stretching out before them.

Guests can enjoy a leisurely meal in the privacy of their own room.

Savor the bounty of both sea and land unique to Awaji Island.

Above all, Awaji Island is renowned for its exceptional cuisine. Since ancient times, the island was known as a miketsukuni, a region that supplied food to the Imperial Court. Surrounded by the sea and blessed with a mild climate and fertile land, Awaji Island is rich in outstanding ingredients. A special kaiseki meal featuring fresh seafood landed at the island’s fishing ports and carefully selected local vegetables is served at the dining table in each guest room.

Immerse yourself in the hot springs, cuisine, and scenery born from Awaji Island’s abundant natural environment, engaging all five senses and emerging from the journey with renewed energy in both mind and body.

Hotel New Awaji – Villa Rakuen

 Address: 20 Orodani, Sumoto, Hyogo (Komoe Coast)

 Tel.: 0570-079922 (9:00–18:00; Hotel New Awaji Group Navi Dial)

 URL: https://www.newawaji.com/english/ (EN)