Visit HYOGO

Walk through the mountains, soak in hot springs, and discover cultures rooted in the land. A journey away from the everyday can offer a chance to reset both body and mind.

Across Japan, there are many places where mountains and hot springs can be enjoyed together. Among them are Hyogo Prefecture, whose remarkably varied landscapes have been described as a microcosm of Japan, and Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, known as the “Land of Fire” and home to one of the world’s largest calderas. Both offer much more than mountains and hot springs, inviting travelers to experience the history, culture, and ways of life that have taken shape in these distinctive environments.

From Mt. Shosha and Ako Onsen, and Mt. Rokko and Arima Onsen in Hyogo to Mt. Aso and Kurokawa Onsen in Kumamoto, set out on a journey through mountains and hot springs to restore body and mind.

Maniden Hall, built using the same kakezukuri construction technique as Kiyomizu-dera Temple in Kyoto.

First, head to Mt. Shosha in Himeji, a sacred place of Buddhist training, and Ako Onsen in Ako, known as the “springs of revival.” Kobe Airport offers convenient access to the city, and from there it takes around 90 minutes by train—the Port Liner and JR Kobe Line—to reach Himeji, where Mt. Shosha is located. From Himeji Station, it is another 30 minutes by Shinki Bus to the foot of the mountain. From there, take the Mt. Shosha Ropeway to the summit.

The solemn surroundings of Shoshazan Engyoji Temple. The Mitsunodo complex, comprising the Daikodo, Jikido, and Jogyodo halls, has also served as a filming location for Hollywood productions including The Last Samurai.

Zazen sessions are available for groups of two or more at 5,000 yen per person (reservations accepted at any time; sessions may be canceled when they coincide with Buddhist services or other temple events). A free zazen session is also held at 10:00 a.m. on the third Saturday of every month.

Shoshazan Engyoji offers a variety of experiences, including zazen meditation and several forms of sutra copying: Hanabira (Flower Petal) Sutra, Heart Sutra, and Sanskrit-character writing. In the stillness of the temple, taking time to steady your breathing and focus on forming each character offers a special opportunity to turn your attention inward while experiencing Japanese Buddhist culture.

Shoshazan Engyoji Temple
 Address: 2968 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo
 Tel.: 079-266-3327 (Temple Office)
 URL: http://www.shosha.or.jp/_en/ 

Mt. Shosha Ropeway

 Address: 1199-2 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo

 Tel.: 079-266-2006

 Hours: 8:30–17:00

 Closed: Open year-round

 URL: https://www.mt-shosha.info/en.html 

 ※The Mt. Shosha Ropeway is scheduled to suspend operations from February through October 2027. Please check the official website for details.

A special guest room at Ginpaso with panoramic views of the Seto Inland Sea.

After taking time for quiet reflection on Mt. Shosha, continue to Ako Onsen overlooking the Seto Inland Sea. From Himeji Station, it takes around 30 minutes on the JR Sanyo and Ako lines to reach Banshu-Ako Station, the closest station to the Ako Onsen area. As the setting shifts from mountain to sea, the mood of the journey gradually changes with it.

Ako Onsen is a mineral-rich hot spring containing salt and other minerals. Soaking in its waters while gazing out over the sea offers a relaxing way to ease the fatigue of travel. The onsen is also known as the “springs of revival,” after a decline in the flow of its waters was overcome by drilling a new source—a hot spring brought back to life through the bounty of the sea and human endeavor.

An open-air bath overlooking the horizon, with nothing to obstruct the expansive view.

At Ginpaso, a traditional ryokan renowned for its spectacular open-air baths, guests can soak in the waters of Ako Onsen in a bath that seems to merge with the sea. Surrender yourself to the warm water and experience the sensation of becoming one with the Seto Inland Sea.

Winter cuisine at Ginpaso. Local Sakoshi oysters, nourished by the mineral-rich waters of clear-running streams, may be small but are packed with flavor. Their clean, mild taste has made them popular even with diners who do not usually enjoy oysters.

The natural bounty of Ako is also something to savor through its cuisine. At Ginpaso, the focus is on carefully bringing out the natural flavors of each ingredient. Each beautifully prepared dish offers another way to experience the destination through the five senses.

Ginpaso

 Address: 2-8 Misaki, Ako, Hyogo

 Tel.: 050-2018-0878 (Telephone Reservation Center, 10:00–18:00)

 URL: https://www.ginpaso.co.jp 

AMAMI TERRACE, located within the grounds of Iwatsuhime Shrine overlooking the Seto Inland Sea.

Ako is blessed with the calm waters and mild climate of the Seto Inland Sea, as well as tidal flats formed from high-quality sand carried by the Chikusa River. These conditions have made salt production a thriving industry in the area since the Edo period.

At AMAMI TERRACE, a café located just a short distance from Ginpaso, visitors can enjoy lunch along with a hands-on salt-making experience using a traditional method of extracting salt from seawater. Why not try out an activity unique to Ako that lets you experience the bounty of the sea through all five senses?

Using seawater from Ako, make your own original seasoning salt by blending two types of salt with herbs and spices.

At lunch, raise a glass with a nonalcoholic Salty Dog made using roasted salt.

AMAMI TERRACE
 Address: 2-1 Misaki, Ako, Hyogo
 Tel.: 0791-42-4140
 Hours: 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (last order 4:30 p.m.)
 Closed: Irregularly
 URL: https://web.ako-kasei.co.jp/amamiterrace/ 

Learn About Ako’s Japan Heritage Salt-Making Tradition

 —Includes a special lunch featuring a rare fish at AMAMI TERRACE in Hyogo—

 URL: https://otonami.jp/experiences/amamiterrace/ 

Nene Bridge in the heart of Arima Onsen is a popular photo spot, with its striking red railings. © Kobe Tourism Bureau

Kobe is home to the urban mountain of Mt. Rokko and Arima Onsen, nestled among its mountains. With a history stretching back more than 1,400 years, Arima Onsen is known as one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs, alongside Dogo Onsen in Ehime Prefecture and Shirahama Onsen in Wakayama Prefecture. It is also easily accessible, just around 30 minutes by train from central Kobe.

While many of Japan’s hot springs are volcanic, Arima Onsen is a nonvolcanic hot spring directly connected to tectonic plates. The emergence of high-temperature spring water despite the absence of a nearby volcano is rare even on a global scale and has been described as one of the mysteries of the Earth. There are two types of spring water: the red-brown “golden water” (Kinsen), which warm the body from the outside, and the clear “silver waters” (Ginsen) which are said to dilate blood vessels and work on the body from within. It is said that soaking first in Kinsen to warm the body thoroughly, followed by Ginsen to promote circulation, is particularly beneficial. Public bathhouses for day visitors can also be found throughout the onsen town, making it easy to experience both Kinsen and Ginsen.

The ryokan Taketoritei Maruyama has private baths featuring both Kinsen and Ginsen waters.

Tenjin Sengen, a source of Kinsen hot spring water, within the grounds of Arima Tenjin Shrine (Arima Tenmangu).

The atmospheric streets of Arima Onsen. Enjoy the scenery as you explore its different hot springs and sample local foods along the way. © Kobe Tourism Bureau

Arima Onsen
 Address: Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
 Tel.: 078-904-0708 (General Information Center)
 URL: https://www.arima-onsen.com/ 

Arima Onsen Kin no Yu
 Address: 833 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
 Tel.: 078-904-0680
 Hours: 8:00–22:00 (last admission 21:30)
 Closed: Second and fourth Tuesdays (open on national holidays and closed the following day), and January 1

Arima Onsen Gin no Yu
 Address: 1039-1 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
 Tel.: 078-904-0256
 Hours: 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. (last admission 8:30 p.m.)
 Closed: First and third Tuesdays (open on national holidays and closed the following day), and January 1
 URL: https://arimaspa-kingin.jp/en-index.htm

Taketoritei Maruyama

 Address: 1364-1 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

 Tel.: 078-904-0631 (9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.)

 URL: https://www.taketoritei.com/?lang=2 

Arima geiko have enlivened social gatherings in the hot spring town since the Edo period.

Arima Onsen is home to a longstanding geiko culture, in which geiko entertain guests at traditional gatherings with song, dance, and shamisen music.

At Geiko Cafe Ito, visitors can casually enjoy geiko dance performances and traditional party games, making an experience well worth trying for travelers interested in Japan’s traditional performing arts.

The Arima Ningyo-fude is also regarded as a good-luck charm for fertility and safe childbirth.

The Arima Ningyo-fude, or Arima Doll Brush, is a traditional craft unique to Arima Onsen. It was inspired by a legend dating back some 1,400 years, according to which an emperor of the time was blessed with a child soon after staying at Arima Onsen. When the brush is pointed downward, a tiny doll pops playfully out of the handle. This ingenious brush also makes a distinctive souvenir. At the Arima Toys and Automata Museum, visitors can take part in an Arima Ningyo-fude mechanism-making workshop.

Experiencing the area’s culture and craftsmanship can make a visit to Arima all the more memorable.

Geiko Cafe Ito
 Address: 821 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
 Tel.: 078-904-0197
 Email: contact@arima-geiko.com
 Hours: 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. (open Saturdays and Sundays only; bar currently open on Saturdays only, hours vary)
 Closed: Monday–Friday
 URL: https://arimageiko.com/ 
 *For inquiries outside business hours, please contact the cafe by email. Private bookings are available by reservation.

Arima Toys and Automata Museum

 Address: 797 Arima-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

 Tel.: 078-903-6971

 Hours: 9:30–18:00 (last admission 17:30)

 Closed: Irregularly

 URL: https://arima-toys.jp/

From the Miharashi Observation Tower, the panorama stretches as far as Osaka.

Arima Onsen is connected to Mt. Rokko by ropeway, making it easy to enjoy both the mountain and hot springs in close proximity.

One of Mt. Rokko’s great attractions is its famous “ten-million-dollar night view.” Climb the Mikarashi Observation Tower at Rokko Garden Terrace near the summit, and a spectacular nightscape unfolds before you, just as its name suggests. The countless lights spread out below are signs of the lives being lived there. The extraordinary is an extension of the everyday—and the view reminds us just how dramatic everyday life itself can be. It is an experience unique to Mt. Rokko as an urban mountain.

At the Rokko-Shidare Observatory, visitors can also enjoy a landscape where nature, architecture, and art come together.

The last Rokko Arima Ropeway service from Rokko Sancho Station to Arima Onsen Station departs at 17:10 in winter and 20:10 in summer. If you would like to spend longer enjoying the night view, traveling by taxi or rental car is a better option.

Rokko Garden Terrace
 Address: 1877-9 Gosaizan, Rokkosan-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo
 Tel.: 078-894-2281
 Hours / Closed: Please check the official website for details
 URL: https://www.rokkosan.com/gt/?lang=en 

Rokko Arima Ropeway

 Address: 4512-336 Kita-Rokko, Rokkosan-cho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo

 Tel.: 078-891-0031 (Rokko Sancho Station / in front of Rokko Garden Terrace and GREENIA)

 Hours / Closed: Please check the official website for details

 URL: https://koberope.jp/en/rokko

Mt. Nakadake, one of the five peaks of Aso and still volcanically active today.

For the final leg of the journey, head to Kumamoto Prefecture in Kyushu, where active volcanoes have shaped a rich natural environment. Kumamoto is home to Mt. Aso and one of the world’s largest calderas. Here, the landscape, where the bounty of the volcano exists in harmony with people’s everyday lives, has been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark. With direct Shinkansen services, Kumamoto can be reached from Hyogo without changing trains. From Kumamoto Station, a reservation-only direct express bus operated by Sanko Bus provides convenient access to Mt. Aso.

A sea of clouds seen from Daikanbo, with the five peaks of Aso resembling the reclining figure of the Buddha.

Take to the skies over Aso like a bird on a tandem paragliding experience.

Mt. Aso also offers a wide range of outdoor activities, including paragliding, hot-air ballooning, horseback trekking, and cycling. Surrounded by its magnificent natural landscape, let yourself feel truly free.

Aso-City Tourism Association

 Address: 781 Ozato, Aso, Kumamoto (within the Hanaasobi grounds)

 Tel.: 0967-34-1600

 URL: https://www.asocity-kanko.jp/en/

Kurokawa Onsen is designed around the idea of the entire hot spring town as a single ryokan, creating a beautiful landscape in which some 30 inns blend seamlessly with the surrounding satoyama landscape.

After immersing yourself in the natural beauty of Mt. Aso, head to Kurokawa Onsen in Minamioguni, Aso District, Kumamoto Prefecture, around one hour by direct bus from Aso Station, and unwind from the day’s adventures.

Kurokawa Onsen is a volcanic hot spring, its waters heated by magma from the Kuju volcanic group. It is also unusual among Japan’s hot spring resorts in offering seven different types of spring water. With the Nyuto Hot Spring Pass, visitors can tour a total of 25 open-air baths at the various inns, making it possible to experience the different qualities of the waters for themselves.

Relax body and mind in a tranquil hot spring beside a mountain stream.

One Hot Spring Pass (1,500 yen) gives access to three hot spring baths. After using their passes, some visitors dedicate them at the Jizodo in the hot spring town. (The price of the Hot Spring Pass is scheduled to change from April 2027.)

Kurokawa Onsen Ryokan Association Information Center
 Address: 6594-3 Manganji, Minamioguni, Aso District, Kumamoto
 Tel.: 0967-44-0076
 URL: https://www.kurokawaonsen.or.jp/en/ 

The enriching experiences found among Japan’s mountains and hot springs are shaped by more than nature alone. Mountains, hot springs, food, culture, and the lives of local people—all are part of what makes each place truly one-of-a-kind. Stepping away from the everyday and experiencing things found only in that particular place can help restore balance to both body and mind. It is also a journey that offers an encounter with Japanese hospitality at its finest.

Enjoy the ease of travel around Hyogo, together with its distinctive natural landscapes and the people who bring them to life, as you experience Japan’s unique spirit of hospitality—omotenashi.