Hyogo Prefecture has Himeji Castle, a tourist attraction that represents Japan. Almost all the castle tower and the towers of this castle are left. As symbolized by this castle, Hyogo Prefecture has various tourist attractions representing Japan. Why do not you travel deeply in Hyogo Prefecture?
Table of Contents
Outline of Hyogo
Map of Hyogo
Previously, I have lived in Hyogo prefecture. I like this prefecture. I think there are three aspects in Hyogo Prefecture.
Firstly, this is a key hub of traffic that links various parts of west Japan and the Kansai region. So, in Hyogo prefecture, Himeji Castle was built in the 17th century. The Tokugawa shogunate decided to block enemies from West Japan at Himeji Castle.
Secondly, this is the base of trade representing the Kansai region. In the nineteenth century, the port of Kobe was built in the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture. This harbor is an important base connecting the foreign countries and the Kansai region.
Third, there are many old Japanese in the north of Hyogo Prefecture. Especially in Toyooka City facing the Sea of Japan, there is an old spa town called Kinosaki Onsen. You can meet such old Japan in Hyogo Prefecture.
Himeji Castle （Himeji City)
Himeji Castle in the cherry blossom season, Himeji, Japan = Pixta
Himeji, Japan at Himeji Castle in spring with visitors for the cherry blossom season = shutterstock
Himeji Castle is said to be the most beautiful castle in Japan. And this castle is also said to be one of the most complete castles in Japan.
Himeji Castle is said to have been built in 1346, but the present castle was built in the first half of the 17th century. At this time, the technology to build Japanese castles was at the highest level. This is because the times when the samurai fought in the 16 th century continued, and the technology for building the castle was polished accordingly. Various ingenuity to repel enemy attacks also accumulated. Japan had a peaceful era under the rule of the Tokugawa shogunate in the 17th century. At that time, their skills and ingenuity were made use of in Himeji Castle. Therefore, Himeji Castle is said to be the completed form of Japanese castle.
Regarding Himeji Castle, I have already introduced it in articles about Japanese castles.
Kobe
Port of Kobe skyline in Japan at twilight = shutterstock
People shadowed by blue moonlight, Kobe, Japan = Shutterstock
Night view from Kikuseidai platform on Mt. Maya View Line at Kobe, Japan. “Top 3 Night View in Japan” = shutterstock
Kobe City is a port town facing the Seto Inland Sea in the southern part of Hyogo Prefecture. This city with a population of 1.5 million people is the prefectural capital of Hyogo prefecture and is the representative area of the Kansai region together with Kyoto, Osaka and Nara.
Main tourist attractions
Since the late nineteenth century, Kobe city has developed through trade with foreign countries. So, many foreign nationals live in this port town. In the hill of Kobe, retro houses where Western merchants lived in the first half of the 20th century are left behind and are a sightseeing spot.
Kobe city is elongated in the east and west, and mountains are connected to the east and west on the north side of the coastal area. The main mountains are Mt. Maya (702 m altitude) and Mt. Rokko (931 m altitude), both of which are tourist attractions. In either mountain you can go up to the summit with a cable car. From the summit of these mountains, you can see not only Kobe but also the coastal areas of the Kansai region including Osaka Prefecture and Wakayama Prefecture. In the evening, you can enjoy an amazing night view like the picture above.
You can also board a pleasure boat from Kobe port. There is a big Chinatown near the harbor.
Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake
Kobe luminarie is a light festival held in Kobe, Japan, every December since 1995 to commemorate the Great Hanshin earthquake of that year = shutterstock
At 5:46 on January 17, 1995, the whole area of Kobe City was hit by a heavy earthquake. Highways and buildings collapsed and a fire broke out one after another. This earthquake killed 6,434 people. Since this year, in December every year in Kobe City, the light festival “Kobe Luminarie” has been held to brighten Kobe in various ways.
I lived in Kobe for about 2 years until February 1994. I loved this city. When it was decided to move to Tokyo for relocation, friends in Kobe said to me, “Tokyo, there are many earthquakes, so be careful!” But an earthquake happened in Kobe.
Kobe is a really beautiful and lovely city. If you stop by Kobe, I really want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
>> Please see the official website for details of Kobe
Arima Onsen (Kobe City)
Arima Onsen, Kobe, Japan hot springs resort town = shutterstock
Arima Onsen is a large spa town representative of the Kansai region. It is in the northern part of Kobe City.
There are mountains in the coastal area of Kobe. Arima Onsen is on the north side of these mountains. You can easily go to Arima Onsen during Kobe sightseeing.
Regarding Arima Onsen, I have already introduced in an article on Japanese hot springs. If you are interested, please refer to that article. Click on the link below and it will be displayed on a separate page.
>> Please see this article for details of Arima Onsen
Kinosaki Onsen (Toyooka City)
Trees at Night with Reflection on the Canal, Kinosaki onsen, Japan = shutterstock
In Hyogo prefecture, there is another wonderful hot spring I would like to recommend to you. It is Kinosaki Onsen facing the Sea of Japan in northern Hyogo Prefecture.
In Kinosaki Onsen, Onsen Ryokan (Japanese style hotels) are lining along the river as seen in the above picture. In winter, you can eat delicious crabs at your ryokan.
Since Kinosaki Onsen is also a hot spring representing Japan, I have already introduced this hot spring in an article about Japanese hot springs.
>> Please see this article for details of Kinosaki Onsen
Thank you for reading to the end.
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