Hyogo — Experience a wide selection of interesting destinations,
including Kobe, an international port city known as Japan’s gateway to the world
Located close to the center of Japan, Hyogo Prefecture offers a rich natural environment that stretches from the Sea of Japan in the north to the Seto Inland Sea and Pacific Ocean to the south. The area has been a strategic sea and land transportation hub throughout Japanese history, and with the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868, Hyogo grew to become a gateway to the world. In addition to its importance as an international center of trade, Hyogo has also played an important role in international cultural exchange. With its extensive land area, the prefecture is also home to various unique regions—from large cities to rural villages and remote islands—and is often referred to as a microcosm of Japan due to its diverse climate and natural features.
Hyogo Prefecture can be divided into five regions with distinct histories and climates: Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji. The Settsu area offers a variety of interesting sites, including Kobe’s fashionable and exotic port area as well as Arima Onsen—one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs—and the Hanshin area with high-class residential and industrial neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the Harima area is home to numerous historical locations, including Himeji Castle, Japan’s first national treasure to be registered as a World Heritage site, and the castle town of Ako, known for its connection to Chushingura, the fictionalized accounts of the historical end of the 47 ronin.
Tajima, facing the Sea of Japan, is blessed with magnificent natural environments. From skiing in winter to swimming in summer, visitors can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities year-round. The area is also famous for its hot springs and specialty products such as Tajima beef and Matsuba crab. Hyogo’s Tamba area is known for its rich harvest of mountain products, including many nationally renowned specialties such as matsutake mushrooms, chestnuts, and black soybeans. The area is also closely associated with the historical military commanders of the Warring States period, with many cultural influences that are present even today.
The island of Awaji is deeply rooted in Japanese mythology and traditional culture. According to the myth of how Japan came to be—as described in the Kojiki and Nihon-Shoki, Japan’s oldest historical chronicles—Awaji Island is said to have been the very first Japanese island. In addition to the numerous sites related to the Japanese creation myth, the island is also known for its various seasonal flowers and plants—earning it the nickname of “Flower Island”—and a rich history of ningyo joruri (Japanese puppet theater). Come and experience the unique charms each region has to offer.
Read more
Hide
Located close to the center of Japan, Hyogo Prefecture offers a rich natural environment that stretches from the Sea of Japan in the north to the Seto Inland Sea and Pacific Ocean to the south. The area has been a strategic sea and land transportation hub throughout Japanese history, and with the opening of the Port of Kobe in 1868, Hyogo grew to become a gateway to the world. In addition to its importance as an international center of trade, Hyogo has also played an important role in international cultural exchange. With its extensive land area, the prefecture is also home to various unique regions—from large cities to rural villages and remote islands—and is often referred to as a microcosm of Japan due to its diverse climate and natural features.
Hyogo Prefecture can be divided into five regions with distinct histories and climates: Settsu, Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji. The Settsu area offers a variety of interesting sites, including Kobe’s fashionable and exotic port area as well as Arima Onsen—one of Japan’s three oldest hot springs—and the Hanshin area with high-class residential and industrial neighborhoods. Meanwhile, the Harima area is home to numerous historical locations, including Himeji Castle, Japan’s first national treasure to be registered as a World Heritage site, and the castle town of Ako, known for its connection to Chushingura, the fictionalized accounts of the historical end of the 47 ronin.
Tajima, facing the Sea of Japan, is blessed with magnificent natural environments. From skiing in winter to swimming in summer, visitors can enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities year-round. The area is also famous for its hot springs and specialty products such as Tajima beef and Matsuba crab. Hyogo’s Tamba area is known for its rich harvest of mountain products, including many nationally renowned specialties such as matsutake mushrooms, chestnuts, and black soybeans. The area is also closely associated with the historical military commanders of the Warring States period, with many cultural influences that are present even today.
The island of Awaji is deeply rooted in Japanese mythology and traditional culture. According to the myth of how Japan came to be—as described in the Kojiki and Nihon-Shoki, Japan’s oldest historical chronicles—Awaji Island is said to have been the very first Japanese island. In addition to the numerous sites related to the Japanese creation myth, the island is also known for its various seasonal flowers and plants—earning it the nickname of “Flower Island”—and a rich history of ningyo joruri (Japanese puppet theater). Come and experience the unique charms each region has to offer.
