Himeji: The Road to Engyo-ji Temple on Mt. Shosha.

Written by Yuka

 

Himeji Castle is undoubtedly the most iconic attraction of Himeji City, Hyogo. At present, the Japan’s greatest castle has been under five-year restoration process. Some of you, therefore, might hesitate to visit Himeji due to the construction. Well, Himeji is a gem and they have plenty to offer other than the castle. I’d like to introduce some of Himeji’s charms today. One place that is definitely worth a pilgrimage is Engyo-ji Temple on Mt. Shosha which is a film location of the Hollywood movie The Last Samurai. Here’s guide and some tips to enjoy a journey to the thousand-year old temple.　

 
Himeji can be easily reached by JR or Sanyo Railways from Kobe/Sannomiya or Osaka. When you get to JR Himeji Station, you’ll spot a nice tourist information center. Guides and maps of foreign languages, and Internet are available here. Friendly staff are on hand to offer you helpful advice and information to help you make the most of your trip.
 

Hungry in the morning?

Learn about the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

What comes to mind when you think of the city of Kobe? Many people probably think of the sophisticated modern city with western influences that it is today. When you look at this beautiful city, it’s hard to imagine what it looked like 18 years ago when a huge earthquake devastated Kobe and the surrounding areas at dawn on January 17, 1995 and more than 6,000 people lost their lives.

I would like to introduce the best places to learn about that event.

 

The Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution (The Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Memorial), located in Chuo ward in Kobe, provides real insight into the tragedy and how the city managed to recover from the effects of the earthquake to come back as one of the most beautiful cities in Japan. It also has plenty of resources on disaster management and an earthquake simulation theater, both of which have contributed a lot to national and international disaster risk reduction.

 

Disaster Reduction and Human Renovation Institution

 

Recreation of the earthquake’s aftermath

 

Hyogo’s Best Viewpoints: Downtown Kobe

Hi everyone! I’d like to introduce some of the best viewpoints in Kobe in this edition. Hyogo’s main city has some truly amazing views.

If you are looking for a beautiful view of Kobe city, then be sure to visit the observatory deck at Kobe City Hall. It is located just five minutes’ walk from Sannomiya station and is surrounded by a number of buildings such as department stores and banks. As the tallest building in the area, it’s very easy to spot.

The 30-story Kobe City Hall is 132 meters tall and one of the best locations for looking out over the city. The observatory on the 24th floor is open to everyone for free. It provides a panoramic view of Kobe city including Mt. Rokko on the north side and Port Island to the south. You may be able to look out over Osaka Bay or the Kii Peninsula, Wakayama if you are lucky with the weather.

Himeji Central Park

Remember the zoos and theme parks that you went to with your family when you were young? You can relive these memories at Himeji Central Park! This is a family resort which has both safari and a theme park that people of all ages can relish. A number of events are planned throughout the year and you’ll have a different experience every time you visit. Visitors can take enjoy a water park and fireworks in summer and ice skating in winter.

Helpful Tips: Japan’s telecommunication System: Mobile phones and the Internet.

When it comes to travel, mobile phones and the internet are essential tools to find up to date local information these days. Today I’ll give you some information on Japan’s telecommunication system.

Japan has its own mobile network, so that mobile phones from abroad do not always work within Japan’s network. Would you like to have mobile internet in Japan? You have a few options. It is a good idea to rent a Japanese mobile phones or SIM card. Please note that mobiles stores in cities don’t offer these services.

Kansai International Airport offers rental services

http://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/service/rental/rental_list.html