Japanese baseball game experience at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium.

 

Baseball sounds very much American thing. However, I can assure you now that Japanese baseball game is more entertaining than that of the USA. The Hanshin Tigers baseball club in Hyogo, known as the Tigers, has Japan’s most passionate sporting supporters. Their famous home stadium Hanshin Koshien Stadium was built in 1924, where is also a famous ground of the National High School Baseball Championship. I’ll introduce some tips to enjoy baseball experience at the Hyogo’s most visited place with their biggest match of the season against the Yomiuri Giants.

 

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

 

Art: Histric Street Art Festival in Tamba Sasayama

Hi everyone! We start featuring art from this issue. Today, I’d like to introduce Historic Street Art Festival, also called Machinami Art Festival, held in Tamba Sasayama. This seven-day showcase transforms old houses into art galleries and takes place from 15  to 17 Sept. and 20 to 23 Sept. this year. 25 house galleries display potteries, paintings, sculptures and pictures works of total 32 artists. It is a stylish festival!

Masaaki Mizukami/Moldings

Hyogo’s Best Viewpoints: Kinosaki Hot Springs and the Observation Deck.

In this issue, we’ll be starting a new series about Hyogo’s best views. The first edition features Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway and observation deck/observatory. Kinosaki Onsen Ropeway (676m) opened in 1963. It runs between Kinosaki Hot Springs resort and the summit of Mt. Daishi.



This cable car will afford you sweeping vistas of Kinosaki town and the Sea of Japan. At the middle station, there is a temple called Onsen-ji and visitors who continue to the observatory at the mountaintop will be able to enjoy a great view of Kinosaki in any season.

Kinosaki Marine World

This time I’d like to introduce Kinosaki Marine World in Toyooka city. It is situated on the shore of the Sea of Japan and just a 10-minute drive from Kinosaki Hot spring resort. It is a popular destination for family days out for all ages and is a part of the San’in Kaigan Geopark which is currently in the limelight. Kinosaki Marine Park is not just an aquarium. It aims at being way more than that with its various interactive exhibits and visitors can easily spend the whole day in the park. Let’s explore this marine world!

Helpful tips: Useful information around station

The second issue of “helpful tips” gives you useful information for getting around train stations. Kobe is very well connected to some great transport networks and major railways such as JR, Hankyu, Hanshin and the Subway have stations in Sannomiya, the station in downtown Kobe. We’ll also look at how to get your hands on some useful information before you go out and enjoy the city!

Currency Exchange

There are several places to exchange foreign currencies. A branch of Travelex, the world’s largest currency exchange provider, is located in front of the east exit of JR Sannomiya station. It is open all year and you can find it easily right in front of the exit gate.

Travelax Sannomiya branch

Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Bank of Mitsubishi-Tokyo UFJ and Japan Post Bank also offer currency exchange service around Sannomiya station. It’s good to know where to exchange cash in case for when you might need it.

【Spring Flower Series】Cherry blossoms at Himeji Castle

 When spring comes, Someiyoshino (the most common type of cherry tree in Japan), the mountain cherry trees, weeping cherry trees and others located at the National Treasure Himeji Castle are in full bloom. The castle garden has many prominent cherry blossom viewing spots and is considered one of “the 100 best viewing spots for cherry blossoms in Japan.”

The Himeji Castle
(the restoration will finish in spring, 2015)

Title: Kiyomori Chaya (CAFE Kiyomori), OPEN!

Last month, “Kiyomori Chaya (CAFÉ Kiyomori)” opened! The café is open on Saturdays, Sundays and national holidays in four places: The temples Nofuku-ji, Shinko-ji and Yakusen-ji as well as Wada Shrine in Hyogo Ward, Kobe City. Each of these four places has a deep connection with Taira no Kiyomori (see the last three articles about Taira no Kiyomori).

Visitors can make themselves comfortable while enjoying the unique atmosphere of a typical Japanese Chaya (café).

At “Kiyomori Chaya (CAFÉ Kiyomori)” in Nofukuji-temple.

At “Kiyomori Chaya (CAFÉ Kiyomori)” in Nofukuji-temple.

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012 New Year’s Card from TID!

Oriental White Stork (Konotori)

All of us at the Hyogo Tourism Association would like to wish you a very Happy New Year!

We’ll do our very best to keep providing lots of interesting and useful information about Hyogo to people all over the world! We are looking forward to your continued support for our TID Blog, “Go! Go! Hyogo!,” as well as our website! This blog is updated every 10 days so make sure to check back regularly!

Wishing you a Happy New Year full of joy and happiness!

By the way, Taira no Kiyomori, one of the famous Japanese samurai, is the first blog theme of this year. What great historical feats did he accomplish? He and his clan left historical treasures not only in Kobe but many places in Hyogo Prefecture. Our next issue will start telling his saga, introducing many sites connected to him. Don’t miss it!

Soo (Hyogo Tourism Association)

【Local Gourmet Food】The B-1 Grand Prix in Himeji: A Local Gourmet Competition

 A local gourmet competition, “The 6^th B-1 Grand Prix” was held between the 12^th and 13^th of November in Himeji, Hyogo! This big food competition is held annually and groups from almost every prefecture in Japan bring their most prized B-class gourmet food to win the heart and stomach of the visitors, who vote for their favorite B-1 food of the event. This year, a record-breaking 515,000 visitors came to the event during the period and that shows just how much passion Japanese people have for trying delicious food, as well as how serious the 63 participants are about the #1 spot.

・     Official website for B-1 Grand Prix in Himeji : 　http://www.b1-himeji.jp/（Japanese）

*This event has already ended.

 The official guide book and coupon

Hyogo Promotion Booth at Busan International Film Festival

From October 6 to October 14, we were in Busan, Korea, for the biggest film festival of the year, the “Busan International Film Festival.” Along with the film festival, there was also the Busan International Film Commission & Industry Showcase (BIFCOM) between October 10 and October 13. This is where we had our PR booth set up, and I was there as an interpreter! Let me tell you a little bit about the film festival.

▼ＢＩＦＣＯＭ２０１１　http://www.afpforum.org/sub06/sub01.htm　（English）

BEXCO, the official site for BIFCOM

【Outdoor Activities】Hiking in Mt. Rokko

  Hiking has become a popular activity among young people in the past few years. Even the term Yama-Girl, or a mountain girl, was created to refer to girls who wear colorful mountain outfits and go hiking. Hiking is one of the favorite outdoor activities for people of all ages.

                                                                                        

 

Hiking in Mt. Rokko

  

Summer Events and Traditions: Fireworks

 We hope you enjoyed our last month’s Gourmet series. There are many other delicious gourmet foods in Hyogo, so we hope you get a chance to come and enjoy them.

 This month, we are going to focus on “Summer Events and Traditions,” and our first topic is going to be on fireworks.

 Fireworks are one of the first things that come to mind when talking about summer in Japan. With a long history, it is said that the first fireworks started in the Edo period. Japan creates some of the most intricate fireworks in the world, and they are known for their unique designs and colors. 

Port of Kobe Fireworks Festival  

[GOURMET] Akashiyaki vs. Takoyaki

  In our second installment from the Gourmet series, I decided to show the difference between Akashiyaki and Takoyaki. They look very similar, so some people may wonder what the difference is. I visited Akashi to taste the true Akashiyaki. 

  A famous dish from the city of Akashi in Hyogo prefecture, it is also called tamagoyaki by the locals. Akashiyaki is considered to be the root of Takoyaki, which is very popular throughout the country.

        

Akashiyaki of Akashi                            Takoyaki of Osaka

Fundraiser for East Japan Earthquake

  On March 29, the Hyogo Tourism Association held a fund raiser in Kobe to support the victims of the recent earthquake and tsunami that hit the northern part of Japan. Hyogo prefecture experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake 16 years ago, and received support from people all over the country, so we really wanted to do our part in helping out those who are in need. We got members of “Okami-no-kai” (female owners of Japanese style inns), the Hyogo Tourism Ambassador, Habatan, and the members from our association.

Tasting Izushi Sara-soba in Izushi

   Izushi is a town in Toyooka city, located in northeastern part of Hyogo prefecture. Back in the day, this town prospered as a castle town of the former Izushi Clan. Many of the buildings that were built during that time still exist today, giving the town a nostalgic atmosphere. Also known as Little Kyoto of Tajima, the area is designated as an important traditional architecture preservation district. Izushi is also famous for its soba noodles, and there are about fifty soba noodle restaurants in the area.

                            

              View of Izushi Castle Town                              Toyooka City Mascot, Gen-san Rice-Cracker

Happy New Year!!

  All our members from Hyogo Tourism Association would like to wish you a happy New Year!

  We’ll do our very best to continue providing lots of interesting and useful information about Hyogo to people all over the world! So please keep on supporting our TID Blog, Go! Go! Hyogo!, as well as our website and us!.  

 (Year 2011 New Year’s Card from TID!)

Kobe Luminarie Lights Up Kobe’s Winter

  This year marks the 16th anniversary of the Kobe Luminarie. The festival is held between December 2nd to December 12th at the Old Foreign Settlement and Higashi-Yuenchi in Chuo-ku, Kobe.
  The festival began in December of 1995 in memory of the lives that were lost during the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake, but now, this popular winter festival represents the hopes and bright futures of the people of Kobe.

    

 Illuminating Arches

Learning the History of Sake in Nishinomiya

Hello everyone! The other day I visited the city of Nishinomiya, which is located in the southeastern part of Hyogo prefecture, and it is conveniently located about 15 minutes by train from Kobe and Osaka.

Nishinomiya is famous for its’ sake breweries, and Imazu Brewery and Nishinomiya Brewery, are two of the five famous breweries in Japan.

                                                                 Nishinomiya Shrine

Rare Plants from Around the World! –The Plants Museum of Miracle Planet- (Kiseki-no-hoshi-no-shokubutsukan)

Have you ever heard of “The Plants Museum of Miracle Planet” at Awaji Yumebutai in Awaji city? It was designed by the world famous architect, Tadao Ando, A Pritzker Architecture Prize recipient. It opened in 2000 as the largest green house in Japan. Ando actually designed most of the buildings in Awaji Yumebutai. It’s a unique botanical garden where you can enjoy both natural and artistic beauty.

                                             Inside the The Plants Museum of Miracle Planet