Hyogo: Local Specialties, Souvenirs, Shrines & Temples, Sightseeing | Japan 47 Prefecture Guide
Hyogo faces both the Japan Sea and the Inland Sea. Harima to the south, Tajima to the north, Tanba in the middle: several cultural regions inside one prefecture.
Local Specialties
Nada Gogo, across Kobe and Nishinomiya, is the largest sake-producing district in Japan.
There are four reasons. Miyamizu, hard water rich in minerals; Yamada Nishiki, the leading sake rice, much of it grown in Hyogo; the cold wind off Rokko; and the port. The conditions for brewing and the means of shipping to Edo were in the same place.
Kobe beef, Tajima beef, Akashi octopus, sand lance. And matches, for which the area around Himeji is known as a production centre.
Souvenirs
Sake, pork buns from Chinatown, and Western confectionery. Kobe has so many patisseries because foreigners lived here early, in a port opened to the world.
And a Banshu abacus or a vessel of Tanba Tachikui ware. With production spread across separate districts, the range of souvenirs is wide.
Sacred Sites | Shrines & Temples
Nishinomiya Jinja is the head shrine of Japan's Ebisu shrines (about 3,500 shrines). Kakurinji and Ichijoji holds National Treasures. 34 shrines and temples worth knowing in Hyogo.
Nishinomiya Jinja(Nishinomiya)Shinto shrine / Important Cultural Property / Hanshin and Kobe / Head shrine of Ebisu shrines (about 3,500 shrines) / Blessings: business prosperity, wealth
Before dawn on 10 January each year, the gates open and runners race the 230 metres to the main hall. The first three are that year's lucky men. It is no accident that a shrine to the god of business prosperity stands at the centre of a town of ports and sake.
Ikuta Jinja(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: love and relationships
The shrine that gave Kobe its name. The households assigned to serve it were called kanbe, and that word became the place name.
Shoshazan Engyoji(Himeji)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Harima / Blessings: warding off misfortune
A great mountain temple called the Mount Hiei of the west, known for the view of its three halls standing together.
Nakayamadera(Takarazuka)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: safe childbirth
Known across Japan for prayers for safe childbirth. It claims to be the first Kannon pilgrimage site in Japan.
Izushi Jinja(Toyooka)Shinto shrine / Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Tajima Province / Tajima / Blessings: warding off misfortune, good fortune
First shrine of Tajima Province. It enshrines the immigrant deity Amenohiboko and carries the tradition of the opening up of Tajima.
Minatogawa Jinja(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: victory, study and exams
It enshrines Kusunoki Masashige. His grave is in the grounds, with a stele raised by Tokugawa Mitsukuni.
Izanagi Jingu(Awaji)Shinto shrine / Ichinomiya (first shrine) of Awaji Province / Awaji / Blessings: love and relationships, warding off misfortune
Held to be where Izanagi finally came to rest in the myth of the creation of the islands. It claims to be the oldest shrine in Japan.
Engyoji(Himeji)Buddhist temple / Saigoku 33-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 27 / Important Cultural Property / Harima / Blessings: warding off misfortune
The Mount Hiei of the west. The Manidono and the great lecture hall, with three halls set in a U.
Nagata Jinja(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: business prosperity
One of the three shrines of Kobe. Known for the demon-chasing of its Tsuina rite.
Kitano Tenman Jinja(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: study and exams
It stands on the rise above the foreign residences district, looking down on Kobe port.
Tosen Jinja(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: long life, safe childbirth
The guardian of Arima, one of the three oldest springs of Japan.
Sumadera(Kobe)Buddhist temple / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: warding off misfortune
It preserves relics of Taira no Atsumori. The memory of the Genpei war lingers here.
Rokkosan(Kobe)Utaki (Ryukyuan sacred grove) / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: mountain worship
Sacred rocks are scattered through the mountains. The spine of Kobe.
Kiyoshi Kojin(Takarazuka)Buddhist temple / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: fire protection, business prosperity
Revered as the god of the kitchen. At the turn of each month the approach fills with a market.
Shoshazan(Himeji)Buddhist temple / Harima / Blessings: mountain worship
A mountain temple precinct also known as a film location.
Onsenji(Toyooka)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Tajima / Blessings: long life
It enshrines the founder of Kinosaki Onsen, and gave rise to the culture of touring the public baths.
Itsukushima Jinja (Sumoto)(Sumoto)Shinto shrine / Awaji / Blessings: business prosperity
One of the tutelary shrines of Awaji Island.
Kakurinji(Kakogawa)Buddhist temple / National Treasure / Harima / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its main hall and Taishido are National Treasures. It is called the Horyuji of Harima.
Ichijoji(Kasai)Buddhist temple / Saigoku 33-Temple Pilgrimage, Temple No. 26 / National Treasure / Harima / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Its three-storey pagoda is a Heian-period National Treasure, standing partway up the stone stairway.
Okunoin (Nakayama)(Takarazuka)Buddhist temple / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: safe childbirth
The Daihisui spring rises here. Those who have prayed for a safe birth climb up to draw the water.
Hirota Jinja(Nishinomiya)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: victory
The Hanshin Tigers come here to pray for victory. Known for its stands of Kobano-mitsuba azalea.
Mondo Yakujin(Nishinomiya)Buddhist temple / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: warding off misfortune
One of the three great yakujin temples of Japan. Hundreds of thousands come to its festival for warding off misfortune.
Nankobo(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Historic Site / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: victory
Tokugawa Mitsukuni had it inscribed: here lies the loyal retainer Kusunoki.
Tsunashiki Tenmangu(Kobe)Shinto shrine / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: study and exams
A legend tells that Michizane stopped at Suma and the fishermen made him a seat from a coil of rope.
Nunobiki no Taki(Kobe)Utaki (Ryukyuan sacred grove) / Place of Scenic Beauty / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: rebirth and renewal
One of the three sacred waterfalls of Japan, written into the Tales of Ise and the Kokinshu.
Ryuo Daki(Takarazuka)Buddhist temple / Hanshin and Kobe / Blessings: fire protection
A waterfall deep in the grounds.
Manden(Himeji)Buddhist temple / Harima / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Kakezukuri, thrust out from the rock face. Said to be where a heavenly being bowed to a cherry tree.
Tatsuno Jinja(Tatsuno)Shinto shrine / Harima / Blessings: business prosperity
A town of light soy sauce. It enshrines the Wakisaka family.
Kakinomoto Jinja(Akashi)Shinto shrine / Harima / Blessings: study and exams, safe childbirth
It enshrines Kakinomoto no Hitomaro, and stands beside the meridian of Japan standard time.
Kasuga Jinja (Sasayama)(Tanba-Sasayama)Shinto shrine / Important Cultural Property / Tajima / Blessings: the performing arts
Its Noh stage is an Important Cultural Property. The town of the Dekansho song.
Sekiganji(Tanba)Buddhist temple / Important Cultural Property / Tajima / Blessings: victory
Ashikaga Takauji took refuge here. Its Nio figures are Important Cultural Properties.
Tajima Kokubunji(Toyooka)Buddhist temple / Historic Site / Tajima / Blessings: warding off misfortune
Where the centre of Tajima Province was placed.
Hi no Michishirube(Awaji)Shinto shrine / Awaji / Blessings: good fortune
Suwa Taisha and Ise Jingu line up along the sunrise and sunset lines of the solstices.
Yuzuruha Jinja(Minamiawaji)Shinto shrine / Awaji / Blessings: mountain worship
It stands on the highest peak of Awaji Island, once a sacred mountain of shugendo.
Sightseeing
Himeji-jo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Breakdown: castle 2, historic townscape 1, hot spring 2, nature / scenery 1. 13 places to see in Hyogo.
Awaji Ningyo(Minamiawaji)festival / event / Awaji / Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property
It was performed at shrine festivals, and is one of the sources of bunraku.
Himeji-jo(Himeji)castle / Harima / National Treasure / UNESCO World Heritage (Cultural) / UNESCO World Heritage / 1609
One of the first World Cultural Heritage sites in Japan. It never burned in war, and the great keep stands as it was built.
Nada Gogo(Kobe and Nishinomiya)other / Hanshin and Kobe
The largest sake district in Japan. Miyamizu water and the cold winds off Rokko raised the sake.
Takedajo(Asago)castle / Tajima / Historic Site / 1443
The castle in the sky, afloat on a sea of cloud. Only the stone walls remain on the summit.
Kinosaki Onsen(Toyooka)hot spring / Tajima
Seven public baths, toured in a yukata. The inns keep their own baths deliberately small.
Arima Onsen(Kobe)hot spring / Hanshin and Kobe
One of the three oldest springs of Japan: the iron-rich golden spring, and the colourless silver spring.
Kitano Ijinkan(Kobe)historic townscape / Hanshin and Kobe / Preservation District for Traditional Buildings
The rise where foreigners lived after the port opened. The Weathercock House stands here.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge(Kobe)industrial heritage / Hanshin and Kobe / 1998
A central span of 1,991 metres. For a long time the longest suspension bridge in the world.
Nada Gogo(Kobe and nearby)industrial heritage / Hanshin and Kobe
The finest sake district in Japan. Miyamizu water and the cold winds off Rokko raised the sake.
Koshien Stadium(Nishinomiya)museum / theatre / Hanshin and Kobe / 1924
Completed in a kinoe-ne year, which gave it its name. Ivy covers the outer wall.
Awaji Island(Minamiawaji)nature / scenery / Awaji
The island of the creation myth. The whirlpools can be seen from above.
Ikuno Silver Mine(Asago)industrial heritage / Tajima / Historic Site / 807
The first mine the Meiji government took into state operation. You can walk the tunnels.
Kobe Port(Kobe)industrial heritage / Hanshin and Kobe / Important Cultural Property / 1963
A hyperboloid tower shaped like a hand drum. The first pipe-structure tower in the world.
Traditional Crafts
Five crafts hold national designation: Banshu abacuses, Tanba Tachikui ware, Izushi ware, Banshu fishing flies, and Toyooka willow work.
Banshu makes about 70 percent of the abacuses produced in Japan, and very nearly all of the fishing flies. Tanba Tachikui ware is one of the six ancient kilns.
More: VILLAGE Journal vol.24 — Seven in ten abacuses, almost every fishing fly
More from This Prefecture
See all Hyogo articles ← All 47 prefectures
Sources: Hyogo Prefecture, City of Kobe, City of Nishinomiya, City of Himeji, City of Ono, Agency for Cultural Affairs, National Tax Agency, Association for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries — Value Village editorial team