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Eight family-friendly tourist attractions in the Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture

Eight family-friendly tourist attractions in the Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture

2021-08-24 Management office

This article introduces eight family-friendly tourist attractions in the Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture. This time we focused on areas such as Himeji Castle, which is designated as a World Heritage Site, and Ako City, which is associated with "Chushingura ". There are many places to visit, from historical buildings to leisure facilities that families can enjoy together. Why not find your favorite spot and enjoy a trip with your family?
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Himeji Castle



When you get off at the north side of JR Himeji Station, the first thing that catches your eye is the beautiful white plaster walls of Himeji Castle. The castle can be seen clearly in front of the observation deck. Himeji Castle was built by Sadanori Akamatsu in 1346, and Toyotomi Hideyoshi built the three-story castle tower when he was the lord of the castle. After the Battle of Sekigahara, Ikeda Terumasa completed the five-story tower and the interconnecting tower, giving Himeji Castle the appearance it has today. The castle has been protected by many castle lords, and since the Meiji era (1868-1912), the national government and local residents have repeatedly carried out conservation and repair work to preserve the beauty of the castle as it was when it was built.

Highlights of Himeji Castle



"Himeji Castle, also known as Shirasagijo (White Heron Castle) ", has been loved by many people because of its beautiful appearance, which can be seen even in the city, like a white heron spreading its wings. The seven-story, five-story main keep with one basement level and six stories above ground, as well as three other keep towers, can all, but not all, be seen inside the castle. The stone steps leading up to the main keep and the route through the six gates is like a maze, and is sure to be an exciting experience for both children and adults. On the top floor, 92 meters above the ground, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the city and feel as if you were the lord of the castle.

Senhime's cosmetic turret and Nishinomaru Choukyo



Sen Hime was the princess of Hidetada, the second Tokugawa shogun, and after marrying Toyotomi Hideyori, she was rescued during the fall of Osaka Castle and later remarried to Honda Tadatoki. After moving to Himeji, she is said to have visited Tenma Tenjin enshrined on Otokoyama in the western part of the city every morning from the corridor of Nishinomaru Nagatsukubo. The 240-meter-long corridor contains rooms where Sen Hime's maidens lived. This is one of the places you should visit when the timing is right.

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Himeji Castle
Address: 〒670-0012 Himeji City, 68 Honmachi
Phone number: 079-285-1146
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (except for closed castle days, December 29 and 30)
Budget: Adults 1000 yen / Children 300 yen (elementary, junior high and high school students)
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: 20-minute walk from JR Himeji Station, Himeji Castle Loop Bus ", get off at Himeji Castle Otemae ", parking in the vicinity
URL: https://www.himejicastle.jp/

Kokoen



At Kokoen Garden, a 10-minute walk west of Himeji Castle, visitors can see a group of nine gardens and the Iken Kaiyushiki Garden, which expresses natural beauty through ponds and flowing water. The most attractive feature of the garden is that it borrows scenery from Himeji Castle, a World Heritage site, creating a magnificent view of the lush greenery of the Nishinomaru area and the changing flowers and trees of the four seasons.



The largest garden in the park is the former west residence of the feudal lord of Himeji, with Himeyama as its backdrop, and a large pond in the center of the garden where brightly colored Nishikigoi carp swim peacefully. The park also has a restaurant and a full-fledged
The tea ceremony room is a traditional sukiya-style tea house, where visitors can enjoy a meal or tea ceremony with a view of the garden.

"Facility Information "
Name: Kokoen Garden, Garden of the West Palace Site of Himeji Castle
Address: 68 Honmachi, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, 670-0012
Phone number: 079-289-4120
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except Dec. 29 and 30 when the park is closed)
Budget: Adults 310 yen / Children 150 yen (elementary, junior high and high school students) Kokoen/Himeji Castle common ticket: Adults 1050 yen / Children 360 yen
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: 20-minute walk from JR Himeji Station, Himeji Castle Loop Bus ", get off at Himeji Castle Otemae ", parking in the vicinity
URL: https://www.himeji-machishin.jp/ryokka/kokoen/

Shoushazan Engyoji Temple



Shōkeizan, known as Hieizan in the west, is located about 7.5 km northwest of Himeji Castle, or about 20 minutes by car. At the top of the mountain stands Engyo-ji Temple, the 27th temple of the Saigoku Sacred Sites in the western part of Japan. The summit can be reached by either a ropeway or a climbing route.



The vast temple grounds include Maniden, the main lecture hall, a large lecture hall, a regular hall, and a dining hall arranged in a U-shape, as well as Okuno-in (inner sanctuary), which houses a life-size wooden statue of the founder, Shonin Seikoku Shonin. Visitors can also experience one-day ascetic practices and sutra copying if they wish, so if you are interested, why not make a reservation and experience something out of the ordinary in a quiet temple deep in the mountains?

"Facility Information "
Facility name: Shoshazan Engyoji Temple, a separate head temple of the Tendai sect
Address: 2968 Shosha, Himeji, Hyogo 671-2201
Phone number: 079-266-3327
Opening hours: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Budget: 500 yen
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: From JR/Sanyo Dentetsu Himeji Station, take Shinki Bus "bound for Shosha Ropeway "and get off at the last stop (about 30 minutes)
URL: http://www.shosha.or.jp/

Himeji Central Park



Next, I would like to introduce Himeji Central Park, which is very popular among families and couples. While locally known as "HIME-SEN ", the park itself is a unique safari park that claims to be "the farthest away from the heart "in the world due to the lack of coverage by the media. The park is a year-round leisure facility with a safari park, an amusement park, an aquatic area in summer, and an ice park in winter, all on a vast site about the size of 48 Koshien baseball stadiums.

A powerful safari that offers a glimpse into the lives of animals



The popular Safari Park offers a full-fledged safari experience regardless of the season or weather. Visitors can take a drive-through safari in a private bus or their own car, which is a great way to see herds of wild animals and herbivores that are not usually seen up close and personal. You will also be greeted by many rare and cute idols such as white lions, white tigers, and otters. If you want to enjoy yourself without crowds and nectar, why not visit and get closer to the animals?

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Safari Resort Himeji Central Park
Address: 1434 Kamiya, Abundance-cho, Himeji, Hyogo 679-2121
Phone number: 079-264-1611
Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Please check the website for the latest information on hours of operation and days closed.
Budget: Admission fee: Adults 3,600 yen / Children (elementary school students) 2,000 yen / Infants (3 years old and up) 1,200 yen Separate fees are required for attractions in the amusement park and for the Safari Bus.
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space & Facilities: Approx. 30 min. by Shinki Bus from JR Himeji Station Parking lot available
URL: https://www.central-park.co.jp/

Tatsuno Castle



Tatsuno City "is a national Important Preservation District for Groups of Buildings ", where the castle town of the Tatsuno Clan (53,000 koku) with its white walls and townhouse architecture remains. "is called Harima's Little Kyoto ". Tatsuno Castle was built in two phases: a mountain castle built on the summit of Mount Keiro (鶏籠山) in the past, and a flat mountain castle rebuilt on the present site in the early Edo period.



The present Honmaru Goten was reconstructed in 1979, with the upper hall recreated in a dazzling golden room. The ruins of the old castle can be climbed from Mt. Why not take a hike up to the top of the mountain?

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Tatsuno Castle
Address: 128-1 Kami-Kasagi, Tatsuno-cho, Tatsuno City, 679-4179
Phone number: 0791-63-0907
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. [Closed Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, the following day), except year-end and New Year holidays (December 29 through January 3) ]
Budget: Free
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: 20 minutes on foot from JR Hime-Shin Line Hontatsuno Station
URL: https://www.city.tatsuno.lg.jp/kouhohisho/tatsunojyo.html

Ibo Noito Museum, Somen no Sato



Hand-pulled somen noodles made with local Harima wheat, salt from Ako, and water from the clear Ibo River have become a representative of the local industry with their traditional production method. This is a museum where you can learn about the history and production process of the nationally famous hand-pulled somen noodles. It also has a demonstration corner where you can observe the traditional technique and a place where you can actually enjoy the somen-nagashi. Why not stop by with your family or as a couple?

"Facility Information "
Name: Ibo Noito Museum: Somen no Sato (Village of Somen)
Address: 56 Okumura, Kamioka-cho, Tatsuno, Hyogo 679-4101
Phone number: 0791-65-9000
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. [Closed every Monday (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday), except year-end and New Year holidays. ]
Budget: Adults 300 yen / Junior and senior high school students 200 yen / Children 100 yen
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: 30 minutes drive from JR Himeji Station and JR Aioi Station. Parking lot available.
URL: https://www.ibonoito.or.jp/soumennosato/

Ako Oishi Shrine



Banshu-Ako, located on the western edge of the Harima region, is famous for "its connection to the Chushingura "and Oishi Shrine is dedicated to the lives of forty-seven samurai, including Oishi Kuranosuke Yoshio. The shrine also enshrines three generations of the Asano family and the subsequent lord of the castle, the Mori family.



The approach to the shrine is lined with statues of the 47 Ronin, and it is a pleasure to find the one you are looking for. The Yoshishi Museum displays the belongings of the Yoshishi and other valuable historical documents. "Even if you are not a fan of the Chushingura ", you should visit the shrine at least once.

"Facility Information "
Name of facility: Ako Oishi Shrine
Address: 131-7 Kamikariya, Kamikariya, Ako, Hyogo 678-0235 (in the old castle)
Phone number: TEL: 0791-42-2054
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space and Facilities: 15-minute walk from Banshu-Ako Station on the JR Ako Line.
URL: https://www.ako-ooishijinjya.or.jp/

Ako Kaihin Kouen (Ako Seaside Park)



Facing the Seto Inland Sea, Ako City has long prospered as a place where the salt industry flourished. Ako Seaside Park was built on the site of the former salt fields. The vast grounds include an amusement park, auto campground, tennis courts, and other facilities, as well as parks and plazas, making it an ideal environment for outdoor play. The amusement facilities, such as the Giant Ferris Wheel and the Land Train that runs through the park, can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from small children to couples. The park also satisfies outdoor enthusiasts, who can enjoy nature on Red Lake and White Lake by boat or kayak.

"Facility Information "
Facility Name: Hyogo Prefectural Ako Seaside Park
Address: 1857 Misaki, Ako City, 〒678-0215
Phone number: 0791-45-0800
Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (except Dec. 29 - Jan. 1 when the park is closed)
Budget: Admission free, fee-based facilities require an additional fee.
No smoking and smoking: No smoking in the entire building
Space/Facilities: From JR Banshu-Ako Station, take a bus bound for Misaki or Kanpo no Yado Ako, get off at "Myojinki ", and drive south for about 15 minutes. From Sanyo Expressway, Ako I.C., drive southeast for 6 km or about 10 minutes (road signs are posted).
URL: http://www.hyogo-park.or.jp/akokaihin/

summary

So far we have introduced sightseeing spots in the Harima area of Hyogo Prefecture that can be enjoyed by the whole family. Since the Harima area is the largest region in Hyogo Prefecture, there are many other attractive spots that we have not been able to introduce. Please plan your trip according to your purpose and visit these places.

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