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medium sizeYour friend has a spreadsheet Japan. Another holds a hand-bound scrapbook, ready to be passed on to the next person planning a trip. It’s the kind of destination that brings out the Type A in us – people who have been planning their vacation for years and want to squeeze it all in. But for those of us who are tight on budget or time, the question becomes: How do you distill an entire country into one trip?
I found that the answer might be Hyogo Prefecture. This main island county is sometimes known as “Japan There are geographical reasons for its diversity: Hyogo is one of the few prefectures that borders two seas – the Sea of Japan to the north and the Seto Inland Sea to the south.
The result is a stunning blend of climate, terrain and culture, all within easy reach of each other. Yukiyama Shrine is just steps away from pristine beaches; the city center Kobe Nada, the 14th-century heart of Japanese sake production, is a 15-minute train ride away, and Arima, a 1,000-year-old hot spring town, is 30 minutes away.
Hyogo Prefecture is easily accessible from Kyoto and Osaka and can be easily explored by shinkansen, regional train, or car. Along the way, the scenery is beautiful. Approximately 20% of the land is designated as a national park.
My first stop was Kinosaki, a historic hot spring town that’s more remote than Arima but well serviced by trains and buses. In Kinosaki, you can purchase a pass to enter seven local springs and stroll among the springs, shops, and restaurants. bathrobe robe. I was told there are fireworks and a Lantern Festival on the canal in August.
Hyogo Prefecture’s diversity makes it worth visiting in any season (perhaps avoiding the wettest months of June and July). There is such madness Nada Kenka Festival October Dou Matsuri, cherry blossoms in full bloom Himeji Castle Like a spring dream. Himeji is the only UNESCO World Heritage castle in Japan, and its flower crown is considered by many to be the most spectacular in Japan.
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Summer brings life to both coastlines of Hyogo Prefecture. Suma Beach is the liveliest and is quickly accessible from Kobe, while Takeno Beach on the northern coast is praised for its clear waters. However, locals I spoke to actually recommend traveling in late November or December. I was surprised because when I visited at the end of the year it was almost eerily quiet.
But they also have advantages: As the climate changes, cherry blossom season becomes increasingly unpredictable, and the fiery red maple leaves—a delightful alternative—last into late fall. Fresh Matsuba snow crab arrives in town daily from the nearby port. Winter is the best season for hot spring bathing. It’s sake brewing season.
But locals say Hyogo Prefecture remains moderately crowded year-round — one of its appeals over typical tourist spots. Its destinations are smaller, less luxurious, but perhaps more striking because their ancient past has been perfectly preserved. Izushi City is a typical example: a nostalgic castle town with a population of only 2,000 people, known as “Tajima Little Kyoto”. With the theme of Little Kyoto, its cuisine is Sara Soba The noodles come in small plates: five piles per person, served with broth and toppings.
The tourists I met in Izushi were all Japanese. Many people come to visit the historic Eirakukan Kabuki Theater;The scene was filmed here That’s itIt premiered in Cannes last year.
It gets even busier during the fall program, when some of the country’s most respected kabuki actors come to perform for seven nights – all of which, I’m told, sell out quickly. The stands of the wooden theater are hung with lanterns and antique posters and smell like old silk.
Walking down the street from the theater, my guide and I passed the door of an old warehouse that was an earth building, meaning it was built with clay-rich soil. In the dim light of the lantern, the inside took on the color of saffron. This is a sake brewery – Sasakudating back to the 18th century. We were called by the staff to taste it.
I arrived in Kobe the next day due to a sprained neck. I had forgotten what crowds felt like. The shopping area has a trendy retro vibe: shopping malls, markets and cafés.
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Advertisements for Kobe beef are everywhere on the streets. Some of the best restaurants are located in the basement of Sannomiya: Restaurant pleasure It is directly managed by the Hyogo branch of the Japan Agricultural Cooperative Federation. After a long walk north, I arrived at the famous Butuhiki Herb Garden There’s also a weird little neighborhood, Kitano-machi, which is inspired by old European houses. Both enjoy long views of the city.
have a feeling Emoticons Kobe – Japanese slang for an elusive sense of aesthetically satisfying nostalgia. It was a pleasant, bittersweet feeling that lingered long after I left. But for a time-sensitive trip, nothing felt rushed and nothing felt missing.
how to do
Return flights from London Heathrow to Osaka Itami via Tokyo Haneda from £1,020 Japan Airlines. The airport bus journey to Kobe Sannomiya Station takes 40 minutes and tickets cost from £5.
Where to stay
Stunning hotel style rooms Nishimuraya Main Building Low season rates at Kinosaki start from £472 per night (based on two guests per room).
Located on Kobe Island Hotel Portopia Providing an affordable base for the city while offering stunning views. Rooms start from £41 per night.
Jinza is a guest Hyogo Prefecture Tourism Bureau