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Himeji Castle
Hyogo
Connecting Lives
Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site located in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture, is one of Japan's most beautiful castles. Also known as the "White Heron Castle," it is renowned for its white exterior walls and unique roof design, which resemble a heron spreading its wings. There are various viewpoints around Himeji City where visitors can enjoy stunning views of the castle. From Himeji Station, the castle's majestic form stretches out to the south, and other great views can be enjoyed from Shiromidai Park and Otokoyama Reservoir Park. Visitors can also experience the charm of the castle town by strolling through the streets in traditional kimono, immersing themselves in the atmosphere of the Edo period.
Read More1 hour and 10 minutes by car, 1.5 hours by train
Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum
Hyogo
Connecting Lives
The Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum, located in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, is Japan's only museum dedicated to carpentry tools. It was established in 1984 to collect, preserve, and pass down disappearing carpentry tools as cultural heritage, through research and exhibitions. The museum showcases a carefully selected collection of around 1,000 carpentry tools, along with a replica of the pillars and framework of Toshodaiji Temple’s Kondo (Golden Hall), a National Treasure, and a full-scale model of a tea ceremony room. Visitors can learn about and experience the skills, wisdom, and spirit of the craftsmen who mastered these tools, as well as the architecture and wood culture that surround them.
Read More15 minutes by car, 30 minutes by train
Nada Gogo
Hyogo
Saving Lives
This is a sake brewery tourism tour of the Nada area in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan's leading sake-producing region. With a tradition of sake brewing that has been passed down for 400 years, Nada Gogo's breweries are known for their sustainable practices, from sourcing raw materials to brewing processes and waste utilization. Every year, local breweries host a series of kurabiraki ("warehouse opening") events from October to April, where visitors can taste freshly brewed sake made during the winter months. Visitors will also have the opportunity to take a tour of the breweries, learn about historic brewing methods, and participate in sake tasting experiences accompanied by a local resident with a deep knowledge of sake and the Nada area.
Read More45 minutes by car, 1.5 hours by train
Izumi Riki Seisakusho
Osaka
Empowering Lives
Sakai City in Osaka Prefecture is one of Japan's most renowned cutlery production centers. Particularly famous are the Sakai uchi hamono, knives that are handcrafted by skilled artisans one by one. At Izumi Riki Seisakusho, you can not only experience making authentic Japanese knives, but also learn how to sharpen them, so that you can maintain them by yourself. After the experience, participants can take home an authentic Sakai knife, which is said to be used by many professional chefs. Using the knife at home will surely give you an appreciation of its exceptional sharpness and the masterful craftsmanship behind it.
Read More20 minutes by car, 30 minutes by train
Factories in Sakai and Takaishi
Osaka
Empowering Lives
The Sakai-Senboku Coastal Industrial Zone, located in the cities of Sakai and Takaishi and home to a cluster of large-scale plants, is dotted with various spots where you can enjoy a stunning night view of the factories from different angles. The view from the Hanshin Expressway Bayshore Route, which is familiar to many people, is particularly striking and resembles a scene from a sci-fi movie. There are also factory nightscape tours available by sightseeing taxi, making it a perfect experience particularly for photography enthusiasts who want to capture the unique and mesmerizing scenery, different from the daytime.
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