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Localities in Hyogo A Japan in Miniature Hyogo Prefecture extends from the Japan Sea in the north to the Seto Inland Sea in the south, and further down to the Pacific Ocean through Awaji Island. Hyogo has an overall area of 8,395 square kilometers, with a population of about 5.6 million as of January 2010. Hyogo Prefecture contains a rich variety of communities ranging from large cities to rural villages as well as isolated islands, and also has several diversified climatic and natural features. Various leisure The 5 Districts of Hyogo Kobe-Hanshin, Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji activities can be enjoyed here, including swimming, skiing, and bathing in numerous hot springs. As a result, Hyogo Prefecture has become known as a Japan in Miniature. The Prefecture Kyoto Hyogo consists of five highly distinctive districts: Settsu (Kobe and Shiga Kobe Hanshin), Harima, Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji, each of which Osaka has its own unique history, climate, and industries. Tajima Mie Nara Wakayama Tamba Harima Settsu Climate Due to the region s vast land size, climates in Hyogo vary by region, and can be categorized into three different geographic zones - the southern area along the Seto Inland Sea, the northern area along the Japan Sea, and the mountainous area in the middle. The climate in the south is moderate with little rain, while the cloudy and rainy north receives seasonal winds from Siberia in the wintertime and has a lot of snowfall. Industries Most of the Prefecture s population - over 90% - reside in the urban areas of Kobe, Hanshin, and Harima. Industries such as steel, shipbuilding, and machinery are concentrated in these large urban areas. In contrast, agricultural, forestry, and fishing industries are active in the districts of Tajima, Tamba, and Awaji, against the backdrop of beautiful rivers, mountains, and seas. Leisure Activities As a result of Hyogo s diversified climate and abundant natural features, swimming and other marine sports can be enjoyed in the summer in various places facing the Japan Sea and the Seto Inland Sea, while in the winter skiing can be enjoyed in the mountains of Tajima. Also, Arima hot springs, one of the oldest in Japan, as well as Kinosaki and Yumura hot springs, are all popular tourist attractions in Hyogo Prefecture. Located on the Japan Standard Time meridian (135 East Longitude) Population: 5.53 million (2015 census figure) Area: 8,400km² Prefectural capital: Kobe City (Kobe and Hanshin) Harima Nada Seto Inland Sea 7 Osaka Bay Awaji Island Hyogo Prefecture is situated almost exactly in the middle of the Japanese archipelago. Bordered by the Sea of Japan to the north, and the Seto Inland Sea to the south, as well as the Pacific Ocean on the other side of Awaji Island, this vast prefecture features regions full of character, with large cities as well as abundant nature. Taking advantage of the prefecture s diverse climate and natural features, Hyogo produces many agricultural and fisheries products, with brands such as Kobe Beef, Yamada Nishiki sake brewer s rice, Tamba black beans, Awaji onions, and Tajima snow crab, known across the entire country. Stretching along the coastline of the Seto Inland Sea to the east and west are Kobe, cosmopolitan city with a population of around 1.5 million, and Himeji, Nishinomiya, and Amagasaki, cities with populations of around 500,000. This is also an area featuring many of the nation s best schools and companies. Festivals and Events In various parts of the Prefecture, traditional culture has been passed down through the generations. Visitors can enjoy the traditional Awaji Ningyo Joruri puppet theater and the all-female Takarazuka Revue. There are also a variety of exciting events, such as the Nada Fighting Festival and Toka Ebisu as well as the Shunsetsusai Festival (Chinese New Year festival) in Nankinmachi (Chinatown). Prefectural capital Kobe City Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall

Sights from the 5 Distric ts of Hyogo Nightscape from Mount Maya Counted as one of Japan s top three nightscapes, the view extends all the way to Osaka. Kobe City International School Children from various countries study at nursery school through to high school levels. The photo shows the school library. KOBE / HANSHIN Rokko Mountains Travel easily from central Kobe to the top of the peaks with a cable car and ropeway(or bus). An observation deck from where you can see the 10 Million Dollar nightscape is located at the peak. The Kobe/Hanshin area is known as a leader in arts and culture (Takarazuka Revue, etc.), sports (Koshien Stadium, etc.), and multi-cultural coexistence (international trade port). As the entrance to Hyogo, there are abundant options for work, education and living, and a transportation network that allows convenient travel to major cities in less than two hours. Canadian Academy Takarazuka Grand Theater This popular theater located in Takarazuka held its first perfor performance in 1914. Productions are performed by an all-female troupe. Takarazuka Revue Kobe beef Tajima cattle that meets a set standard is approved as Kobe beef. It was very well received at the Expo Milano 2015. Hyogo Tourism Association Multi-language Website http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/ (Information in English, Chinese, Korean) 8

Akashiyaki Akashi City. These egg dumplings from Akashi City are famously served with dashi broth for dipping. With about 160 years history, they are thought to have been the inspiration for takoyaki octopus dumplings. The Nada Fighting Festival Held in Himeji City, this is one of Japan s biggest fighting festivals. It involves yatai (ornate palanquins) jolting against one another fiercely in a dynamic parade, providing a spectacle which makes this festival very popular. The world s largest third-generation synchrotron radiation facility SPring-8, and the X-ray laser SACLA Located in Harima Science Garden City, this is a large-scale synchrotron radiation facility capable of generating synchrotron radiation with the highest performance in the world. The facility is utilized by researchers from across Japan and around the world. HARIMA RIKEN The Harima area, home to the World Heritage Site Himeji Castle, is centered around Himeji City with a population of 500,000. The area stretches from the warm Seto Inland to the mountains where you can enjoy skiing. Harima is popular with families as it meets a variety of lifestyle needs from urban to country. World Heritage Site, Himeji Castle Himeji City. In December 1993, this castle became Japan s first World Heritage Site, along with the Horyu-ji Temple in Nara. Restoration work on the castle s large keep was completed in 2015. 9

Kinosaki Onsen Visit these hot springs in Toyooka City, with their weeping willows swaying in the breeze, the flowers floating along the Otanigawa River, and the rows of quaint wooden inns to stay in. Dress in a yukata and head out for a soak. TAJIMA The Tajima area situated in the northern part of Hyogo Prefecture faces the Sea of Japan, famous for snow crab. Visitors can enjoy beaches in the summer, and skiing in the winter. Accessible within two hours from Kobe and Himeji, this area is perfect for outdoor-oriented families who want to raise their children in a nature-rich environment, etc. Tajima Ski Slopes Hyogo has one of the highest numbers of ski slopes out of all the prefectures in western Japan. The Tajima region has a particularly high concentration of ski fields. Snow crab Tajima region. Snow crab is considered representative of winter cuisine in Tajima, and Tajima boasts the largest catch quantity of snow crab in Japan. Oriental White Stork Toyooka City. Toyooka was the last habitat for wild oriental white storks, and initiatives to reintroduce them into the wild have been continuing for more than half a century. Tajima Cattle, the source of Kobe Beef For hundreds of years, Tajima cattle have been bred in the Tajima region, without any cross-breeding with cattle from other prefectures. They are also the breeding cattle for non-hyogo brands Matsuzaka beef and Omi beef. 10

Hyogo Map Kasumi Hamasaka Kinosaki Hot Springs Kami Yumura Hot Springs Hyogo Prefecture n Kitakinki Tango Railway Wakasa Bay Amanohashidate Toyooka Tajima Airport Toyooka Shinonsen Miyazu Tajima Nishi-Maizuru Tottori Prefecture Yabu Wadayama West Harima Chizu Asago Bantan Line Chizu Express Ikuno Kamikawa Shiso Fukusaki Kishin Line Shiota Hot Springs Himeji Hon-Tatsuno Tatsuno Ako n se ka n hin S yo Ako Line Ba Ao Taishi Ta t Aioi A su b o no sh i Ono machi Kakogawa Himeji Takasago ns hu Ako Hot Springs -Ak o Harima Nada Ieshima Islands Kakogawa Inami East Harima 25 minutes Osaka 25 minutes Kinosaki 200 minutes 30 minutes 20 minutes 40 minutes 170 minutes Himeji JR Line 70 minutes 90 minutes Kagawa Prefecture 20 minutes 40 minutes Maiko Awaji Kansai International Airport 30 minutes 40 minutes Kobe Osaka Bay Awaji Island 60 minutes Arima Takarazuka 40 minutes Takarazuka Hot Springs Itami Arima Hot Springs Nishinomiya Itami Mount Rokko Ashiya Amagasaki Mount Maya Awaji 60 minutes Sumoto Kawanishi Takarazuka a zu k a ra Tak Takedao Kobe 100 minutes Kansai International Airport Sanda As Amagasaki Shin-Osaka Kobe Shin-Kobe N a Ro k h i y a nsen Akashi inka S h k d S o Osaka M ann a om S a ny ich Ko oto om i b i m y e Maiko Sh Nishi-Akashi ac a Ni in Tennoji sh hi Na Akashi in ga om ta Akashi Kaikyo Bridge i Kobe Airport ya (Domestic) Iwaya Hot Springs Kyoto Shodoshima Islands Osaka(Itami) International Airport Osaka(Itami) International Airport Inagawa Sanda Takedao Hot Springs 90 minutes 55 minutes 160 minutes Miki Hanshin Harima Times and Access Map in Kansai 150 minutes 180 minutes Ono Kato Sasayamaguchi To k Aioi Kamigori Hinase Nishiwakishi Kasai Takino Fukuchiyama Line San Nishiwaki Kakogawa Line Sanyo Line Sasayama Tanigawa Ichikawa Kamigori Okayama Prefecture Taka Teramae Sayo San'in Line Tamba Tamba Sayo Kyoto Prefecture Ayabe Fukuchiyama ine Tottori o se ol Tottori Airport K in ion aid Japan Sea San'in Line k sa Osaka Prefecture Hineno Sumoto Hot Springs Minami-Awaji Sumoto Onaruto Bridge Wakayama Naruto Straits Wakayama Prefecture Nushima Island Tokushima Prefecture 60 minutes Highway Bus Kobe Bay Shuttle Regional Revitalization Division Residents Planning Department Hyogo Prefectural Government If you would like more copies of this leaflet to use or distribute, please contact us using the following contact details. 5-10-1 Shimoyamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo T E L 078-362-4221 FA X 078-362-3950 E - m a il chiikisousei@pref.hyogo.lg.jp 27企P2-092A4