Hyogo Living Guide: Best Cities & Popular Tourist Spots

Hyogo Prefecture is located in the western part of the Kinki region in Honshu. On the north region, it faces the Sea of Japan and the south region faces Seto Inland Sea (setonaikai). It is bordered by Kyoto, Osaka, Tottori, and Okayama prefectures. The prefectural capital is Kobe. A number of major industrial companies have their headquarters in Hyogo and it is also a popular tourist destination.

Because of the Chugoku Mountains in the center of the prefecture, the climate in the northern and southern regions differs. The northern part having harsh winters and heavy snowfall. The southern part of the prefecture has a milder climate, with less snowfall in winter and more than twice as many sunshine hours as the northern part, while the area receives a lot of rain in summer.

In this guide, we will cover Hyogo including some of the best cities to live and popular tourist spots. Whether you are looking for your next vacation destination or a place to settle down, be sure to check this guide to explore Hyogo Prefecture and what it has to offer.

Why People Love Hyogo

Diverse Regions

Hyogo is made of 5 former provinces with their own unique traits: Settsu, Tamba, Tajima, Harima, and Awaji. From Settsu, which accounts for approximately 60% of the prefecture's population and is home to Kobe, to Awaji, which has many parks with beautiful flowers and is said to be Japan's first island created by gods, Hyogo is a prefecture with diverse regions.

Rich Nature and History

Whether it is soaking in a hot spring with a long history, enjoying skiing at one of the ski resorts, or admiring breathtaking views from a mountain, Hyogo offers a lot of places where you can enjoy nature. Furthermore, there are also various historical places ranging from Western-style residences in Kobe to the magnificent Himeji Castle.

Delicious Food

Agriculture, livestock production, and fishing are all flourishing in Hyogo and the prefecture boasts the world-famous Kobe beef, highly-prized Akashi sea bream, sweet onions from Awaji Island, and more. Hyogo is also known for brewing sake, accounting for 30 percent of the national production (as of 2023). The prefectural capital is famous for its sweets, making it an exciting destinations for those who have a sweet tooth.

Best Cities to Live in Hyogo

Below, we will introduce some of the recommended cities to live in Hyogo.

Kobe - Cosmopolitan Prefectural Capital

Kobe is the prefectural capital of Hyogo and its most populated city. Following the opening of port in 1868, foreigners began to settle in Kobe, influencing its culture, food, and architecture. The city pioneered in various aspects witnessing the first film screening in Japan in 1896, and the formation of Japan's first professional jazz band in 1923. This cosmopolitan city also became known for Western sweets. Kobe boasts plenty of nature, including sea and mountains, as well as one of the three major night views in Japan. It is also home to one of the country's three oldest hot springs: Arima Onsen. There is a shinkansen station and an airport, offering easy access to various areas in Japan.

Key attractions: Kobe Kitano Ijinkan-Gai, Kobe Harborland, Nankinmachi, Arima Onsen

Himeji -  A City with the Famous Himeji Castle

Himeji is the second most populated city in Hyogo after Kobe. The city is most known for Himeji Castle. Himeji offers a convenient living environment with plenty of nature, mild climate, commercial facilities, etc. It also has a Shinkansen station making traveling convenient.

Key attractions: Himeji Castle, Koko-en, Himeji Central Park

Ashiya - One of the Most Luxurious Residential Areas in Japan

Located between Kobe and Osaka, Ashiya is known as the prestigious residential area. The city's Rokurokuso district is particularly famous as one of the most luxurious residential neighborhoods in the whole of Japan. Ashiya is rich in nature and offers great transportation access. From Ashiya Station, you can reach Sannomiya Station in Kobe in 8 minutes, and Osaka Station in 13 minutes.

Key attractions: Yodoko Guest House, Ashiya City Museum of Art and History

Nishinomiya - Home to the Famous Hanshin Koshien Stadium

With easy access to Kobe and Osaka as well as plenty of nature, Nishinomiya is a great place for living. The city is known for having the Hanshin Koshien Stadium, which is the venue of the famous high school baseball tournaments and is also home to Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team. Nishinomiya is also known for sake brewing.

Key attractions: Shukugawa Park, Nishinomiya Shrine, Hanshin Koshien Stadium

Akashi - The City of Time

Situated on 135 degrees east longitude, which is the meridian of Japanese Standard Time, Akashi is known as "the city of time". Boasting a coastline of over 15 km, it is a nice place to enjoy the sea, delicious seafood, including the highly prized Akashi sea bream. Akashiyaki is a famous dish of the city and there are many eating establishments serving it. The city also has a shinkansen station: Nishi-Akashi Station, from which you can travel to various areas in Japan.

Key attractions: Akashi Municipal Planetarium, Akashi Castle, Akashi Park

Access to Tokyo and Other Areas

Trains

Hyogo is home to 4 shinkansen stations: Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Aioi, and Nishi-Akashi Stations, offering easy access to various destinations in Japan. From Shin-Kobe Station, Tokyo Station can be reached in a bit over 2 and a half hours by shinkansen. Destinations such as Osaka and Kyoto can be also reached by other trains.

Airports

Kobe Airport is located just 18 minutes away by Port Liner from Sannomiya Station in Kobe. Thanks to the new terminal opening in April 2025, Kobe Airpot will offer international charter flights. Kounotori Tajima Airport in Toyooka offers flights to Osaka Itami Airport, which spans Itami in Hyogo Prefecture as well as Ikeda and Toyonaka in Osaka Prefecture. There is also a route to Haneda Airport in Tokyo with a connection at Osaka Itami Airport.

Highway Buses

There are various highway buses connecting Hyogo with Tokyo as well as many other destinations in Japan.

Popular Tourist Spots in Hyogo

Himeji Castle

With its history of over 600 years, Himeji Castle is Japan's National Treasure and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Owing to its white-plastered exterior, the caste is often called "Shirasagi-jo", which translates to "white heron". It is also a popular spot to enjoy cherry blossom viewing in spring.
>> Himeji Castle

Mt. Rokko

Offering fantastic views of Kobe and Osaka, Mt. Rokko is a very popular tourist spot. It is also home to a botanical garden with approximately 1500 sorts of plants, a snow park to enjoy skiing in the winter, and more.
>> Kobe / Mt. Rokko Official outing site

Kobe Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Kobe Kitano Ijinkan-Gai with its western-style residences dating back to Meiji and Taisho eras, is a great place to take a stroll and enjoy the historical side of Kobe. It used to be an area where many foreigners settled following the opening of Kobe Port in 1868.
>> Kobe Kitano Ijinkan-Gai

Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland is a very popular entertainment and shopping area in Kobe.
>> Kobe Harborland

Arima Onsen

Arima Onsen is located in Kobe and is one of three oldest hot springs in Japan. In the past, it was frequently visited by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This popular hot spring town would be a fantastic place to relax.
>> Arima Hot Springs Tourism Association

Conclusion

With its rich nature, famous sightseeing spots, delicious food, and more, Hyogo is a fantastic prefecture to explore. Whether it is a prefectural capital with its sweets and a charm of historical Western-style buildings, one of the most prestigious residential areas in Japan, or a city with a breathtakingly beautiful castle, Hyogo is home to various places that would be nice to relocate to and call home.