History & heritage
Historic sites in Hyogo
Hyogo stretches from the Seto Inland Sea to the Sea of Japan. Its history runs from ancient burial mounds to Himeji Castle and the port city of Kobe.
34 places · 27 nationally protected
Himeji Castle is the reason most people come. Its white keep from the early 1600s is original, and in 1993 it became one of Japan's first UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It is about 30 to 40 minutes from Shin-Osaka by shinkansen, so it fits easily into a day.
The rest of Hyogo's history is spread out. Kobe opened to foreign trade in 1868, and its port still keeps a stretch of quay wrecked by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake as a memorial. In the north, Izushi is a small castle town with old samurai houses and a wooden clock tower. Across the prefecture, ancient burial mounds and the sites of 8th-century provincial temples tell the older story.
Good to know
- Get to Himeji Castle at opening time: on busy days the line for the keep can take over an hour.
- Next door, the Koko-en garden is a quiet extra; a combined ticket covers both.
- Izushi is far north: it pairs well with the onsen town of Kinosaki, about 40 minutes away by bus.
Start with these
The ones worth planning a day around.
- Himeji
Himeji Castle
姫路城Japan's finest original castle: a white keep from the early 1600s over a maze of gates and walls. Climb the six floors in socks.
- Chuo Ward, Kobe
Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park
神戸港震災メモリアルパークA stretch of Kobe's quay left as the 1995 earthquake broke it, with tilted lampposts and a small exhibit, by the waterfront at Meriken Park.
- Toyooka
Izushi Karo Yashiki
豊岡市立出石家老屋敷A restored house of a senior samurai retainer in Izushi's castle town, a short walk from the clock tower and the soba shops.
- Himeji
Harima Kokubun-ji Temple
播磨国分寺The site of Harima's 8th-century provincial temple near Himeji, where the foundation stones show the size of the lost halls.
More History & heritage in Hyogo
Every place shows its Japanese name, so you can search it on a map or show it to a taxi driver.
Chasuriyama Kofun
茶すり山古墳An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Kasuga Shrine
春日神社A Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Kodo temple ruins
広渡廃寺跡A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Maiko Battery Site
明石藩舞子台場跡A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Takarazuka
Nakayamasoen Kofun
中山荘園古墳An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Toyooka
Nakashima Shrine
中嶋神社A Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Toyooka
Kukuhi Shrine
久久比神社A Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Gossakaito
五斗長垣内遺跡A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Yakami Castle
八上城A castle in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Takarazuka
Hachiman Shrine
八幡神社A Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Kita Ward, Kobe
Futatabi Park
再度公園A park in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Higashinada Ward, Kobe
Otomezuka Kofun
処女塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Show all 30 places
Onaka Ruins
大中遺跡A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
Taisan-ji Joju-in Garden
太山寺成就院庭園A garden in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Himeji
Himeji Park
姫路公園A park in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Himeji
Himeji City Zoo
姫路市立動物園A zoo in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Himeji
Himeji Shrine
姫路神社A Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Himeji
Hiromine Shrine
広峯神社A Shinto shrine in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Toyooka
Former Okaji Temple Garden
旧大岡寺庭園A garden in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Toyooka
Genbudo Museum
玄武洞ミュージアムA museum in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Amagasaki
Tano Site
田能遺跡A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Chuo Ward, Kobe
Kobe Kitano Museum
神戸北野美術館A museum in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Nishinomiya
Kwansei Gakuin Campus Kofun
関西学院構内古墳An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Toyooka
Tajima Kokubun-ji Temple
但馬国分寺A Buddhist temple in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Himeji
Hikasayama Shell Midden
日笠山貝塚A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Toyooka
Yogorebaba Kofun Group
ヨゴレババ古墳群An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Chuo Ward, Kobe
Fish Dance
フィッシュ・ダンスA historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Higashinada Ward, Kobe
Heboso Kofun
ヘボソ塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Higashinada Ward, Kobe
Higashi Motomezuka Kofun
東求女塚古墳An ancient burial mound in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
- Amagasaki
Inadera Temple Ruins
猪名寺廃寺跡A historic site in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.
History & heritage in Hyogo on the map
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Questions
Is Himeji Castle original?
Yes. The keep dates from the early 1600s and has survived fires, wars and earthquakes. It is a National Treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
How long do I need at Himeji Castle?
Two to three hours for the keep and grounds, more if you add Koko-en garden. It's an easy half-day trip from Osaka, Kyoto or Kobe.
Can I see the 1995 earthquake damage in Kobe?
Yes, at the Port of Kobe Earthquake Memorial Park, where part of the broken quay was kept as it was. The city has otherwise been fully rebuilt.
Sources
We checked the facts on this page against these sources.
- www.himejicastle.jpHimeji Castle, official site (opens in a new tab)
- UNESCO World Heritage CentreHimeji-jo on the World Heritage List (UNESCO World Heritage Centre) (opens in a new tab)
- www.feel-kobe.jpKobe official travel guide (opens in a new tab)
- www.toyooka-tourism.comToyooka tourism (Izushi and Kinosaki) (opens in a new tab)
- www.hyogo-tourism.jpHyogo official travel guide (opens in a new tab)