8 Best Places to see Hydrangea in Kansai

Hydrangea is a seasonal flower which is native to Japan and there are more than 50 diverse varieties of this flower. In Japan, a rainy season called Tsuyu starts around mid-June, and actually many people hate this season because of this gloomy weather. However, at the same time, you can feel many Japanese attractions which can’t be found in any other season, and Hydrangea is one of them.   Hydrangea flowers change color depending on the acidity of the soil. We will introduce spots in Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo where various kinds of hydrangeas such as blue, purple and pink bloom. <Table of Contents> 【Osaka, Suita】Expo ’70 Commemorative Park 【Osaka, Ikeda】Kyuan-ji Temple 【Kyoto, Ukyo-ku】Umenomiya-taisha Shrine 【Kyoto, Nishikyo-ku】Yoshimine Temple 【Kyoto, Nagaokakyo】Yanagitani-Kannon 【Hyogo, Kawanishi】Shounsan Raikouji Temple 【Hyogo, Kobe】Kobe Municipal Arboretum 【Hyogo, Rokko】Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden About 4,000 hydrangeas of about 30 varieties, including Western hydrangeas and Yaenoamacha, will be in full bloom at the Hydrangea Forest in the Nature Park of Expo ’70 Commemorative Park. Enjoy the fantastic space surrounded by diverse hydrangeas in red, blue, pink, etc. Kyuan-ji Temple has a path of hydrangeas so overgrown that they hide people. The gradation of hydrangeas on both sides of the path is a feast for the eyes. Floating hydrangeas on the pond are also popular as they look great on Instagram. The “Ajisai-Ukabe” usually held from mid to late June is even more impressive than the “Hana-Chozu”(flower water with handkerchiefs)! At Umenomiya Taisha Shrine, visitors can enjoy approximately 140 varieties of unique hydrangeas from the East Shrine Garden to the North Shrine Garden. You can also appreciate Hanashoubu, which blooms at the same time of the year. Located in the precincts of Yoshimine Temple halfway up the mountain is the Hakusan Hydrangea Garden, which boasts an area of 3,000 tsubo (about 1,000 square meters). About 8,000 hydrangea plants, including gaku hydrangea, color the entire slope of the garden. Visitors to Yanagitani Kannon can enjoy a cluster of about 5,000 hydrangea plants, including Japanese and Western hydrangeas. The hydrangea corridor in the precincts of the temple allows visitors to view the hydrangeas at their leisure without getting wet, even if it is raining. Yanagitani Kannon is famous for its “Hana-Chozu” (flower water with handkerchiefs). Many visitors come to the temple for Hana-Chozu, which is decorated with colorful seasonal flowers. Shounzan Raikoji Temple is commonly called “Hydrangea Temple. About 500 plants, including Western hydrangeas lovingly nurtured by the temple’s priests, bloom in large profusion. Take a stroll through the temple grounds and enjoy the different colors of the flowers. The Kobe City Forest Botanical Garden is home to many rare hydrangeas, such as the fantastic Citidanka flower and the clustered white Annabelle. The forest of approximately 50,000 hydrangeas of about 350 varieties is a sight to behold. At the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, located near the top of Mt. Rokko, 865 m above sea level, the “Shichidanka” hydrangea, said to be a phantom hydrangea, blooms. Characterized by its double-petaled flowers with overlapping petals, visitors can enjoy its pretty purple appearance. Also recommended is the “Hydrangea Garden,” where a wide variety of hydrangeas bloom, including the “Himehydrangea,” the city flower of Kobe City. Hydrangeas shine in the rain. Feel the change of the season by looking at the pretty blue, purple, and pink flowers.

Gourmet trip to enjoy sake by Hanshin Railway

The Hanshin Railway runs from Osaka to Kobe, a city by the sea. There are many delicious restaurants and fun places to visit along the Hanshin line. Nishinomiya and Kobe are home to Nada Gogo, the sacred land of sake, and the sake produced there has long been loved by the locals. In this issue, we will introduce various gourmet spots along the line with sake as the theme. Even sake beginners can enjoy themselves! Nada Gogo Sakedokoro opened its grand opening on April 29, 2022 as a place to promote the sake culture of Nada Gogo. 500-year-old sake brewery was renovated into a restaurant where you can enjoy drinking Nada Gogo sake and Kobe food. There are five sake breweries in Nada Gogo: Nishi-go, Mikage-go, Uozaki-go, Nishinomiya-go, and Imazu-go. Sake from all 26 breweries is gathered here, allowing visitors to enjoy sake from all regions at once. We recommend the “Nada Gogo Sakedokoro Set,” which includes five types of sake and three types of meals. The set includes five types of Nada Gogo sake and three seasonal small plates that go well with the sake. *Sake and meals change depending on the time of year and season. The building is a former sake brewery, so tanks and other items used in the sake making process still remain, allowing you to experience the culture and history of Nada. Random spotlights can be enjoyed from inside the restaurant. A small restaurant in Motomachi where you will be welcomed by the owner who loves to warm sake. The owner will suggest the sake that best suits your mood, so even beginners can feel at ease. The warm and cozy interior is perfect. No sugar is used in Setoka’s dishes. Each carefully prepared dish has a gentle taste that makes the most of the sweetness of the ingredients. Steak House La Peizan is a restaurant where you can slowly enjoy A5-rank Kobe beef. This restaurant is perfect for special occasions such as anniversaries and birthdays with your loved ones. Enjoy the finest Kobe beef with alcohol in a mature atmosphere. JHOICE Laboratory offers creative chocolates created by pairing carefully selected Japanese ingredients with cacao from around the world. The atelier-like interior draws you into another world the moment you enter. Unique chocolates combining Japanese seasonings and cacao, such as Rokko miso and cacao, grape sansho and cacao, black garlic and strawberry, and sudachi and sakekasu. It is recommended to enjoy it with sake. It enhances the aroma and flavor. Sake barrels are indispensable for sake brewing. The Kiku-Masamune Sake Barrel Meister Factory is where visitors can observe the sake barrel making techniques that have been used since the Edo period. Experience the charm of sake barrels. Visitors can observe the various processes up close, such as making sake barrels without the use of nails, combining cedar planks without gaps, and carefully shaving the inside of the barrel to prevent sake leakage. The barrel sake is characterized by its cedar aroma, and you can feel the flavor spreading with every sip. Please stop by the Kiku-Masamune Sake Brewery Memorial Museum next to the factory, where you can drink and purchase sake. Stand Hakusihka is a bar featuring background music by artists associated with Nishinomiya, sake, and neon lights. The atmosphere is like a café-bar, which is easy to enter even for those new to drinking. The snack menu is small in quantity, so you can order many different kinds to enjoy. Please enjoy the cute snacks with colorful sours and sake. We have introduced hidden spots recommended by locals along the Hanshin Railway. Once you get off the station, you are sure to find delicious restaurants and fun places to eat! Why don’t you take the Hanshin Railway to find a new world you never knew existed?  

3 Parks in Kansai You Can Enjoy With Your Family!

Don’t　you want to go to a park where you can play freely under the blue sky? There are many parks along the Hankyu line that are recommended for such occasions. -Relaxing in a café, playing with your children…. A place where you can enjoy yourself while relaxing and forgetting about everyday life. We have selected three such wonderful parks! I hope you find this helpful when considering where to go!   Table of Contents １ ＜Osaka＞ Ama Site Park ２ ＜Kobe＞ Meriken Park ３＜Osaka＞ Minoh Park Takatsuki City has been working for about 10 years to develop the Ama Site Park, and in March 2021, the park will finally be fully opened. The new landmark of Takatsuki City is about five times the size of the Koshien Stadium! It also has one of the largest family playgrounds in the Kansai region, “Bonelund Playville,” making it ideal for family outings. There are also stylish restaurants and kitchen cars, perfect for a date! At the large cafe “SUNDAY’S BAKE 569”, you can eat oven-baked pizza with a beer in one hand on open-air sofas or enjoy a barbecue on the terrace. If you want to enjoy an open-air lunch outdoors, take out from a kitchen car and eat on the lawn! For lunch, refreshing drinks starring herbs from our own garden, a “France-style salad” with a variety of seasonal vegetables and lunch with choice of soup are available. At night, the restaurant offers wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and a full trattoria menu. At night, the restaurant offers wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas and a full trattoria menu. The symbol of the secondary opening area is a farm-style building with white walls and a red roof. This is the former Kyoto University Farm, built in 1930. It is a building of high historical value, selected as a Heritage of Osaka Prefecture’s Heritage of Modernization, and its stone spandrel walls and other features show the fashion of the time when it was built. The renovated building is divided into three main parts: the main building, the exhibition hall, and the experience hall. “RESTAURANT FARMERS CLUB”, which occupies the majority of the main building, is a casual French restaurant that combines an authentic bistro menu with Western flavors. It is characterized by its high ceilings and open space. Stylish first floor seating Retro classic upstairs seating GRASS DOG & CAT is a comprehensive pet service facility with a dog run, a trimming salon, and a dog kindergarten. The dog run is covered, so you can let your pet play without worrying about the weather! On the first floor, there is a large selection of pet food and pet goods. There is also a line of cute clothes for pets. If you want to take care of your dog or cat, go to the Trimming Corner. Not only shampooing and trimming, but also packs and mouth care are available.   There is a dog kindergarten on the second floor! There are also training courses and other activities in which owners can participate. We’re always open for trial enrollment, so if you’re interested, please feel free to contact us! *Reservations must be made in advance to experience the park. Next up is Camp Gear & Cafe BASE, a hands-on camping café. In addition to offering a cafe menu and weekly camping meals, they also sell camping gear! Inside the store, visitors can enjoy a cup of tea in the café and get acquainted with camping gear. The lamps and tumblers displayed on the wall are colorful and stylish! It makes you want to buy camping gear at “Camp Gear & Cafe BASE” and go camping.   The store sells mainly small items, but it has a complete lineup, so those who have camping plans can enjoy shopping while consulting with the store staff. Now, for those with children, there is one place you should definitely stop by. That is the membrane trampoline “Fluffy Dome” located just across from the “Camp Gear & Cafe BASE” I mentioned earlier! The Fluffy Dome is one of the most popular playground equipment in Japan these days. It is a trampoline where children can take off their shoes and stretch out in nature. Children can naturally develop their leg strength while bouncing around on the trampoline and playing tag or running with their friends. It must be a lot of fun bouncing around in the liberating Ama Site Park!   The target age group is from 3 years old to elementary school students. Please read the promise listed in front of the Fluffy Dome before letting your child play. After walking around the city of Kobe, take a short walk to a seaside park. Under the open sky, lie down on the soft grass, read a book, and enjoy the night view, which will lighten your heart. There is an open space where children can exercise to their heart’s content. At night, you can enjoy a different atmosphere of Meriken Park than in the daytime. “Starbucks Coffee Kobe Meriken Park” is a great spot to view the harbor from inside the store! The terrace is also recommended during this season when the breeze is pleasant. A short distance from Meriken Park is “átoa,” a new urban aquarium that opened on October 29, 2021. The name “átoa” is a coined word that combines the words “Aquarium to” and “Art”. The aquarium is divided into eight zones, with approximately 60 tanks housing 3,000 living creatures of about 100 species. The 2nd to 4th floors of KOBE PORT MUSEUM are “átoa”. Admission is 2,400 yen for adults, 1,400 yen for elementary school students, 800 yen for infants (3 years and older), and free for children (under 3 years old). At “átoa cafe” located on the 4th floor, you can enjoy cute and attractive gourmet food that will make you want to take pictures. Hand size otter chocolate manju　(600 yen)   The manju (Japanese sweet bun) has a well-designed otter expression on it! Inside was a chocolate cream filling that not only looked great, but tasted great, too! When you visit Kobe, please enjoy the family time at Meriken Park and átoa, a new type of urban aquarium! Located only 30 minutes by train from Umeda, Osaka, Minoh Park offers a rich natural environment where visitors can enjoy walking along a waterfall path with beautiful fresh greenery in May and fall foliage viewing in autumn. The park attracts many visitors for dates and family outings, whether it is for the fresh greenery in spring, the cool summer air, or the changing leaves in autumn. In the latter half of June, fireflies can be seen dancing along the clear riverbank. It is fun to stroll through the park at night in search of the fantastic light. Fireflies prefer the darkness of the riverbanks where the trees are thick, so from the trees near the Ichino Bridge near the park entrance to the bridge in front of Ryuanji Temple are particularly good spots to find them. The peak of the light emission is around 9:00 p.m. The best time to see the fireflies is in late June, but in recent years, the emitting season tends to be earlier. Please do not take fireflies home with you, but rather gently hold them in your hands and watch them. Also, be careful not to expose yourself to strong light such as flashlights or camera flashes. “Yamamoto Coffee House” is recommended for those who want to visit Minoh Park and enjoy the great outdoors while taking a breather at a cafe. The building looks like a villa in a summer resort, which is impressive. It is located right in the middle of Hankyu Minoh Station and Minoh Otaki Waterfall. The restaurant has a high quality atmosphere steeped in history, with stately furnishings and chairs. The collection of coffee cups and coffee utensils is also noteworthy. The coffee served in this retro store is brewed with a siphon coffee maker. Each cup is carefully brewed after the order is placed.   Among a total of about 10 types of coffee, including original blends and coffees by region, we especially recommend the “Yamamoto Special Coffee”. It is characterized by its easy-drinking quality, while highlighting the richness and bitterness of the coffee.   “Yamamoto Special Coffee”, served in a pot, is a generous two cups. Enjoying the aroma and taste of the coffee slowly and carefully while gazing at the rich natural surroundings is in short, the best! Be sure to enjoy a light meal or a piece of cake as well. How did you like it? The Hankyu line connects Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, and other urban areas, but it is also characterized by a lot of greenery. There are many large parks along the line, and the characteristics of these parks vary. Please visit them for different purposes, such as playing with children on the many playground equipments, spending time at a relaxing café, or viewing beautiful flowers and insects.

Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe Spring Flower Spots

Spring is the season when all the plants and flowers that have been sleeping begin to move at once. Why don’t you go out to see colorful plants and flowers that give you a warm spring feeling? Here are some spots where you can enjoy flowers and plants in Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. Poppy is a member of the poppy family that has long been cultivated for ornamental and medicinal purposes. The seeds are also used in cooking. The Expo ’70 Park’s Shizen Bunka-en (Nature Park) and Hana-no-oka (Flower Hill) are decorated with approximately 380,000 poppies. The contrast of colors between the yellow and orange poppies and the fresh blue nemophila can also be enjoyed.   Best time to visit: early April to early May The Japanese Fuji is a species endemic to Japan and is mentioned in the Manyoshu (Anthology of Myriad Leaves). The long, hairpin-like flowers hang down in a drooping manner. Purple flowers are common, but white and pink flowers also exist. At Nakayama-dera Temple’s Star Plaza, there is a magnificent wisteria trellis that stretches about 80 meters. The rows of white wisteria flowers look like “clouds floating in a blue sky. The sweet fragrance of the flowers can also be enjoyed.   Best time to visit: Mid-April to late April Yamabuki is a deciduous shrub in the rose family with beautiful, almost orange-yellow flowers. The flower has been familiar to the Japanese people since ancient times. Matsuo-taisha Shrine, known as a place of famous water, has about 3,000 yamabuki trees, which turn the shrine grounds yellow. The Yamabuki Festival is held every year when the flowers are at their best.   Best time to visit: mid-April to early May It is very familiar in Japan and is often planted as a roadside tree or garden tree. It is loved by many people for its very vivid flowers. Vivid Kirishima azaleas are in full bloom at Hachijogaike Pond at Nagaoka Tenmangu Shrine. The crimson-tinged path surrounded by azalea plantings more than 2 meters high is magnificent.   Best time to visit: Late April – early May The peony is a plant that symbolizes beauty and has long been used as a design for crafts and paintings. It produces beautiful and large flowers like roses. There are 2,000 peony plants of about 30 varieties at Otokunidera Temple. Protected by white Japanese umbrellas for sun protection, the bright pink and red buttons bloom in large profusion.   Best time to visit: mid-April to early May Aomomiji refers to the leaves of maple trees that turn from young leaves in spring to increasingly darker green. You can enjoy the fresh and crisp leaves of ao-momiji until they turn red in the fall. Minoh Park is famous for its autumn leaves, but it is also very beautiful in the fresh green season. Enjoy forest bathing surrounded by the sparkling green maples in the sunlight while listening to the murmuring of a mountain stream and the chirping of wild birds.   Best time to visit: Late April to late May Roses have long been cultivated for perfumery and medicinal purposes.” It is said to be “the flower that symbolizes love,” and is often used in arrangements and bouquets because of its gorgeous appearance and wide variety of types and colors. At Aramaki Rose Park in Itami, approximately 10,000 roses bloom in a stylish southern European-style garden. The view of the park, with its sloping terrain and colorful colors, is a must-see. Best time to visit: Mid-May to mid-June Japanese Primrose is the largest member of the primrose family, with flower stalks that can reach 80 cm in length. It grows in clusters in wetlands at the foot of mountains. At the Rokko Alpine Botanical Garden, numerous alpine plants bloom from May to June. The 5,000 or so Japanese Primrose that fill the wetlands are especially breathtaking. Best time to visit: Mid-May to late May Water lilies are striking aquatic plants with flowers that seem to float above the water. It is widely distributed in ponds and swamps. Kyoyoike Pond at Ryoanji Temple, a World Heritage site, is famous for its water lilies. Not only white but also red and pink flowers cover most of the pond. The flowers often open in the morning and close at noon, so the best time to see them is in the morning.   Best time to visit: Mid-May to late August The colorful flowers that bloom in spring are a source of comfort and relaxation for those who see them. Why don’t you take advantage of the warm, sunny weather and visit some of the best places and spots for flowers in Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe?

Fun-filled ball park Museum of Hanshin Koshien Stadium

Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, is home to the Hanshin Tigers professional baseball team and a sacred baseball ground where the national high school baseball tournament is held. The Koshien Rekishi Kan, a museum that brings together the history of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, exhibits many valuable materials and videos that are a must-see for baseball fans. The exhibition area was partially relocated and expanded and reopened in March 2022. Here’s a closer look at some of the highlights! The Koshien History Museum is about a 7-minute walk from Koshien Station on the Hanshin Main Line. Admission is 900 yen for adults, 700 yen for high school students, and 500 yen for children (4 years old to junior high school students). *High school students must show student ID. In addition to the second floor of the outfield left field of Hanshin Koshien Stadium, the renewed exhibition area has been expanded to the second floor of Koshien Plus, a commercial facility adjacent to the south side of the stadium. In addition to the popular sections of the past, new hands-on content has also been enhanced. Visitors can now experience the appeal of baseball even more. The reception counter is located on the second floor of Koshien Plus. Let’s have fun starting from the [PLUS Area] where you will find all the Hanshin Tigers exhibits! This corner focuses on the Hanshin Tigers’ championship years of 1985, 2003, and 2005. In addition to the display of the winning pennants and trophies, there is also a showing of a scene of the team raising a torso. The history of the Hanshin Tigers is divided into eight eras from its founding and presented chronologically. Along with photos and videos of the players, exhibits are embedded in the walls to make each era easier to understand. The exhibition features photos and videos of the three permanent players and other famous players who have left their mark on the history of the Hanshin Tigers, along with exhibits related to the team. There is also a corner introducing past managers and current players. This exhibit allows visitors to touch baseball equipment actually used by Hanshin Tigers players. Visitors can actually hold in their hands gloves, spikes, catcher’s mitts and gloves used during games. The dugout rests, a reproduction of the benches before the ballpark renovations, are a great place to take commemorative photos! Koshien Plus and Hanshin Koshien Stadium are connected by a connecting deck. Let’s move to the [Ballpark Area] where you will find an extensive section on high school baseball and Hanshin Koshien Stadium. It is an impressive ball wall with 4,253 white balls embedded all over the wall. The balls are printed with the names of the schools that participated in Koshien. Memorable games and famous scenes that brought excitement to Koshien are introduced in chronological order with photos and videos, along with exhibits. From timeless manga classics to recent popular manga, famous scenes based on Koshien are depicted in the three-dimensional exhibit. The observation area directly below the ballpark scoreboard offers a panoramic view of the grounds. Enjoy the great view and capture it in your pics! There are also a variety of hands-on contents outside of the exhibition area. Why don’t you not only see but also experience? The tours that take visitors behind the scenes of the stadium, where they are not usually allowed to enter, while listening to explanations by a guide have been popular for some time, but the content has been partially renewed this time. The tour has been partially renewed, with photo spots on all courses and expanded guided tours and times, allowing visitors to learn more about the stadium. 【Fee】Adults 2,000 yen, High school students 1,800 yen, Children (4 years old to junior high school students) 1,400 yen *Including entrance fee to Koshien History Museum *High school students must show student ID. Unlike stadium tours led by guides, customers can now freely tour the grounds and stands of Hanshin Koshien Stadium on their own. Using a tablet, visitors can enjoy AR contents unique to Hanshin Koshien Stadium! You can take commemorative photos with Hanshin Tigers players, enjoy the ballpark with 360° images, and various other AR contents. (Scheduled to be held after May 2022) 【Fee】Adults 1,500 yen, High school students 1,300 yen, Children (4 years old to junior high school students) 1,000 yen *Including entrance fee to Koshien History Museum *High school students must show student ID. First in Japan! A simulation baseball facility that fully recreates the Hanshin Koshien Stadium on a large screen. Your hits and pitches are reflected on the screen, giving you the experience of batting and pitching in the Koshien stadium of your dreams. It is attached to the Koshien History Museum. Please enjoy it as well. 【Fee】 Set of 3 types of tickets (one each for batting, toss batting, and pitching): 1,200 yen Set of 2 types of tickets (1 batting session + 1 toss batting or pitching session): 900 yen Toss batting and pitching tickets: 400 yen each *On long vacations, etc., only set of 3 types of tickets (special price: 1,500 yen) are sold. Get a taste of baseball history at the Koshien Historical Museum, which has been powered up to become a facility where you can rediscover the allure of baseball! A new commercial facility, “Koshien Plus,” has also opened to enliven the Koshien area. A total of 11 stores, including baseball stores, restaurants, and a hands-on facility where children can play and learn, are gathered here. Please enjoy them along with the Koshien Historical Museum!

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