In the central Eastern part of Honshu Island lies Kansai's prefecture, Hyogo. It is home to the famous Himeji castle, and Kobe is the prefecture's capital. The latter is an internationally renowned region for its gastronomy and port area, Kobe Harborland. Hyogo is bordered by the Tottori Prefecture in the Northwest, Okayama in the Southwest, Kyoto in the East, and Osaka in the Southeast.
Overview of Hyogo Prefecture
The prefecture has an estimated population of 5,364,074 as of January 1, 2024. Most of its inhabitants live in urban areas (5,126,660 residents). Only 237,414 people live in rural areas, accounting for 4.42% of the total population. Kobe is the most populated city in the prefecture, with 1,497,802 residents. The other two big cities are Himeji, with 521,799 inhabitants, and Nishinomiya, with 483,929 inhabitants. On the other hand, Kamikawa, Ichikawa, and Shisen are the three least populated towns in Hyogo Prefecture, with populations of 9,873; 10,390; and 12,384, respectively (source: Hyogo Prefecture website).
By July 4, 2022, the prefecture has sisterhood alliances with seven foreign states and provinces:
- Khabarovsk region (Russian Federation);
- State of Paraná (Federal Republic of Brazil);
- Washington State (United States);
- Guangdong Province (People's Republic of China);
- Hainan Province (People's Republic of China);
- Western Australia (Australia);
- Republic of Palau.
Mapping Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo Prefecture is divided into ten areas, comprising 29 cities and 12 towns:
- Kobe area: Kobe City;
- Hanshin South area: Amagasaki City, Nishinomiya City, Ashiya City;
- Hanshin North area: Itami City, Takarazuka City, Kawanishi City, Sanda City, Inagawa Town;
- Higashi-Harima area: Akashi City, Kakogawa City, Takasago City, Inami Town, Harima Town;
- Kita-Harima area: Nishiwaki City, Miki City, Ono City, Kasai City, Kato City, Taka Town;
- Naka-Harima area: Himeji City, Kamikawa Town, Ichikawa Town, Fukusaki Town;
- Nishi-Harima area: Aioi City, Tatsuno City, Ako City, Shiso City, Taishi Town, Kamigori Town, Sayo Town;
- Tajima area: Toyooka City, Yabu City, Asago City, Kami Town, Shinonsen Town;
- Tamba area: Tamba Sasayama City, Tamba City;
- Awaji area: Sumoto City, Minamiawaji City, Awaji City.
Kobe is located South of the prefecture, in Osaka Bay, and is Hyogo's main attraction. People visit the city for its world-famous "Kobe beef".
North-east of Kobe lies the city of Miki, known for its rice production. A bit further East, the city of Akashi has one of the longest suspension bridges in the world. It connects the tiny island of Awaji, known for its daffodil village.
Himeji, another city in the East, attracts Japanese and foreign tourists with its famous castle. Hikers will enjoy treks to Mount Seppiko (more in the center) or Mount Hinakurasan, Ushiro, and Mimuro (in the Northwest).
The economy of Hyogo Prefecture
Hyogo is an international trade center with an international port. Transport, trade, especially maritime trade, retailing, manufacturing, real estate, and the service sector are all part of the city's core activities. Tourism is also an economic pillar that boosts existing sectors (real estate, services, trade, etc.). The prefecture also boasts renowned universities, such as Kobe University, while collaborating with companies in research and innovation.
The economy and job market in Hyogo Prefecture are slowly getting better after the pandemic, but there are still some areas that show weakness. By October 2023, businesses were more positive but remained cautious about the future. People started to spend more, which is a good sign for the economy.
However, export growth is slowing down. From October 2022 to October 2023, Hyōgo's exports dropped by $−31.8B (−4.28%) from ¥743B to ¥711B. Similarly, imports decreased by ¥−103B (−17.4%) from ¥590B to ¥487B (source: OEC).
On the bright side, there is an increase in capital investment. Production is staying steady; the job market is improving, with more job offers available compared to the previous month. Additionally, employment income is showing signs of improvement. Unfortunately, there have been more bankruptcies compared to last year (source: Economic and employment situation in Hyogo Prefecture).
Tourism in Hyogo Prefecture
If you want to walk on the beach, head to Harborland. Kobe Harborland is the bustling city center. It is also Kobe's main tourist attraction and is dedicated to shopping, dining, and entertainment. Connoisseurs will not miss the Anpanman Museum, dedicated to the bread-headed cartoon hero.
To the North, Shinonsen is a small town surrounded by mountains, which, as its name indicates, developed around Japanese thermal baths called onsen. The three main towns are Yumura, Shichikama, and Hamasaka. Further South lies Yabu, which offers preserved and unique natural landscapes, such as the Yabu waterfalls.
Besides Kobe beef, there is also akashiyaki, a sort of takoyaki (dumplings filled with pieces of octopus). Another local specialty is ikanago, a small fish prepared with soy sauce, ginger, mirin, and sugar, giving it a unique, unmistakable taste.
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