Hyogo, a land where you can feel Western culture
Feature
Hyogo is a prefecture located in the midwestern part of Honshu. The population is about 4.2 million, and the Prefectural capital is Kobe City.
The northern part of the prefecture faces the Sea of Japan and the southern part faces the Seto Inland Sea, and the climate differs between the north and south. Winters in the north are cold and snowy, while winters in the south are mild.
In 1868, the Port of Kobe, located in Kobe City, was opened as a hub for foreign trade. The city prospered as a foreign settlement, and even today, vestiges of the old settlement, such as buildings that incorporate different cultures, remain throughout the city. Kobe City is one of the popular tourist spots in Hyogo.
Traditional crafts and Local specialties
Hyogo's traditional crafts are Izushi ware" and "Banshu soroban".
Izushi ware is porcelain made in Izushi-cho, Toyooka City, Hyogo. It is characterized by its whiteness without turbidity, using pure white raw materials. There are a wide range of products such as flower vases, tea ware, and tableware.
Banshu soroban is a Japanese abacus made in Ono City, Hyogo. The Banshu soroban, which is completed through more than 100 processes, is not only a tool for abacus, but also has value as a wooden work of art.
Hyogo faces two seas, the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, and is rich in seafood such as crab, firefly squid, and octopus. Akashiyaki (a food similar to Takoyaki in Osaka) is a specialty of Hyogo.
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