The famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Hyogo. Introducing recommended spots in the Shukugawa area, why not visit on your trip to Kobe and Osaka!

• Table of Contents
• Cherry blossom trees along the Shukugawa riverbed
• How to enjoy the Shukugawa Riverbed, selected as one of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots
• The illumination at night is also gorgeous! Sakura light up Kurakuen
• Learn traditional sake brewing! Sake Museum (Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake)
• Enjoy dishes unique to breweries at Hakushika Classics
• Delicious sweets at ELBERUN
• [Official] Hyogo Prefecture tourism site HYOGO! navigation

Cherry blossom trees along the Shukugawa riverbed

Shukugawa, located in the western part of Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture, is a popular area where you can enjoy nature in all seasons and where stylish restaurants and cafes gather. With easy access to central Kobe and Osaka, it is recommended for a relaxing time away from the hustle and bustle.

The cherry blossom trees along the Shukugawa River were created about 70 years ago. At the time, 1,000 young cherry trees were planted in 1949 at the suggestion of the mayor. Later, in 1951, the Shukugawa Riverbed was turned into a park, and the current Shukugawa Riverbed Green Area, which has a unique landscape of pine trees and cherry blossoms, was born.

▲Shukugawa Riverbed Green Space

How to enjoy the Shukugawa Riverbed, selected as one of the top 100 cherry blossom viewing spots

▲ Near Shukugawa Station on the Hankyu Kobe Line

Shukugawa Riverbed Green Space is an urban park where the entire river is maintained as a park. In 1990, it was selected as one of the ``100 Cherry Blossom Spots'' by the Japan Sakura Association. In Hyogo Prefecture, Himeji Castle and Akashi Castle were selected as well as the Shukugawa Riverbed Green Area.

▲ Near Sakura Shukugawa Station on the JR Kobe Line

The area between Shukugawa Station and Kurakuenguchi Station on the Hankyu Koyo Line is a competitive area with many bakeries, cafes, and cake shops. We also recommend taking out freshly baked croissants, fragrant coffee, and popular cakes from a long-established Western confectionery shop to take with you to cherry blossom viewing.

Points to note when using Shukugawa Riverside Green Park

Sales of goods, karaoke, and space reservations are completely prohibited. Fires are strictly prohibited in the park. Barbecues are also completely prohibited. When it rains in the surrounding area and upstream area, the water level may rise rapidly. Please do not enter the river during rain. *There are no parking lots in the area, so please use public transportation.

access

Train: Nearest stations along the line: Hankyu Corporation/Get off at Shukugawa Station, JR Kobe Line/Get off at Sakura Shukugawa Station, Hanshin Electric Railway/Get off at Koroen Station

The illumination at night is also gorgeous! Sakura light up Kurakuen

*The illumination period is scheduled to run from Saturday, March 23, 2024 to Sunday, April 7, 2024 .

▲“Sakura Week Nishinomiya 2024”: Sakura light-up at Hankyu Railway “Kurakuenguchi” Station

If you go down along the Shukugawa River from Hankyu Railway's Kurakuenguchi Station, you will see cherry blossoms blooming for about 400 meters illuminated. The area is very crowded during the beautiful cherry blossom season, and you can enjoy the cherry blossoms not only during the day but also at night.

Train: Nearest stations along the line: Hankyu Corporation/ Get off at Shukugawa Station , JR Kobe Line/ Get off at Sakura Shukugawa Station , Hanshin Electric Railway/Get off at Koroen Station

[Official website: Nishiniya Tourism Association] Sakura Map

Learn traditional sake brewing! Sake Museum (Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake)

Tatsuma Honke Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., the brewer of the sake ``Hakushika'', established this brewery in 1982 to commemorate its 320th anniversary and pass on traditional sake brewing to future generations. Known as Japan's only sake and cherry blossom museum, it consists of two museums: a sake brewery and a memorial hall.

▲The remains of a well near the entrance of the sake brewery

▲Inside the museum, you can listen to an audio guide in English by scanning the QR code with your mobile phone or tablet. (Communication environment required)

Highlights of the sake brewery

At the Sake Brewery Museum, which is housed in a wooden warehouse built in 1869, you can see the traditional Nada sake brewing process. In 2020, [Itami and Nada Gogo, famous brewing areas where "Itami Morohaku" and "Nada's Nama Ippon" sake were produced] was certified as a Japan Heritage site, and the Sake Brewery Museum (formerly Tatsuma Honke Sake Brewery) was recognized as a Japan Heritage Site. and the remains of the kamaba) and the sake brewing tools on display are designated as constituent cultural properties.

▲The sake brewery building, the remains of the kettle, and a set of wooden sake brewing tools have been designated as cultural properties that constitute Japan Heritage.

▲The barrel making process at the time is on display, including tools for making barrels and piled up Yoshino cedar materials.

▲You can touch sake brewing tools

Highlights of the memorial hall

The museum exhibits historical materials related to alcohol, as well as the ``Sakura Sasabe Collection'' (deposited by Nishinomiya City) collected by the late Shintaro Sasabe (1887-1978), who devoted his life to protecting and cultivating cherry blossoms. Masu.

▲“Old Imari Nishikide Cherry Blossom Palace Pattern Bowl” will be on display throughout the spring exhibition (Photography is prohibited inside the memorial hall)

▲“Uchikake (Outer Germent) with Cherry Blossom Embroidery” will be exhibited only from March 20th (Wednesday/Holiday) to April 10th (Wednesday) (Photography is prohibited inside the memorial hall)

We hold various exhibitions depending on the season. From March 20th (Wednesday/holiday) to May 27th (Monday), we will be holding the Reiwa 6th Spring Exhibition, Sakura Sasabe Collection, ``The Collection of ” Man of Sakura ”.'' Please see the official website below for details.

Basic information: Sake Museum (Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake)

Address: 8-21 Kurakakecho, Nishinomiya City, Hyogo Prefecture 662-0926

TEL:0798-33-0008

Opening hours: 10am to 5pm (admission until 4:30pm)

Closed: Tuesdays (if it falls on a national holiday, the museum will be closed the next day; if it falls on a consecutive holiday, it will be closed after the holiday), year-end and New Year holidays, and summer holidays.

Admission fee: General 500 yen, junior high and elementary school students 250 yen)

Parking: Yes

access

If you are coming by train or bus

15 minutes walk south on Fudabasuji from Hanshin Nishinomiya Station - From Hanshin Nishinomiya Station or JR Nishinomiya Station, take the Hanshin Bus bound for Marina Park, get off at Kotsu Koen-mae, and walk southwest for 1 minute - From Hankyu Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station, take the Hankyu Bus " Take the train bound for Asanagicho, get off at Higashimachi, and walk 7 minutes west on the Rinko Line.

By car

5 minutes from the Nishinomiya IC on the Meishin Expressway, 2 minutes from the Nishinomiya exit on the Hanshin Expressway No. 3 Kobe Line (eastbound), 8 minutes from the Mukogawa exit (westbound).

5 minutes from the Minami Ashiyahama exit on the Hanshin Expressway No. 5 Wangan Line (eastbound), 2 minutes from the Nishinomiyahama exit (westbound)

[Official website] Sake Museum (Hakushika Memorial Museum of Sake)

Enjoy dishes unique to breweries at Hakushika Classics

There is a shop directly managed by the brewery and a restaurant with the theme of ``flowers, food, and sake'' reflecting the changing seasons.

Basic information Hakushika Classics

◆Shop/Telephone: 0798-35-0286

Business hours: 10:00-18:00

Closed: Tuesday

◆Restaurant/Telephone: 0798-35-0001

Business hours (lunch): Weekdays 11:00-15:00 (LO 14:30), Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays 11:00-15:30 (LO 14:30)

Business hours (dinner) 17:00-22:00 (LO 21:00) *Reservations can be made by phone or on the official website.

Closed: Mondays and Tuesdays

access

By train

Hanshin Train: About 15 minutes on foot from Nishinomiya Station or about 5 minutes by taxi ・JR Kobe Line: Nishinomiya Station / Hankyu Railway: From Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station, take the Hankyu Bus bound for Asanagicho and get off at Higashimachi, then walk for about 5 minutes ・Hankyu Railway : Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Shukugawa Station

By car

Approximately 5 minutes from the Meishin Expressway Nishinomiya IC - Using the Hanshin Expressway No. 3 Kobe Line: From the Osaka direction, 8 minutes from the Mukogawa exit. From the Kobe direction, 2 minutes from the Nishinomiya exit - Using the Hanshin Expressway No. 5 Wangan Line: From the Osaka direction, take Nishinomiyahama 3 minutes from the exit 5 minutes from the Minami Ashiya exit from the Kobe area

[Official website] Hakushika Classics

Delicious sweets at ELBERUN

ELBERUN was founded in 1964 as ``Nordic confectionery Elbe,'' and opened as a workshop-style confectionery store, which is still rare in the Kobe Western confectionery industry. After that, the store name was changed to "ELBERUN", and in 2011, the second generation Mr. Eiji Kakita took over and the store is still running today.

ELBERUN's most popular product: Lemon pie

A specialty made with lemon caster cooked with domestic lemons and natural water, sandwiched between ELBERUN special pie and finished with custom-made non-homogeneous fresh cream. It has been a popular product for over half a century since its founding.

Popular ELBERUN products: Additive-free ELBERUN cookies (milk/white chocolate)

We take a lot of effort to wrap the pie around sub chocolate and sandwich it with organic milk chocolate and white chocolate. Furthermore, the addition of organic whole grain spelled flour improves the crispy texture and aroma.

ELBERUN's popular product: Bee Pollen/Suremi

▲Bee Pollen (top right), Suguremi (top left)

ELBERUN's original frozen dessert: Bee Pollen is a specially folded pie filled with bee pollen (bee pollen) and sandwiched with milk chocolate cream. It is slightly bitter and has a high-quality taste. Uremi is a pie sandwiched with white chocolate cream. The result is pure, high-quality deliciousness.

Please enjoy ELBERUN's "authentic" MADE IN SHUKUGAWA, pride of Shukugawa, quality, taste, aroma, and texture.

▲ELBERUN Owner Chef Eiji Kakita

This time, we had the opportunity to hear some interesting stories about Nishinomiya and Shukugawa from Eiji Kakita, the second-generation owner and chef of ELBERUN.

Shukugawa and San Sebastian

Mr. Kakita says he is drawn to San Sebastian. San Sebastian is a city located in the Basque region of northern Spain. It is known as a gourmet city where many of the world's best restaurants have earned Michelin stars.

“The town of Shukugawa has traditionally been home to many foreign visitors living in Japan, prominent businessmen, and small and medium-sized business owners.It is also home to many restaurants and cafes that were influenced by the influx of Western food culture from neighboring Kobe. I feel like San Sebastian is similar to San Sebastian in that fashionable place.”

Thoughts on sweets

``foreign visitors, businessmen, and managers who have lived in Nishinomiya for many years have discerning tastes and cannot be fooled.That's why we rely on our own experience and pride.We are particular about the ingredients we use, and we carefully select ingredients that show the faces of the producers. We display information on additives, flavorings, allergens, etc. so that our customers can eat with peace of mind.We aim to be a restaurant that is loved by our customers even as times change, and we strive to maintain the same reliable deliciousness. We would like to deliver the same.”

Future dreams and prospects

``Protect the quality of the real Shukugawa, what you want to be, what you should be, cultivate and deepen what you have. Know yourself and pass it on to future generations.''

Thank you to the owner and chef Eiji Kakita for your cooperation. Everyone should definitely go to ELBERUN, which has exquisite sweets.

▲The large clock (center right) has a long history with the city of Shukugawa since its establishment in 1964.

Basic information ELBERUN

TEL: 0120-440-380 (toll free)

Business days: Wednesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday ( Closed: every Tuesday )

Business hours: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM / 13:00 PM - 18:00 PM (*Closed once products are sold out)

*Business dates and times may change. Please check the calendar posted on the official website below for the latest information.

*During the busy season, numbered tickets will be distributed at 11:30, so please bring your numbered ticket with you when entering the store.

Every Monday: Cookie Day (only gift items sold) Sales hours: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM - 16:00 PM

Every Thursday: Cookie & Gourmet Day (Croissant Land) Sales hours: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, 13:00 PM - 18:00 PM

Access: 5 minutes walk north from Hankyu Railway Shukugawa Station

[Official website] ELBERUN

[Official] Hyogo Prefecture tourism site HYOGO! navigation

The official website of Hyogo Tourism Headquarters, which provides tourist information for Hyogo Prefecture (Kobe, Himeji, Kinosaki, Awaji Island, etc.). There is a lot of recommended travel information, including special sightseeing spots such as Hyogo Prefecture's Japanese heritage sites and cycling, as well as model courses where you can enjoy hot spring culture and Japanese sake, so be sure to check it out!

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