Hyōgo Prefecture

{{Short description|Prefecture of Japan}} {{About|the prefecture|the ward in the city of Kobe|Hyōgo-ku, Kobe}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Hyōgo Prefecture | native_name = {{nobold|{{lang|ja|兵庫県}}}} | settlement_type = Prefecture | translit_lang1 = Japanese | translit_lang1_type = Japanese | translit_lang1_info = {{lang|ja|兵庫県}} | translit_lang1_type1 = Rōmaji | translit_lang1_info1 = {{lang|ja-Latn|Hyōgo-ken}} | image_skyline = Night view of Rokkō Island and Higashinada-ku, Kobe, Japan.jpg | image_caption = Rokkō Island and Higashinada District, Kobe City, Hyōgo Prefecture at night, view from Maya Peak | image_flag = Flag of Hyogo Prefecture.svg | flag_size = 100px | image_blank_emblem = Emblem of Hyogo Prefecture.svg | blank_emblem_size = 80px | blank_emblem_type = Symbol | image_map = Map of Japan with highlight on 28 Hyōgo prefecture.svg | coordinates = {{coord|34|41|26.94|N|135|10|59.08|E|type:adm1st_region:JP-28|display=title,inline}} | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = {{flag|Japan}} | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Kansai | subdivision_type2 = Island | subdivision_name2 = Honshu, Awaji | seat_type = Capital | seat = Kobe | parts_type = Subdivisions | parts_style = para | p1 = Districts: 8 | p2 = Municipalities: 41 | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = Motohiko Saitō | blank_name = Legislature | blank_info = Hyogo Prefectural Assembly | area_total_km2 = 8,400.94 | area_water_percent = 0.6 | area_rank = 12th | population_footnotes = | population_total = 5325228 | population_as_of = 1 February 2025 | population_rank = 7th | population_density_km2 = 634 | demographics_type2 = GDP | demographics2_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=2020年度国民経済計算（2015年基準・2008SNA） : 経済社会総合研究所 - 内閣府 |url=https://www.esri.cao.go.jp/jp/sna/data/data_list/kakuhou/files/2020/2020_kaku_top.html |access-date=2023-05-18 |website=内閣府ホームページ |language=ja}}</ref> | demographics2_title1 = Total | demographics2_info1 = JP¥ 23,462 billion US$ 173.3 billion (2022) | iso_code = JP-28 | website = {{URL|http://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/fl/english/}} | module = {{Infobox place symbols| embedded=yes | country = Japan | bird = Oriental white stork (''Ciconia boyciana'') | fish = | flower = Nojigiku (''Chrysanthemum japonense'') | tree = Camphor tree (''Cinnamomum camphora'') }} | anthem = Hyōgo Kenminka<ref group=note>The Hyōgo Prefectural Government has expressed the view that the "Prefectural song does not exist" and denied the fact that currently, this song has been enacted in 1947.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|date=2015-01-01|url=http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/shakai/201501/0007625977.shtml|title=布く新憲法ゆくては明かるし…幻の兵庫県民歌|newspaper=Kobe Shimbun|accessdate=2015-01-09|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160309062646/http://www.kobe-np.co.jp/news/shakai/201501/0007625977.shtml|archivedate=2016-03-09|author=金旻革}}</ref>File:Hyogo Kenminka.ogg }} [[File:Himeji Castle The Keep Towers.jpg|thumb|Himeji Castle in Himeji, a UNESCO World Heritage Site]]

{{nihongo|'''Hyōgo Prefecture'''|兵庫県|Hyōgo-ken|{{IPA|ja|çoꜜː.ɡo, -ŋo, çoː.ɡoꜜ.keɴ, -ŋoꜜ.keɴ}}<ref>{{cite book|script-title=ja:NHK日本語発音アクセント新辞典|publisher=NHK Publishing|editor=NHK Broadcasting Culture Research Institute|date=24 May 2016|lang=ja}}</ref>}} is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kansai region of Honshu.<ref>Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005). "Hyōgo prefecture" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', pp. 363-365|page=363}}; "Kansai" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 477|page=477}}.</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture has a population of 5,469,762 ({{as of|2019|06|01|lc=y}}) and a geographic area of {{convert|8400|km2|sqmi|abbr=off}}. Hyōgo Prefecture borders Kyoto Prefecture to the east, Osaka Prefecture to the southeast, and Okayama and Tottori prefectures to the west.

Kobe is the capital and largest city of Hyōgo Prefecture, and the seventh-largest city in Japan, with other major cities including Himeji, Nishinomiya, and Amagasaki.<ref>Nussbaum, "Kobe" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 537|page=537}}.</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture's mainland stretches from the Sea of Japan to the Seto Inland Sea, where Awaji Island and a small archipelago of islands belonging to the prefecture are located. Hyōgo Prefecture is a major economic center, transportation hub, and tourist destination in western Japan, with 20% of the prefecture's land area designated as Natural Parks. Hyōgo Prefecture forms part of the Kobe metropolitan area and Osaka metropolitan area, the second-most-populated urban region in Japan after the Greater Tokyo area and one of the world's most productive regions by GDP.

== History == [[File:Map of Hyogo prefecture, with prefectural government branches and former borders.svg|thumb|200px|Map of Hyogo Prefecture with former provincial boundaries and current prefectural offices: 1.{{Color|#white|□}}Kobe city (divided between Harima and Settsu) 2.{{color|#ffa5a5|■}}Settsu (Hanshin South office) 3.{{color|#ffffa5|■}}Settsu (Hanshin North office) 4.{{color|#cfffff|■}}Harima East office 5.{{color|#ffd2a5|■}}Harima North office 6.{{color|#ffffcc|■}}Harima Central office 7.{{color|#ffccff|■}}Harima West office 9.{{color|#a5ffa5|■}}Tanba office 8.{{color|#a5a5ff|■}}Tajima office 10.{{color|#ccff99|■}}Awaji office Areas beyond Harima West belonged to Mimasaka (north) and Bizen (south)]] Present-day Hyōgo Prefecture includes the former provinces of Harima, Tajima, Awaji, and parts of Tanba and Settsu.<ref>Nussbaum, "Provinces and prefectures" in {{Google books|p2QnPijAEmEC|''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 780|page=780}}.</ref>

In 1180, near the end of the Heian period, Emperor Antoku, Taira no Kiyomori, and the Imperial court moved briefly to Fukuhara, in what is now the city of Kobe. There the capital remained for five months. Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is in the city of Himeji.

Southern Hyōgo Prefecture was severely devastated by the 6.9 Mw Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995, which destroyed major parts of Kobe and Awaji, as well as Nishinomiya and Ashiya and the neighboring Osaka Prefecture, killing nearly 6,500 people.

== Geography == thumb|right|Kobe thumb|right|Takarazuka thumb|right|Sumoto thumb|right|Tatsuno thumb|right|Shiso {{historical populations|13=1890|14=1,551,367|15=1903|16=1,833,957|17=1913|18=2,143,791|19=1920|20=2,301,799|21=1925|22=2,454,679|23=1930|24=2,646,301|25=1935|26=2,923,249|27=1940|28=3,221,232|29=1945|30=2,821,892|31=1950|32=3,309,935|33=1955|34=3,620,947|35=1960|36=3,906,487|37=1965|38=4,309,944|39=1970|40=4,667,928|41=1975|42=4,992,140|43=1980|44=5,144,892|45=1985|46=5,278,050|47=1990|48=5,405,040|49=1995|50=5,401,877|51=2000|52=5,550,574|53=2005|54=5,590,601|55=2010|56=5,588,133|57=2015|58=5,536,989|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:<ref>[http://www.stat.go.jp/english/index.html Statistics Bureau of Japan]</ref>}} Hyōgo has coastlines on two seas: to the north, the Sea of Japan, to the south, the Seto Inland Sea. On Awaji Island, Hyōgo borders the Pacific Ocean coastline in the Kii Channel. The northern portion is sparsely populated, except for the city of Toyooka, The central highlands are only populated by tiny villages. Most of Hyōgo's population lives on the southern coast, which is part of the Osaka-Kobe-Kyoto metropolitan area. Awaji is an island that separates the Inland Sea and Osaka Bay, lying between Honshu and Shikoku.

Summertime weather throughout Hyōgo is hot and humid. As for winter conditions, the north of Hyōgo tends to receive abundant snow, whilst the south receives only the occasional flurry.

Hyōgo borders on Osaka Prefecture, Kyoto Prefecture, Tottori Prefecture and Okayama Prefecture.

{{as of|2008|03|31|post=,}} 20% of the total land area of the prefecture was designated as Natural Parks, namely the Sanin Kaigan and Setonaikai National Parks; Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park; and Asago Gunzan, Harima Chūbu Kyūryō, Inagawa Keikoku, Izushi-Itoi, Kasagatayama-Sengamine, Kiyomizu-Tōjōko-Tachikui, Onzui-Chikusa, Seiban Kyūryō, Seppiko-Mineyama, Tajima Sangaku, and Taki Renzan Prefectural Natural Parks.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |title=General overview of area figures for Natural Parks by prefecture |publisher=Ministry of the Environment |access-date=4 February 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120421180819/http://www.env.go.jp/en/nature/nps/park/doc/files/np_6.pdf |archive-date=21 April 2012 }}</ref>

===Current municipalities=== {{Location map+ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | AlternativeMap = Map of Hyogo Prefecture Ja.svg | width = 650 | float = none | caption = Municipalities in Hyōgo Prefecture {{legend0|#D8E|Government Ordinance Designated City}} {{legend0|#EAB|City}} {{legend0|#ED9|Town}} | places = {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Aioi相生市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Aioi, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.83 | lon_deg = 134.44 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Akashi明石市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Akashi, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.66 | lon_deg = 134.94 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Akō赤穂市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Akō, Hyōgo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.79 | lon_deg = 134.34 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Amagasaki尼崎市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Amagasaki, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | position = right | lat_deg = 34.75 | lon_deg = 135.37 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Asago朝来市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Asago, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.26 | lon_deg = 134.8 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Ashiya芦屋市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Ashiya, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.73 | lon_deg = 135.29 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Awaji淡路市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Awaji Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.5 | lon_deg = 134.87 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Himeji姫路市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Himeji, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.89 | lon_deg = 134.65 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Itami伊丹市 | label_size = 120 | position = right | mark = Flag of Itami, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.79 | lon_deg = 135.39 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kakogawa加古川市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kakogawa, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.81 | lon_deg = 134.8 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kasai加西市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kasai, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.93 | lon_deg = 134.82 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Katō加東市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kato, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.93 | lon_deg = 134.98 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kawanishi川西市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kawanishi, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | position = right | lat_deg = 34.87 | lon_deg = 135.38 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kobe (capital)神戸市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kobe.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.71 | lon_deg = 135.02 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Miki三木市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Miki, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.82 | lon_deg = 135.02 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Minamiawaji南あわじ市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Minamiawaji, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.28 | lon_deg = 134.7 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Nishinomiya西宮市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Nishinomiya, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.81 | lon_deg = 135.29 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Nishiwaki西脇市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Nishiwaki, Hyōgo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.01 | lon_deg = 134.95 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Ono小野市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Ono, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.86 | lon_deg = 134.92 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Sanda三田市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Sanda, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | position = right | lat_deg = 34.94 | lon_deg = 135.18 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Shisō宍粟市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Shisō, Hyōgo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.15 | lon_deg = 134.51 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Sumoto洲本市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Sumoto, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.38 | lon_deg = 134.79 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Takarazuka宝塚市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Takarazuka, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | position = right | lat_deg = 34.83 | lon_deg = 135.34 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Takasago高砂市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Takasago, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.77 | lon_deg = 134.78 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Tamba-Sasayama丹波篠山市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Tambasasayama, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | position = right | lat_deg = 35.08 | lon_deg = 135.17 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Tanba丹波市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Tanba, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.18 | lon_deg = 135.03 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Tatsunoたつの市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Tatsuno, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.92 | lon_deg = 134.51 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Toyooka豊岡市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Toyooka, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.51 | lon_deg = 134.76 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Yabu養父市 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Yabu, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.35 | lon_deg = 134.64 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Fukusaki福崎町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Fukusaki Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.97 | lon_deg = 134.74 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Harima播磨町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Harima, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.71 | lon_deg = 134.86 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Ichikawa市川町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Ichikawa, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.02 | lon_deg = 134.74 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Inagawa猪名川町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Inagawa, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | position = right | lat_deg = 34.93 | lon_deg = 135.36 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Inami稲美町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Inami, Hyōgo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.75 | lon_deg = 134.91 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kami香美町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kami, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.45 | lon_deg = 134.53 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kamigōri上郡町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kami, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.89 | lon_deg = 134.32 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Kamikawa神河町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Kamikawa, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.1 | lon_deg = 134.72 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Sayō佐用町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Sayo, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35 | lon_deg = 134.34 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Shin'onsen新温泉町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Shinonsen, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.58 | lon_deg = 134.45 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Taishi太子町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Taishi, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 34.83 | lon_deg = 134.57 }} {{Location map~ | Japan Hyogo Prefecture | label = Taka多可町 | label_size = 120 | mark = Flag of Taka, Hyogo.svg | marksize = 25 | lat_deg = 35.06 | lon_deg = 134.87 }} }}

=== Islands === *Awaji Island *Ieshima Islands

Two major artificial islands are located Hyōgo Prefecture: *Port Island *Rokkō Island

===National parks=== *Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park *Sanin Kaigan National Park *Setonaikai National Park <gallery mode="packed"> File:Hyonosen02s1760.jpg|Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park (Mt. Hyonosen view from Yabu) File:Cercidiphyllum japonicum05s3200.jpg|Hyōnosen-Ushiroyama-Nagisan Quasi-National Park (Torokawataira in Kami) File:TakenoBeach Hyogo prefecture.jpg|Sanin Kaigan National Park (Takeno Beach in Toyooka) File:Tajima mihonoura39st3200.jpg|Sanin Kaigan National Park (Tajima-mihonoura of Sanin Coast in Shinonsen) </gallery>

=== Mergers === {{main|List of mergers in Hyōgo Prefecture}}

===Future mergers=== The city of Akō and the only town in Akō District (Kamigōri), were scheduled to merge and the city would still retain the name Akō. Akō District would be defunct if the merger was successful.<ref>[http://www.city.ako.hyogo.jp/akosigun_gappei/index.html City.ako.hyogo.jp] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060708194735/http://www.city.ako.hyogo.jp/akosigun_gappei/index.html |date=2006-07-08 }}</ref> However, the merger has not taken place.

== Economy == thumb|Hyogo prefecture population pyramid in 2020 As in all prefectures nationwide, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries play a big role in the economy of Hyogo Prefecture.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.maff.go.jp/e/tokei/kikaku/nenji_e/87nenji/pdf/n490_491.pdf |title=XII Income of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |publisher=Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries |access-date=2017-10-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150919175947/http://www.maff.go.jp/e/tokei/kikaku/nenji_e/87nenji/pdf/n490_491.pdf |archive-date=2015-09-19 }}</ref> Hyōgo Prefecture also has an IT industry, many heavy industries, metal and medical, Kobe Port being one of the largest ports in Japan. Kobe Port also hosts one of the world's fastest supercomputers,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aics.riken.jp/jp/ |title=RIKEN Advanced Institute for Computational Science |access-date=2017-10-02 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170926160843/http://www.aics.riken.jp/jp/ |archive-date=2017-09-26 }}</ref> and Hyogo Prefecture passed laws to keep Kobe Port free of nuclear weapons (a nuclear-free zone) since the year 1975.

Hyōgo is a part of the Hanshin Industrial Region. There are two research institutes of Riken, natural sciences research institute in Japan, in Kobe and Harima. "SPring-8", a synchrotron radiation facility, is in Harima.

[[File:Port of Kobe01s3780.jpg|thumb|500px|center|Kobe Port]]

== Culture ==

=== National Treasures of Japan === *Chōkō-ji in Katō *Chorakuji in Kami, Hyōgo (Mikata) *Himeji Castle in Himeji (UNESCO World Heritage Site) *Ichijō-ji in Kasai *Jōdo-ji in Ono *Kakurin-ji in Kakogawa *Taisan-ji in Kobe

<gallery mode="packed"> File:Jodoji Ono Hyogo01n3200.jpg|Jōdo-ji in Ono File:Ichijoji Kasai13bs4272.jpg|Ichijo-ji in Kasai File:Kakogawa Kakurinji12n4592.jpg|Kakurin-ji in Kakogawa File:Hyogo-mikata-kami-kawai chorakuji-daibutsu.jpg|Chorakuji-daibutsu </gallery>

=== Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Historic Buildings in Japan === *Izushi *Kitano-chō Yamamoto-dōri *Sasayama <gallery mode="packed"> File:Choueke house02 1920.jpg|Kitano-chō Yamamoto-dōri File:Ganjoji-Toyooka02s4592.jpg|Izushi File:Sasayama Okachi-machi05st3200.jpg|Sasayama </gallery>

=== Museums === *Asago Art Village in Asago *Ashiya City Museum of Art & History in Ashiya *Hakutsuru Fine Art Museum in Higashinada Ward, Kobe *Himeji City Museum of Art in Himeji *Hyōgo Prefectural Museum of Art in Nada Ward, Kobe *Kobe City Museum in Chuo Ward, Kobe *Kobe Maritime Museum in Chuo Ward, Kobe *Kosetsu Museum of Art in Higashinada Ward, Kobe *Tekisui Museum of Art in Ashiya *Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka <gallery mode="packed"> File:Hyogo prefectural museum of art08s3200.jpg|Hyōgo Prefectural Museum of Art in Kobe File:Kobe city museum01 1920.jpg|Kobe City Museum in Kobe File:Kosetsu Museum：香雪美術館 - panoramio.jpg|KOSETSU Museum of Art in Kobe File:Himeji City Museum of Art20bs4480.jpg|Himeji City Museum of Art in Himeji File:Asago Art Village08n4272.jpg|Asago Art Village in Asago File:Tezuka osamu01 2048.jpg|Osamu Tezuka Manga Museum in Takarazuka </gallery>

== Education ==

=== Universities ===

==== Amagasaki ==== *Sonoda Women's University *St. Thomas University (ex-Eichi University) – closed in 2015

==== Takarazuka ==== *Koshien University *Takarazuka University

==== Sanda ==== *Kwansei Gakuin University (Sanda Campus)

==== Nishinomiya ==== *Kobe College *Kwansei Gakuin University *Mukogawa Women's University *Otemae University

==== Ashiya ==== *Ashiya University

==== Kobe ==== *Kobe City University of Foreign Studies *Kobe Institute of Computing *Kobe Gakuin University *Kobe Shukugawa Gakuin University *Kobe University *Kobe University of Commerce *Kobe Women's University *Konan University *University of Hyogo *University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences

==== Kato ==== *Hyogo University of Teacher Education

==== Akashi ==== *University of Hyogo

==== Kakogawa ==== *Hyogo University

==== Himeji ==== *Himeji Dokkyo University *Himeji Institute of Technology *Himeji Kinki University *University of Hyogo

==== Akō ==== *University of Hyogo

===High schools=== There are 163 public and 52 private high schools within Hyogo prefecture. Of the public high schools, some are administered by the Hyogo prefectural government, whilst the others are administered by local municipalities.

*Ashiya International Secondary School, founded 2003

== Sports == [[File:Binnenkant van Kyocera Dome Osaka, -22 maart 2019.jpg|thumb|Kyocera Dome Osaka]]

The sports teams listed below are based in Hyōgo.

Baseball * Hanshin Tigers (Nishinomiya) * Orix Buffaloes (Kobe)

Basketball * Kobe Storks (Kobe)

Football (soccer) * INAC Kobe Leonessa (Women's) (Kobe) * Vissel Kobe (Kobe)

Rugby * Kobelco Steelers (Kobe) * World Fighting Bull (Kobe)

Volleyball * Hisamitsu Springs (Kobe) * JT Marvelous (Nishinomiya)

== Tourism == A popular troupe of Takarazuka Revue plays in Takarazuka.

Arima Onsen in the south of the province in Kita-ku, Kobe is one of the Three Ancient Springs in Japan. The north of Hyogo Prefecture has sightseeing spots such as Kinosaki Onsen, Izushi, and Yumura Onsen. Takeda Castle in Asago is often referred to locally as the "Machu Picchu of Japan". The matsuba crab and Tajima beef are both national delicacies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eg.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/detail/index.html?spot_code=matsubacrab|title=JAL Guide to Japan – Matsuba Crab|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405112135/http://www.eg.jal.com/world/en/guidetojapan/detail/index.html?spot_code=matsubacrab|archive-date=2015-04-05|access-date=2015-04-02}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed"> File:170811 Rokko-Arima Ropeway Kobe Japan00n.jpg|Arima Onsen, Kobe File:Night view of Osaka bay.jpg|Million-dollar view, Kobe File:Kobe Mosaic06s4s3200.jpg|Harborland – Meriken Park area in Kobe File:Westin Awaji Island Hotel 06.jpg|Awaji Yumebutai in Awaji File:Ichikawa river Ikuno Asago Hyogo01s5bs4272.jpg|Kuchiganaya in Asago File:Kinosaki onsen02 1920.jpg|Kinosaki Onsen File:Yumura onsen11s1920.jpg|Yumura Onsen File:Tonomine highland 01 b.jpg|Tonomine highland in Kamikawa File:Kounotori 06f4439.jpg|Toyooka Stork Park File:20130507 takeda castle 10.jpg|Takeda Castle </gallery>

==Festivals and events== thumb|Dekansho Bon Dancing Festival thumb|Castle Festival in Himeji

*Miyuki Street New Year's midnight traditional sale, Himeji *Nishinomiya Shrine's Ebisu Festival in January *Yanagihara Ebisu Festival in January, Kobe *Tada Shrine's Genji Festival in April, Kawanishi *Kobe Festival and Parade in May *Aioi Peron Festival in May *Himeji Yukata Festival in June *Dekansho Bon Dancing Festival in August, Sasayama *Nada Fighting Festival, Himeji *Kobe Luminarie in December *Ako Chushingura Parade

==Transportation==

===Rail=== *JR West **San'yō Shinkansen **JR Kobe Line **Wadamisaki Line **San'yō Main Line **San'in Line **Fukuchiyama Line (JR Takarazuka Line) **Kakogawa Line **Bantan Line **Kishin Line **Akō Line *Hankyu Railway **Kobe Line **Kobe Kosoku Line **Itami Line **Imazu Line **Koyo Line **Takarazuka Line *Nose Railway **Myoken Line **Nissei Line *Shintetsu **Arima Line **Kobe Kosoku Line **Sanda Line **Kōen-Toshi Line **Ao Line *Kobe Municipal Subway **Seishin-Yamate Line **Kaigan Line **Hokushin Line *Hojo Railway (Ao-Hojo) *Hanshin Railway **Main Line **Kobe Kosoku Line **Mukogawa Line **Hanshin Namba Line *Sanyo Railway **Main Line **Aboshi Line *Chizu Express *Kitakinki Tango Railway **Miyazu Line

===People movers=== *Kobe New Transit **Port Liner **Rokkō Liner

===Road===

====Expressways==== *Bantan Expressway *Chūgoku Expressway *Hanshin Expressway *Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway *Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway *Meishin Expressway *San'yō Expressway *Second Shinmei road

====National highways==== {{Div col}} *Route 2 *Route 9 *Route 28 *Route 29 *Route 43 *Route 171 *Route 173 *Route 174 (Sannomiya-Kobe Port) *Route 175 *Route 176 *Route 178 *Route 179 *Route 250 *Route 312 *Route 372 *Route 373 *Route 426 *Route 427 *Route 428 *Route 429 *Route 436 *Route 477 *Route 482 *Route 483 {{Div col end}}

===Ports=== * Akashi Port * Kobe Port – Mainly international container hub port * Shikama Port – Mainly Shōdo Island route ferry

===Airport=== *Kobe Airport *Konotori Tajima Airport

Kansai International Airport in nearby Osaka Prefecture is also used by air travellers from the prefecture as it provides most domestic and international travel.

==Notable people== {{Unreferenced section|date=January 2013}}

*Ume Aoki, manga artist *Mana Ashida, child actress from Nishinomiya *Koichi Domoto, singer of KinKi Kids *Heath, musician, singer-songwriter and bassist of X Japan is from Amagasaki. *Hiro Fujiwara, manga artist *Miracle Hikaru, comedian and impersonator is from Toyooka. *Kanō Jigorō, founder of the martial art judo *Jun, musician, singer-songwriter and guitarist of Phantasmagoria is from Kobe. *Shinji Kagawa, footballer from Kobe *Tomoya Kanki, drummer of One Ok Rock *Takumi Kawanishi (J-pop idol singer and dancer, member of JO1) *Tomomi Ogawa, bassist of Scandal *Itzuki Yamazaki, professional wrestler from Ieshima *Kaoru, guitarist of Dir En Grey *Ayaka Kimura, actress, former singer of Coconuts Musume is from Kobe. *Keiko Kitagawa, actress from Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon and Buzzer Beat was born in Kobe. *Miho Komatsu, singer and songwriter from Kobe *Yūji Kuroiwa, politician from Kobe, current governor of Kanagawa Prefecture *Kamui Kobayashi, former Sauber and Toyota Racing driver from Amagasaki *Chisa Maekawa, singer of Girl Next Door *Kiyomatsu Matsubara, ichthyologist, herpetologist and marine biologist *Hitoshi Matsumoto, comedian, from Amagasaki *Aya Matsuura, singer is from Himeji. *Ryuto Kazuhara, vocalist of Generations from Exile Tribe is from Amagasaki. *Mina Myoui – American-born Japanese singer of South Korean group Twice. Raised in Nishinomiya *Hiro Matsushita – Businessman, former driver in Champ Car series. Chairman of Swift Engineering & Swift Xi *Miyavi, musician, although born in Konohana-ku, Osaka grew up in Kawanishi *Minako Nishiyama, contemporary artist *Rena Nōnen known professionally as {{Nihongo|Non|のん|Non}}, actress, singer, fashion model from Kamikawa *Kaori Sakamoto, Figure Skater *Masamune Shirow, manga artist was born in Kobe. *Yoko Shimomura, video game composer *So Taguchi, outfielder for the Chicago Cubs *Masahiro Tanaka, pitcher for the New York Yankees *Nagaru Tanigawa, creator of the ''Haruhi Suzumiya'' series was born in Kinki. *Tsuneko Taniuchi, contemporary performance artist *Fumito Ueda, video game creator of ''Ico'', ''Shadow of the Colossus'', and ''The Last Guardian'' *Juri Ueno, Japanese Academy Award-winning actress best known for her performances in ''Swing Girls'' and the live-action adaptation of ''Nodame Cantabile'', is from Kakogawa. *Shota Yasuda, guitarist of Kanjani Eight is from Amagasaki. *Ryo Utsunomiya, wildlife photographer *Piko, musician, Vocaloid singer born in Kobe, Hyōgo

==Sister regions==

Hyogo entered a sister state relationship with Washington state in the United States on October 22, 1963, the first such arrangement between Japan and the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Camden |first=Jim |date=August 20, 2013 |title=Washington, Japan celebrate 50 years |url=http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/20/washington-japan-celebrate-50-years/ |work=Spokesman-Review |access-date=March 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311201744/http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/20/washington-japan-celebrate-50-years/ |archive-date=March 11, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=August 19, 2013 |title=Celebrating 50 years with Hyogo, Japan |url=https://blogs.sos.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/index.php/2013/08/celebrating-50-years-with-hyogo-japan/ |publisher=Washington State Library |access-date=March 11, 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311202557/https://blogs.sos.wa.gov/FromOurCorner/index.php/2013/08/celebrating-50-years-with-hyogo-japan/ |archive-date=March 11, 2018 }}</ref>

In 1981, a sister state agreement was drawn up between Hyogo and the state of Western Australia in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/council/national-and-international-relations/sister-cities |title=Sister Cities – City of Perth |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150530090949/http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/council/national-and-international-relations/sister-cities |archive-date=2015-05-30 }}</ref> To commemorate the 10th anniversary of this agreement in 1992, the Hyogo Prefectural Government Cultural Centre was established in Perth.<ref>[http://www.hyogo.com.au/centre_introduction.htm Hyogo.com.au] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402123404/http://www.hyogo.com.au/centre_introduction.htm |date=2015-04-02 }}</ref>

== Notes == {{Reflist|group=note}}

== Citations == {{Reflist}}

== General references == * Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric and Käthe Roth (2005). [https://books.google.com/books?id=p2QnPijAEmEC ''Japan Encyclopedia'']. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-674-01753-5}}. {{oclc|58053128}}.

== External links == {{Commons}} {{Wikivoyage|Hyogo|Hyōgo}} * [http://web.pref.hyogo.lg.jp/fl/english/ Official Hyōgo prefecture homepage] * [http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp/english/ Hyōgo prefecture tourist guide] * [http://www.hyogobcc.org/ Hyōgo Business & Cultural Center] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20051119200138/http://www.hyogo-ip.or.jp/hiaf/jp/medical/index.htm Medical Services in Hyōgo prefecture]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hyogo Prefecture}} Category:Hyōgo Prefecture Category:Kansai region Category:Prefectures of Japan