AKASHI KAIKYO BRIDGE AND NOJIMA FAULT PRESERVATION MUSEUM

Wednesday, July 22, 12:30-17:30

This course includes the visit of the world's longest suspension bridge "Akashi Kaikyo Bridge" and "Nojima Fault Preservation Museum" where we can study the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is with a length of almost four kilometers the world's longest suspension bridge. It spans the Akashi Strait (Akashi Kaikyo) between Kobe and Awaji Island and is part of the Kobe-Awaji-Naruto Expressway, which connects Honshu with Shikoku. The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge was opened in 1998. The Bridge Exhibition Center at the foot of the bridge (Kobe side) provides well presented information about the planning and construction of the bridge and about other suspension bridges around the world, although the detailed explanations are available in Japanese only. The Maiko Marine Promenade consists of observatory hallways under the bridge's platform, about 50 meters above the water. Accessed by elevator from the base of the bridge (Kobe side), the hallways offer interesting views of the bridge's interior, the Akashi Strait and Osaka Bay.

Nojima Fault Preservation Museum

This museum and park is a memorial to the people who died during the January 17, 1995 Magnitude 6.9 Hyogoken Nambu earthquake (also known as the "Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake Disaster", or simply the "Kobe earthquake"). Several faults were involved in this earthquake, including the Nojima fault which passes through Hokudan. In this small town alone 39 people died. As a reminder of those who lost their lives and of the destruction earthquakes cause, the fault scarp exposed in Hokudan has been enclosed inside a long greenhouse-type building for present and future generations to view. A house which was damaged by this fault is also part of the memorial park.

MT. ROKKO AND NADA SAKAGURA

Wednesday, July 22, 12:30-17:30

This course includes the visit of "Mt. Rokko" located behind the Kobe downtown and a tasting tour "Nada Sakagura". Enjoy Barbecue Lunch (Beef, Pork and Chicken) at "Rokkosan Pasture" and a tour looking around Nada sake brewers and tasting Sake.

Mt. Rokko

Mt. Rokko towers over the City of Kobe and the off-lying Inland Sea. In summer, it's an excellent place to escape the heat, while in winter, people enjoy skiing on artificial snow. And, it's a hikers paradise all year-round. From the peak, you have a marvelous view of Kobe, Osaka and the Inland Sea, which is even more splendid when lit up at night. There are several places to go on Mt. Rokko. The Rokko Alpine Botanical Gardens are found at an altitude of 865 m, and have many rare highland species from the Alps and Himalayas. There is also Rokkosan Pasture, a large ranch where you can mix with dairy cows and horses, as well as the Rokko Field Athletic Course for adults, and the Museum of Music Boxes.

Nada Sakagura

The sake-brewing history of the Nada region dates back to medieval times, Muromachi Period (1333~). A traditional and mostly reliable story, however, tells of a man named Zakoya Bunzaemon from the Itami region in present eastern Hyogo Prefecture, who moved to Nishionomiya and there began brewing sake sometime during the Kanei Era (1624-43). In Nada, sake is generally made from lightly malted rice and the mineral-rich Miya Water, and its production is characterized by an intense fermentation process. The Nada region consists of five sake-brewing areas. Nada Go-go (the five sake-brewing areas of Nada) were Shimo-Nada-go (present Hyogo and Chuo wards of Kobe), Nishi-go (Nada Ward of Kobe), Mikage-go (Higashi-Nada Ward of Kobe), Uosaki-go (part of Higashi-Nada Ward and Ashiya) and Imazu-go (Nishinomiya). Later, Shimo-Nada-go was replaced by Nishinomiya-go (Nishinomiya).