Shiga Tourist Guide

●Hieizan Enryakuji

Enryaku-ji is a Tendai monastery located on Mount Hiei in Ōtsu, overlooking Kyoto. It was founded during the early Heian period.

■Getting There

From Hotel Fine BiwakoⅠ･Ⅱ, and Hotel Olive Biwako

By bus：8 mins from Biwako-Ohashi Higashizume Bus Station to Katata Station Bus Stop(Cost is 250 yen). Change buses to the Kojaku-Kotsu bus number 123 Line, get off at Hieizan-Sakamoto Station Bus Stop(15 mins, 320 yen). And then get on the Kojaku-Kotsu bus number 41 Line to Cable-Sakamoto Station Bus Stop(7 mins, 230 yen). Get on at Cable-Sakamoto Station to Enryakuji Station and walk for 8 mins.

●Sightseeing ship of Lake Biwa-Ko

The water excursion leaves Otsu Port aboard the "Michigan" paddlewheel boat. The boat has an early-American mood, and passengers can enjoy a panoramic 360 view of Lake Biwa.

■Getting There

From Hotel Fine BiwakoⅠ･Ⅱ, and Hotel Olive Biwako
By train：From JR Katata Station, take the JR Kosei Line to Yamashina Station. Change trains to the Biwako Line, get off at Otsu Station, from where it is 15 mins walk to Sightseeing ship of Lake Biwa-ko. Traveling for 40 mins, cost is 410 yen.

From Hotel Fine Garden Kosei
By train：From JR Mikumo Station, take the JR Kusatsu Line to Kusatsu Station. Change trains to the Biwako Line Special Rapid or Rapid, get off at Otsu Station. Traveling for 36 mins, cost is 500 yen.

●Hikone Castle

Hikone Castle is one of four castles in Japan designated as National Treasures.　It was built by Ii Naotaka, the second lord of Hikone, after the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600. The main building is three stories high, and stands magnificently on top of a hill. Hikone Castle is admired year-round for its landscape and seasonal beauty.

■Getting There

From Hotel Fine BiwakoⅠ･Ⅱ and Hotel Olive Biwako
Get on the Bus from Biwako-Ohashi Higashizume Bus Stop to the Moriyama Station Bus Stop(24 mins, 490 yen). Change trains to the JR Biwako Line Special Rapid, get off at Hikone Station(23 mins, 670 yen), from where it is 10 mins walk to Hikone Castle.

From Hotel Fine Garden Kosei
From Mikumo Station, take the JR Kusatsu Line to Kusatsu Station. Change torains to the Biwako Line Special rapid, get off at Hikone Station(48 mins, 970 yen), from where it is 10 mins walk to Hikone Castle.

●Motohamacho Nagahama

Located in downtown Nagahama, Kurokabe Square is full of many historical buildings and shops and is well known for its glass works. The streets have a welcoming atmosphere with good shopping and restaurants.

Kurokabe Glass Pavillion
This is a European-style building with black walls. This renovated building used to be a bank during the Meiji Period, which was called “KUROKABE”, "Black Wall". Now it is very popular as a fashionable shop that collects various glassware from around the world. Here you can observe and experience the process of glass making.

Kaiyodo Figure Museum Kurokabe
The miniature toys that were included as free gifts for sweets, which have become popular in recent years, are exhibited in this pavilion. These miniature figures figured dinosaurs, heroes, and robots, capture the imaginations of all ages.

■Getting There

From Hotel Fine BiwakoⅠ･Ⅱ and Hotel Olive Biwako
Get on the Bus from Biwako-Ohashi Higashizume Bus Stop to the Moriyama Station Bus Stop(24 mins, 490 yen). Take to the JR Biwako Line Special Rapid at Moriyama Stasion, get off at Maibara Station. Change torains to the Hokuriku Main Line to Nagahama Station(45 mins, 840 yen), from where it is 3 mins walk to Motohama-cho Nagahama.

From Hotel Fine Garden Kosei
From Mikumo Station, take the JR Kusatsu Line to Kusatsu Station. Change torains to the Biwako Line Special rapid and Hokuriku Main Line, get off at Nagahama Station(82 mins,1140 yen), from where it is 3 mins walk.

 

《Hotel Fine Group in Biwako(Shiga)》

◆Hotel Fine BiwakoⅠ･Ⅱ and Hotel Olive Biwako

To Biwako-Ohashi Higashizume Bus Stop
By foot：7 mins from the hotel.

To JR Katata Station
By taxi：11 mins from the hotel. Cost is 1,650 yen～
By bus：8 mins from Biwako-Ohashi Higashizume Bus Stop. Cost is 250 yen.

To JR Moriyama Station
By bus：24 mins from Biwako-Ohashi Higashizume Bus Stop. Cost is 490 yen.

To Kyoto Station
By train：From JR Katata Station, take the JR Kosei Line to Kyoto Staion(24 mins, 410 yen).

To Kansai International Airport
By Kansai Airport Limousine：88 mins from Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi. Cost is 2,550 yen.

To Osaka International Airport
By Osaka Airport Limousine：50 mins from Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi. Cost is 1,310 yen.

◆Hotel Fine Garden Kosei

To JR Kusatsu Line Mikumo Station
By foot：18 mins from the hotel.
By taxi：4 mins from the hotel. Cost is 770 yen.

To Kyoto Station
By train：From JR Mikumo Station, take the JR Kusatu Line to Kusatsu Station.
Change trains to the Biwako Line Special Rapid, get off at Kyoto Station. Traveling for 44 mins, cost is 670 yen.

To Kansai International Airport
By Kansai Airport Limousine：88 mins to Kyoto Station Hachijo-guchi Bus Stop. Cost is 2,550 yen.
 

Kobe Tourist Guide

Kobe is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan's ten largest cities. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities.

Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries. Its port was among the first to be opened to foreign trade in the 19th century alongside the ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Niigata.

In 1995, Kobe was hit by the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake, which killed over 5000 people and destroyed tens of thousands of buildings. Today the city is completely rebuilt, and few signs of the terrible event remain.

●Kobe Harborland

Kobe Harborland is a shopping and entertainment district along the waterfront of Kobe's port area, offering many cafes, restaurants, shops and other amusements. It is also a popular dating spot.

The two largest shopping complexes in the area are Mosaic and Canal Garden. Mosaic is a pleasant shopping complex along the waterfront with a variety of small fashion boutiques and a wide selection of restaurants, many of which overlook the harbor. A small amusement park with ferris wheel is found at one end of Mosaic. Canal Garden, on the other hand, is a shopping mall with a Hankyu department store, Sofmap electronics store, a sports store and various family fashion outlets.

The shopping area is surrounded by walking paths and promenades including a waterfront boardwalk and the Gaslight Street, a street that is lit in the evenings by old-fashioned gas street lights. Other attractions in the area include a cinema and a few restaurants housed in renovated 19th-century brick warehouses which remain from a former dockyard.

■Getting There

Kobe Harborland starts just outside of JR Kobe Station and the Harborland Subway Station. Alternatively, it can be reached in a five minute walk from Meriken Park.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
Take to JR Kobe Line from Sannomiya Station to Kobe station(4 mins, 120 yen)

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ, Fine Garden and Fine GardenⅡ
Take to JR Kobe Line Special Rapid from Himeji Station to Kobe station(35 mins, 970 yen)

●Kitano-cho

Kitano-cho is a city district at the foot of the Rokko mountain range where many foreign merchants and diplomats settled after the Port of Kobe was opened to foreign trade in the second half of the 19th century. More than a dozen of the former mansions, known as Ijinkan, remain in the area and are open to the public as museums.

Most of the houses charge an admission fee between 550 to 750 yen, while combination tickets are available to see multiple houses. The entire district is pleasant to walk through and offers a variety of cafes, restaurants and boutiques, making it a favorite among young Japanese couples.

■Getting There

Kitano-cho is about a 10 to 15 minute walk from either Sannomiya or Shin-Kobe Stations.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Sannomiya Station or Shin-Kobe Statio.

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ, Fine Garden and Fine GardenⅡ
Approximately 15 minutes on foot from Sannomiya Station.

●Meriken Park

Meriken Park is a nice waterfront park in Kobe's port area. Built on an outcropping of reclaimed land, the park is covered in grassy lawn and open courtyards dotted with a collection of modern art installations and fountains. It is home to some of the city's more iconic contemporary architecture such as the red Kobe Port Tower and the Kobe Maritime Museum.

The park was devastated by the 1995 Great Hanshin Earthquake, but has now become a popular spot for locals and tourists again. A small memorial in the park commemorates the many victims who were killed in the port during the earthquake. A short section of damaged waterfront has been left unrepaired as a reminder of the earthquake's tremendous destructive power.

■Getting There

Meriken Park is about a ten minute walk south of Motomachi Station or just across the sightseeing cruise terminal from Kobe Harborland.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
Take to JR Kobe Line from Sannomiya Station to Motomachi station(1 mins, 120 yen), from where it is a 15 mins walk to Meriken Park.

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ, Fine Garden and Fine GardenⅡ
Take to JR Kobe Line Special Rapid from Himeji Station to Kobe station. Change trains to the Rapid or Local train, and get off at Motomachi Station(40 mins, 970 yen), from where it is a 15 mins walk to Meriken Park.

●Nankinmachi (Kobe Chinatown)

Nankinmachi is a compact chinatown in central Kobe and a center of the Chinese community in the Kansai Region. The area was developed by Chinese merchants who settled near Kobe Port after the port was opened to foreign trade in 1868. As the chinatown developed, it became known as Nankinmachi after Nanjing, the former Chinese capital.

Nankinmachi is a popular tourist attraction and shopping and dining district. Two main streets run through the district, meeting each other at a small plaza in the center. They are packed with shops, restaurants and food stands that sell popular items such as steamed buns (manju), ramen, tapioca drinks and various other Chinese dishes, many of which have been Japanized to a certain degree.

■Getting There

Nankinmachi is located a five minutes walk south of Motomachi Station, a ten minute walk southwest of Sannomiya Station or a five minute walk north of Meriken Park.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
Take to JR Kobe Line from Sannomiya Station to Motomachi station(1 mins, 120 yen), from where it is a 10 mins walk to Nankinmachi.

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ, Fine Garden and Fine GardenⅡ
Take to JR Kobe Line Special Rapid from Himeji Station to Kobe station. Change trains to the Rapid or Local train, and get off at Motomachi Station(40 mins, 970 yen), from where it is a 10 mins walk to Nankinmachi.

●Shin-Kobe Ropeway（Kobe Nunobiki Ropeway）

Shin-Kobe Ropeway is one of three services that lifts tourists up the southern slopes of the Rokko mountain chain. The ropeway departs from next to Shin-Kobe Station, Kobe's shinkansen station. As it ascends, it passes by the Nunobiki Waterfall and the Nunobiki Herb Garden, giving a nice aerial view of both. The highlight of the ride lies in the observation deck located just beside the top station, which offers spectacular views of Kobe and is a popular night view spot.

■Getting There

It takes five minutes to walk from Shin-Kobe Station to the lower station of Shin-Kobe Ropeway.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
Take the Kobe Electric Railway Arima Line to Tanigami Station. Change trains to Hokushinkyuko Line, and get off Shin-Kobe Station. Traveling for 15 mins.

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ, Fine Garden and Fine GardenⅡ
Take to JR Kobe Line Special Rapid from Himeji Station to Sannomiya station(40 mins, 970 yen). Change trains to the Kobe City Subway-Seishin-Yamate Line at Kobe-kosoku Sannomiya Station, and get off at Shin-Kobe Station(20 mins, 210 yen), from where it is a 10 mins walk to Nankinmachi.

●Arima Onsen(hot spring)

Arima Onsen is a famous hot spring town within the city limits of Kobe, but on the opposite side of Mount Rokko from the city center. The town lies in a natural mountain setting, yet is close enough for Kobe and Osaka residents as an easy and popular day trip or weekend getaway.

Although Arima Onsen has a modern look today and is pretty built up, one can still find several narrow lanes and wooden buildings when strolling around the center of town. Due to its compact size, the small town can be explored entirely on foot, and there are several hot spring sources, nice temples and shrines and a small hot spring museum (200 yen) to be discovered.

With a history of over one thousand years, Arima Onsen is considered one of Japan's oldest hot spring resorts and has often stood at or near the top of onsen rankings for Western Japan. The town has two types of hot spring waters which spring up at various sources around town: the Kinsen ("gold water") is colored brown with iron deposits and is said to be good for skin ailments and muscle pain, while the clear Ginsen ("silver water") contains radium and carbonate and is said to cure various muscle and joint ailments.

Visitors to Arima Onsen can enjoy hot spring bathing at two public bath houses or at the town's many ryokan. Several ryokan open their baths also to non-staying visitors during the day. The admission fee for a daytrip visit to a bath typically ranges between 500 and 2500 yen.

■Getting There

●By train
From Sannomiya Station or Shin-Kobe Station, take the subway to Tanigami Station (10-15 minutes, 4-5 departures per hour). Then, take the Shintetsu Arima-Sanda Line to Arima-guchi and transfer to the Arima Line to Arima Onsen Station (20 minutes, 4 departures per hour). The entire journey takes 30-40 minutes and costs 740 yen from Shin-Kobe and 930 yen from Sannomiya Station.

●By direct bus from Osaka
Hankyu Bus and JR Bus operate one or two highway buses per hour from Hankyu Umeda Station or JR Osaka Station (60 minutes, 1370 yen) via Shin-Osaka Station (50 minutes, 1230 yen) to Arima Onsen. In Arima, Hankyu Bus uses bus stop 1 on the map, while JR Bus uses bus stop 2. The Japan Rail Pass and other JR passes are not valid on either bus.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
By taxi： 9 mins to Arima Onsen. The fare is about 2,000～yen.
By train：Take the Kobe Electric Railway Arima Line bound for Sanda from Oike Station to Arimaguchi Station, change trains to the Arima Line bound for Arima Onsen, and get off at Arima Onsen Station.

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ, Fine Garden and Fine GardenⅡ
●By direct bus from Kobe
Hankyu and Shinki Bus operate local buses from Sannomiya Station (50 minutes) via Shin-Kobe Station (35 minutes) to Arima Onsen (using bus stop 1 on the map). The one way trip costs 700 yen and buses depart once or twice an hour. Alternatively, JR Bus operates about seven highway buses per day from Shin-Kobe Station (50 minutes) via Sannomiya Station (30 minutes) to Arima Onsen (using bus stop 2 on the map). The one way trip costs 770 yen, while a round trip ticket is available for 1440 yen. The Japan Rail Pass and other JR passes are not valid on any of these buses.

●Himeji Castle

Himeji Castle is widely considered Japan's most spectacular castle. Unlike many other Japanese castles, Himeji Castle was never destroyed in wars, earthquakes or fires and survives in its original form. It is both a national treasure and a world heritage site. The castle recently underwent extensive renovation works over several years and was fully re-opened to the public in March 2015.

In the 14th century, a fort was first built on the current castle site. Over the centuries, the various clans, who ruled over the region, gradually enlarged it. The castle complex, as it survives today, was completed in 1609. The well defended castle and its wooden interior are fascinating, and the castle's sight is spectacular, especially during the short and crowded cherry blossom season, that usually takes place in early April.

■Getting There

From Himeji Station, the castle can be reached in a 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute bus or taxi ride along the broad Otemae-dori Street, which leads straight from the station to the castle.

From Hotel Fine Himeji Ⅰ･Ⅱ
By taxi：19 mins to Himeji Castle. The fare is about 2,680～yen.
By bus：Take the Shinki-Bus bus number 24 Line(10 mins, 210 yen). Change buses to bus number 22 Line at Ichikawabashi Bus Stop, and get off at Himeji Castle-Otemon-mae Bus Stop(9 min, 210 yen).

From Hotel Fine Gardenn Himeji･Fine Garden HimejiⅡ
By taxi：12 mins to Himeji Castle. The fare is a about 1,720～yen.
By train：9 mins to Himeji Station from Tohori Station. Cost is 190 yen, from where it is a 20 mins walk to Himeji Castle.

From Hotel Fine Kobe Rokko Kita Ichibanchi
By train：From Oike Station, take the Kobe Electric Railway Arima Line to Tanigami Station(5 mins, 240 yen). Change trains to Hokushinkyuko Line and Kobe City Subway Seishin-Yamate Line, and get off Sannomiya Station(10 mins, 540 yen). And then take the JR Kobe Line Special Express to Himeji Station(38 mins, 970 yen).

 

《Hotel Fine Group in Hyogo》

◆Hotel Fine Rokko Kita-Ichibanchi

To Kobe Electric Railway Oike Station
By taxi：6 mins from the hotel.

To Shin-Kobe Station
Take the Kobe Electric Railway Arima Line to Tanigami Station. Change trains to Hokushinkyuko Line, and get off Shin-Kobe Station. Traveling for 15 mins.

To Sannomiya Station
Take the Kobe Electric Railway Arima Line to Tanigami Station. Change trains to Hokushinkyuko Line and Kobe City Subway Seishin-Yamate Line, and get off Sannomiya Station. Traveling for 17 mins.

To JR Osaka Station
By JR Kobe Line：Take from JR Sannomiya Station to Osaka Station. Traveling for 25 mins.

◆Hotel Fine Himeji I･Ⅱ

To Shinki-Bus Mino Bus Stop
By foot：2 mins to the hotel

To Himeji Station
By taxi：16 mins from the hotel. Cost：2,120～yen.
By bus：30 mins to Mino Bus Stop. Cost: 240 yen

To Sannomiya Station
From JR Himeji Station, take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid to Osaka Station. Traveling for 43 mins, cost is 970 yen.

To Osaka Station
From JR Himeji Station, take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid to Osaka Station. Traveling for 65 mins, cost is 1490 yen.

To Kobe Airport
From JR Himeji Station, take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid to Sannomiya Station. Change trains to the Portline to Kobe Airport Station.  Traveling for 61 mins, cost is 1,300 yen.

To Kansai International Airport
By Kansai Airport Limousine：140 mins from Himeji Station Bus Stop. Cost：3,300 yen.

To Osaka International Airport
By Osaka Airport Limousine：85 mins from Himeji Station Bus Stop. Cost：2,160 yen.

 

◆Hotel Fine Garden Himeji

To JR Bantan Line Tohori Station
By foot：6 mins from the hotel.

To Himeji Station
By JR Bantan Line：9 mins to Himeji Station. Cost：190 yen.

To Osaka Station
From JR Himeji Station, take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid to Osaka Station. Traveling for 65 mins, cost is 1490 yen.

To Kobe Airport
From JR Himeji Station, take the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Main Line Special Rapid to Sannomiya Station. Change trains to the Portline to Kobe Airport Station.  Traveling for 61 mins, cost is 1,300 yen.

To Kansai International Airport
By Kansai Airport Limousine：140 mins from Himeji Station Bus Stop. Cost：3,300 yen.

To Osaka International Airport
By Osaka Airport Limousine：85 mins from Himeji Station Bus Stop. Cost：2,160 yen.