Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Today, let me give you a brief introduction of our Akashi city.
Akashi city is called “City of Time”, “City of Strait”, “City of Food”, and “City of History”.
(City of Time)
The meridian line of 135 degree that determines the standard time for Japan passes through Akashi, and hence Akashi is referred to as the “City of Time”. The city is located between Kobe City to the east and Himeji City to the west. The first is known worldwide as a port city and is famous for the Arima Hot Springs Resort, while the second is famous for Himeji Castle, a World Cultural Heritage Site. “Akashi Municipal Planetarium”, which is a symbol of “City of Time”, holds the planetarium which is the oldest one in Japan in active operation, and the 5th oldest in the world. The live explanation by planetarium staff invites visitors to experience the starry expanses of the sky.
(City of Strait)
Akashi city has a 15.6 km long coast line that extends from the east to the west, facing Sedo Inland sea. From Okura coast, you can have an amazing panoramic view of the ocean and the beautiful “Akashi Strait Bridge”, which is the longest suspension bridge in the world.
As the beautiful “City of Strait”, many aspects of the city’s industry and culture have developed thanks to the abundant blessings it receives from the sea.
(City of Food)
Akashi has prospered as a “City of Food”. Akashi-dai (sea-bream), Akashi-dako (octopus), from the Sedo Inland sea, are very famous in the whole Japan.
The 400-years-old traditional shopping street, Uo-no-tana, is filled with shops that sell famous “Akashi-yaki”, and fresh catches of the day from the strait, along with various other marine products.
Akashi-yaki consists of a lot of eggs and seasoned soup. The combination of the softness of the egg and the firmness of the octopus is loved by not only Akashi people, but also by many tourists. Akashi-yaki is locally known as ‘tamago-yaki’,and is said to be the origin of ‘tako-yaki,’ that is popular in Osaka.
(City of History)
Akashi is characterized by its warm weather through the year, and visitors to Akashi can experience the beauty of its vistas throughout the changing seasons.
in Akashi Park, which is selected as one of the “Nation’s top 100 spots for cherry blossom viewing”, about 1,000 cherry trees display dense, pink curtains of blossoms every spring.
Akashi Castle inside the Akashi park is selected as one of the “Nation’s top 100 castles”, and among the remains of the castle, the two watch towers, ‘Hitsuji-saru yagura’ and ‘Tatsumi yagura,’ are designated as Important Cultural Properties of Japan”, and are periodically opened to the public.
Visitors to the park may also stroll through the Musashi-no -teien’, a garden said to be created by Miyamoto Musashi, a great swordsman. He is also said to be the one who designed Akashi town in his time.
Please enjoy yourself in Akashi city, by feeling the time, history, culture and nature, and by enjoying the delicious foods here!








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