Hyogo is the abbreviated name of the prefecture.
It is a prefecture located in Japan’s Kinki region. Its prefectural capital is Kobe City.
It borders six prefectures: Osaka Prefecture and Kyoto Prefecture to the east, Okayama Prefecture and Tottori Prefecture to the west, and Kagawa Prefecture and Tokushima Prefecture to the south.
The name originates from “Hyogo” (tsuwamono-gura), a warehouse for storing weapons.
Hyogo Prefecture’s Architecture & Heritage
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is one of the world’s largest suspension bridges, spanning the Akashi Strait between Kobe City and Awaji Island. Its total length is 3,911 meters. Construction began in May 1988 and took approximately ten years, completing in April 1998. Nicknamed the Pearl Bridge, it features nighttime illumination with designs that change seasonally.
Himeji Castle, with its white plastered walls, is affectionately known as “Shirasagi Castle” (White Egret Castle) for its elegant appearance resembling a white egret spreading its wings. In 1993, it was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage site, the first in Japan alongside Nara’s Horyuji Temple.
The Kobe Port Tower was born in 1963 as a landmark befitting Kobe Port. It was the world’s first tower built using a pipe structure. Its unique, elegant design, resembling a drum stretched vertically, earned it the nickname “The Beauty of Steel Towers.” The observation deck offers panoramic views of Kobe Airport, Mount Rokko, Awaji Island, and more.
Hyogo Prefecture’s Food Culture & Famous Foods
‘Kobe Beef’ refers to beef meticulously selected from Tajima cattle raised in Hyogo Prefecture. Kobe beef, Matsusaka beef, and Omi beef are collectively known as Japan’s Three Great Wagyu. The secret to its deliciousness lies in the meat’s sweetness and aroma. The oleic acid, a flavor component found in the fat, is present at exceptionally high levels unmatched by other Japanese beef.
Akashi-yaki is the soul food of Akashi City, locally also called tamagoyaki. It’s made with wheat flour, rice flour, eggs, and octopus, cooked in a copper pan for excellent heat conduction. The finished Akashi-yaki is placed on a square board and typically eaten dipped in dashi broth.
Katsumeshi is a local dish from Kakogawa City. It consists of a beef cutlet placed atop rice on a plate, topped with a sauce based on demi-glace, and served with boiled cabbage. Its origins are said to lie in the creation of a Western-style dish that could be easily eaten with chopsticks during a time when beef cutlets were rare.
One of the Japanese surnames
Approximately just under 2,000 Japanese people bear the surname Hyogo. It is a relatively uncommon surname.
This number is roughly equivalent to the seating capacity of the Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles.
The primary origin is believed to be the Hyōgo-ryō (Hyōgo Office), which managed weapons under the Ritsuryō system from the Asuka period onwards.
Some people pronounce it “Hyōko”.
Description of this work
The top row is in hiragana, the middle row in kanji, and the bottom row in katakana, all written horizontally.
