URA*KOBE Japan’s Rural History and Hiking

Step into Japan's timeless countryside—just a short ride from Kobe. Yamada Village, in the northern Rokko foothills, has a farming history dating back to the Yayoi period. Once a major rice supplier to Kobe, its terraced fields and thatched-roof houses still reflect a lifestyle rooted in nature and Shinto beliefs. This tour explores three cultural gems: make rice balls at the 100-year-old Satoyama Experience House (Kerekele), visit the Shimotaniue Kabuki Stage at Amatsuhikone Shrine, and walk through the peaceful Rokujo Hachimangu Shrine, where Shinto and Buddhism coexist. The tour begins in Sannomiya with your guide. Pickup from Osaka is also available upon request. *In Japanese, "URA" means the "back" or "hidden part," which is the opposite of "OMOTE", meaning the front. It's like something quietly sitting just behind or right next to a place. So, "URA*KOBE" is about a village that's like a special, untouched treasure, quietly found on the "URA" side of the modern big city of Kobe.

Itinerary

1. You will take a train or a bus to Minotani Station. (1h 0min) Admission included
2. Walk through the scenic satoyama backed by the Tanjo mountains and visit the Shimotanigami Rural Kabuki Stage inside Amatsuhikone Shrine. This thatched-roof stage, still used for local festivals and rituals, preserves a unique form of kabuki once performed as a sacred offering. Discover the deep connection between nature, faith, and sustainable rural life. (30 min)
3. Visit the Satoyama Experience House (known locally as Sumibiraki House Kerekele), a beautifully restored 100-year-old farmhouse in the hills of northern Kobe. Join a hands-on experience making onigiri (rice balls) with locally grown rice. Through this simple yet heartfelt activity, learn about rural traditions and the sustainable lifestyle rooted in this region. (1h 30min) Admission included
4. Rokujō Hachimangū Shrine, located in the heart of Yamada Town, dates back nearly 1,000 years. Surrounded by a quiet forest, the site exudes a timeless atmosphere. Unique for its coexistence of Shinto and Buddhist structures, the shrine reflects Japan’s once-unified religious traditions. The deity enshrined here is also worshipped at the summit of nearby Mt. Tanjo (1h 30min)
5. You will take a train or a bus to Sannomiya Station. (2h 0min) Admission included