Akashi Park

Akashi Castle was built by the Tokugawa family at a cost of approximately 3.1 billion yen in today's value, and became a key castle for the Western provincial lords. Even after more than 400 years since its construction, the beautiful appearance of that time remains intact, making it a popular tourist spot where you can learn about history. The remaining turrets at Akashi Castle are two of the 12 existing in Japan, and have been designated as important cultural properties by the government. As a highly valuable historical building, it is also recommended for commemorative photos during sightseeing in Hyogo.

"Gon no Ike" is a lake that covers about 5% of the total area of Akashi Park, with an area of approximately 2.9 hectares on the north side of the park. Hand-rowed boats and duck boats are available on the lake, making it a popular spot for couples on a date. Cherry trees are planted along the shore of the lake, so in spring, you can spend a relaxing time enjoying the pink cherry blossoms.

Akashi Park is home to the Hyogo Prefectural Library, which houses over 650,000 books. The library is open to anyone from 9:30am to 6pm, except on Mondays and during the year-end and New Year holidays, and you can freely browse various books. In addition, events such as tours of the library's backyard and coloring classes for children are also held. You can enjoy these activities regardless of the weather, so why not visit Akashi Park on a rainy day and enjoy reading?

The nature-rich park has two baseball fields, a track and field stadium, tennis courts, and a lawn bowls court, providing a variety of areas to enjoy different sports. All facilities are available for individual use, and reservations can be made online. The second baseball field, for example, can be used for as low as 700 yen per hour on weekdays, making it highly recommended for its low cost compared to private facilities.

The largest event in the prefecture held annually at Akashi Park, named after the fact that the Japan Standard Time Meridian passes through Akashi City, is the "Time Week" event. It takes place around June 10th to 11th every year and is bustling with many people gathering for flea markets and stalls. The main attraction is the performance of the "Legal Gun Squad of Time," which is a modern reproduction of a dance using matchlock guns that was performed during the Edo period. The powerful scene of the matchlock guns being fired is sure to leave a lasting impression.