“The everyday scenery of Nishinomiya is actually full of cultural properties!?”
Here ↓
This autumn, you can go see, walk around, and listen to talks, plus collect special cards too. First up are the on-site lectures（advance registration required・first come, first served）, where guides will explain things right there on location. Here are all 5 courses〜
① Visiting the Cultural Properties of Jōkyōji Temple and the Streetscape of Namaze-shuku
Just a little east of Namaze Station. That distinctive atmosphere comes from Namaze-shuku, where traces of the Edo period still remain〜.
At the temple, the head priest will guide you and share the history of the cultural properties preserved there, as well as their connection to the local area. It’s that kind of experience where “the scenery looks a little different after you hear the story”〜.
Date and time: 11/13（Thu）13:00〜15:00
Meeting place: In front of the ticket gate at JR Namaze Station
Destination: Jōkyōji Temple（2-chome Namazecho, Nishinomiya City）and others
Participation fee: Free
② Modern Architecture Alive in Shukugawa: Former Yamamoto Residence and Catholic Shukugawa Church
A course visiting a classic Western-style residence and a church〜!
At the “Former Yamamoto Residence,” you can see the warmth of the brick and wood, plus the intricate details up close〜. And at “Catholic Shukugawa Church,” the arches and stained glass are so impressive they’ll give you chills. It really is beautiful and absolutely worth seeing✨
Date and time: 11/21（Fri）10:00〜12:15
Meeting place: Hankyu Shukugawa Station, South Ticket Gate
Destination: Former Yamamoto Residence（Yūzencho, Nishinomiya City）and others
Participation fee: 300 yen
Architecture that mixes in old Western-style elements has such a unique, hard-to-describe atmosphere〜.
→ “Former Yamamoto Residence” is now fully booked, so
③ At the Foot of Ebessan: Learning About Nishinomiya Shrine, a Treasure Trove of Cultural Properties
Actually, many places around the shrine grounds, from Ebessan’s main hall and gates to the worship hall, are cultural properties〜! Once you hear that the carvings, colors, and layout of the buildings all have meaning, the familiar Nishinomiya Shrine might start to look a little different⛩️
Date and time: 11/27（Thu）13:00〜15:00
Meeting place: In front of the Nishinomiya Shrine office（Shakecho, Nishinomiya City）
Destination: Inside Nishinomiya Shrine
Participation fee: Free
After hearing the guide’s explanation, looking at the same place again will probably make you go, “Oh, now I get it!”
④ Walking the National Historic Site of the Osaka Castle Stone Wall Quarry: The Story of Giant Stones Told by Carved Marks
This is a hands-on lecture where you walk around while actually looking for carved marks left on the stones. From the traces of giant stones being quarried and the marks of tools, you can get a sense of just how impressive the techniques and scale of the work were back then.
Date and time: 11/29（Sat）10:00〜12:00
Meeting place: In front of the management office at Kabutoyama Forest Park
Destination: Stone quarry site inside the park（Kabutoyamacho, Nishinomiya City）
Participation fee: Free
⑤ Special Tour of Vories Architecture at the Important Cultural Property “Kobe College”
A special chance to tour a campus that’s usually off-limits! Just walking through the corridors feels like you’re in a movie, and the red-brick buildings are seriously photogenic📸
Date and time: 12/5（Fri）12:30〜15:00
Meeting place: Hankyu Mondo-yakujin Station, West Ticket Gate
Destination: Kobe College campus（Okadayama, Nishinomiya City）
Participation fee: 500 yen
Of course it’s great for architecture lovers, but it’s also recommended for anyone thinking, “I want to feel like a student again〜.”
→ “Kobe College” is now fully booked, so
Limited Collection Cards You Can Only Get Here
If you visit on the public viewing days, you can receive limited collection cards（15 types in total）. As a Miyakko, you’ll want to get your hands on them
They include photos and names of the cultural properties. This definitely makes you want to collect them all〜
On-Site Public Viewings（5 Locations Total）
There are some irresistible courses for fans of Buddhist statues and buildings. No advance registration is required for the on-site public viewings〜. And they’re free too
Buddhist statues really have an amazing presence when you see them up close. The detail in the carving, the way the roofs are built… it makes you think, “The craftspeople back then were incredible!”
Exhibition Viewings（4 Venues Total）
Old documents from Nishinomiya, traditional sake-brewing tools, kimono fabrics, and more will all be shown at once. No advance registration is required for the exhibition viewings either〜
It’s nice that you can experience the real size and depth of color that photos just can’t convey. You’ll probably be moved thinking, “People in the past made things with such amazing techniques!”
Registration Is Easy〜
The on-site lectures require advance registration（first come, first served）. Feel free to quickly reserve the session you’re interested in.
→Check available spots on the official website
Organizer: Nishinomiya City Historical Assets Utilization and Revitalization Council（inside Nishinomiya City Cultural Properties Division）／ Inquiries: Nishinomiya City Historical Assets Lecture Program Office（inside Proactive Inc.）078-599-7110（weekdays 9:30〜18:00）
Lastly
When you see old buildings that people call amazing in person, you really do find yourself thinking, “It’s huge! Wow!” If you experience it even once, it could also become a fun memory to talk about, like “I got to go inside there back in the day〜”. If anything catches your eye, take this chance to experience it〜
