A Casual Get-away to Savor Onsen, Nature and Japanese Cuisine Around Sanda Station

Though Hyogo Prefecture is generally considered an urban area with Kobe City and Nishinomiya City, you can find garden cities such as “Sanda City”, a city located in the south-east known for ‘KOBE-SANDA PREMIUM OUTLETS®’ (神戸三田プレミアム・アウトレット). As the city has got plenty of relaxing attractions to offer, including Onsen to heal your body, great nature to please your five senses, and Soba noodles to savor the flavor of Japan, why don’t you take a day to pamper yourself at a garden city?

Sanda Station (G61) is 5 stations away on JR Takarazuka Line (G) from JR Takarazuka Station (G56) which is the nearest station to Takarazuka Washington Hotel.

“Arima Fuji Park”, the largest municipal park of Hyogo Prefecture, to offer a great view cherished by the abundant nature of Arima Fuji

The largest municipal park in the prefecture opened in 2001, “Arima Fuji Park” (有馬富士公園), was designed considering various “plays” that keep changing depending on the time. However, at the same time, the nature always comes first when designed and the main character is of course ‘Arima Fuji’ (有馬富士). You can easily experience hiking the paved casual trail lasting about an hour to the top of the mountain. Additionally, there are a large pond having the lush mountain on its back, a forest, a thatched roof old residence, and an exhibition on the theme of nature of the area. Enjoy the beautiful scenery created by nature that eases your mind while breathing in the crisp and clear air.

Opening Hours	9:00AM – 5:00PM *Opens until 6:00PM during summer holiday seaaon
Address	1091-2 Fukushima, Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture
Access	A 15-minute walk from Amadera (尼寺) Bus stop which is a 12-minute ride on #24 bus from Sanda Sation
URL	https://www.travelhyogo.org.e.aas.hp.transer.com/things/natural/n-016.html

An Onsen facility reopened after the 80-year absence, “Kotobuki-no Yu”, where you can enjoy both hot spring bathing and 10,000 books to read

“Kotobuki-no Yu” (三田天然温泉 寿ノ湯), that had once closed 80 years ago and reopened in 2020, is a brand new Onsen facility offering a totally new experience. First thing first, bathing is what you cannot miss at the place. In addition to Onsen bathing, you can also enjoy a sauna, and Ganbanyoku (岩盤浴, relaxing while laying down on a heated rock bed) with herbal mist. In its sauna, there’s a löyly service from time to time. Once you’ve enjoyed bathing, head to the library where 10,000 books in various genre await. It should be fun to just browse books you don’t usually read. If you care to satisfy your appetite, go to the restaurant where you get to enjoy healthy dishes. There’s also a gym facility you can experience semi-personal training for only 500 yen. Find your own way to enjoy your time at the facility. 

Opening Hours	10:00AM – 11:00PM / Closed on Wednesdays
Address	5-2 Fujigaoka, Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture
Access	Close to Fujigaoka 5-chome (富士が丘5丁目) Bus stop which is a 15-minute ride on #1 bus from Sanda Sation
URL	https://kotobuki-yu.com/

“Soba Ichi” to offer authentic handmade Soba noodles in a 90-year-old folk house

At an authentic Sona restaurant “Soba Ichi” (蕎麦いち) in a 90-year-old folk house, you can enjoy flavorful Nihachi Sona (二八蕎麦, Soba noodles made from buckwheat and flour, and the ratio of each ingredient is 80% and 20% respectively) made from buckwheat from Fukui Prefecture. As the Soba noodles have a chewy texture, the more you chew them, the more you can feel the rich flavor. The Soba soup is prepared with dried bonito flakes produced at Kagoshima’s Makurazaki, a major producing area of bonito flakes. On top of that, the soup broth is made from the rare natural kelp delivered from Hokkaido’s Kuroguchihama. The signature dish is ‘Sudachi Soba’ (すだち蕎麦) with which you can savor the fresh aroma of Sudachi (すだち, a Japanese green citrus fruits mainly used for adding mild sourness and fresh flavor) together with the rich flavor of Soba noodles. Besides, only during the lunch service on weekdays, a special lunch meal (限定御膳, Genteigozen) is available.

Opening Hours	11:00AM – 3:00PM (last orders at 2:30PM) for lunch service and 5:30PM – 10:00PM (last orders at 9:00PM) for dinner service / Closed on Wednesdays and every third Tuesday
Address	26-3 Sandacho, Sanda City, Hyogo Prefecture
Access	A 10-minute walk from Sanda Station
URL	https://tabelog.com/en/hyogo/A2807/A280703/28032592/