[Latest Edition!] 15 Recommended Spots to Visit in Yabu City for Spring and Summer Holidays!

Looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and refresh yourself? We've picked out 15 recommended spots for spring and summer outings! From nature experiences where kids can play to their heart's content to relaxing confectionery-making workshops that adults can enjoy, there's something for everyone. On your next day off, head to Yabu City for an exciting and refreshing trip!

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Visit North Kansai

We are a voluntary tourism group dedicated to promoting the attractions of the northern Kinki region, specifically the areas of Tamba, Tajima, Tango, and Wakasa. The flavors of northern Kinki are not limited to crab, a representative winter seafood delicacy, but also include oysters, yellowtail, and pufferfish, as well as summer delicacies such as surf clams, rock oysters, and white squid. Mountain delicacies include Tamba chestnuts and Tamba black beans, and summer fruits such as sand dune melons, making it an area where you can enjoy gourmet food all year round. I would be happy if I could share information that allows people to visit this vast northern Kinki region many times and enjoy train travel.

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• Table of Contents
• ① Kashin Tanitsune
• ② Succulent BASE
• ③ Tenmonkan Balloon Yoka
• ④ Firefly Village
• ⑤ Uchiyama Strawberry Country
• ⑥ Ishigado Ancient Village Campsite
• ⑦ Mt. Hyono
• ⑧ Hachi Highlands
• ⑨Tendaki Falls
• ⑩ Wakasu Takaharu Ooya Campsite
• ⑪ Akebono Mine
• ⑫ Ayu Park
• ⑬ Ooya Art Village
• ⑭ Silkworm Village
• ⑮ Yabu Distillery
• For sightseeing in Yabu City, the "fixed-rate sightseeing taxi" is convenient!
• Yabu City has tons of great places to visit!

① Kashin Tanitsune

Established in 1868 (Meiji 1), this is a long-established confectionery shop representing Yabu City. The shop also has a café space where you can relax and enjoy the shop's signature sweets and cakes.
LABO (a confectionery making experience class) is a place where you can make traditional Japanese sweets together with skilled artisans, or create your own original cake, or make sweets with friends and family for special occasions such as birthdays, Mother's Day, or Father's Day, while having fun learning!
Our factory tours are available in English and Chinese for international tourists.
This is a learning pathway that deepens your understanding of Tanitsune's history of confectionery and the joy of food. Visiting the confectionery-making pathway is free of charge.

Tanitsune Confectionery

1500 Yoka, Yoka Town, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, 667-0021

This long-established confectionery shop has been representing Yabu City since its founding in 1868. We create sweets that incorporate seasonal ingredients and are associated with the Tajima region, using pure water and carefully selected ingredients, while maintaining the traditional techniques of our artisans to create products that are unique to Tanitsune. The famous sweet "Ayu no Sasayaki" is a soft and chewy masterpiece that Tanitsune is proud of, made with homemade castella dough and top-quality bean paste from Tokachi , Hokkaido, wrapped in gyuhi mochi! There is also a cafe space inside the store where you can relax and enjoy the store's signature sweets and cakes. At LABO (a sweets-making experience workshop), you can make traditional Japanese sweets together with experienced artisans, or create your own original cake or sweets with friends and family for special occasions such as birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Christmas, all while having fun and learning. The factory tour course is available in English and Chinese for tourists from overseas. It is an educational course that deepens your understanding of the history of Tanitsune and sweets, as well as the joy of food. Tours of the sweets-making course are free of charge.

② Succulent BASE

Succulent BASE cultivates and sells over 300 varieties of succulents in a greenhouse. We handle a wide variety of plants and can also create custom arrangements and pots to suit those arrangements.
They also provide thorough support for subsequent care and maintenance.
We are always accepting reservations for our workshops, so why not invite your family and friends and have a fun time creating your own potted plants?

Succulent BASE

573-1 Yoka, Yoka-cho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, 667-0041

We cultivate over 300 varieties of succulents (Echeveria) and create original pots to complement your succulent arrangements. Why not have fun choosing and creating a beautiful succulent arrangement? We'll guide you through planting techniques and help you create a lovely arrangement. We'll also provide support for aftercare and maintenance, so you can rest assured. Our workshops are always open, so invite your family and friends and let's have a fun succulent arrangement session! 【Workshop Menu】 Succulent Arrangement Workshop *Workshops are always available. Please contact us for groups of 5 or more. ・Beginner Course: 2,400 yen ・Recommended Course: 3,500 yen ・Korean Succulent Professional Course: 5,000 yen (Includes seedlings, pot, and participation fee)

③ Tenmonkan Balloon Yoka

The Balloon Yoka Astronomical Observatory is a facility where you can observe celestial bodies using telescopes. It is located in Yoka Town, which has been ranked number one in Japan as the "place where stars shine brightest," according to the Ministry of the Environment.
The facility primarily uses refracting and reflecting telescopes, and a key feature is that, with an operator present, users can adjust the focus themselves by touching the telescope.
The facility includes an Hα solar observation instrument that can observe prominences and other phenomena, as well as a camera that can be attached to a telescope to take astronomical photographs. Photographs of stars and the moon are displayed inside the building, and visitors can learn about the facility and view the exhibits free of charge.

Astronomical Museum Balloon Youka

667-0021 2142-3 Yoka, Yoka-cho, Yabu-shi, Hyogo Prefecture

Astronomical Museum Balloon Yoka is a facility where you can observe the heavens using a telescope. Photographs of the stars, moon, and more are on display inside the museum, and you can learn by touring the facility and viewing the exhibits for free.

This article also features Tenmonkan Balloon Yoka !

④ Firefly Village

Oku, with its abundant natural beauty, is a place where Genji fireflies swarm around the water at night from early to late June, and where butterflies and dragonflies abound during the day. Accommodation is available, and you can enjoy a variety of nature experiences.

Hotaru no Sato

773 Okumeji, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, 667-0121

Okumeiji is a village of abundant nature where fireflies fly around the water at night from early to late June, and there are many butterflies and dragonflies during the day. There are also accommodation facilities, and you can experience various natural experiences.

⑤ Uchiyama Strawberry Country

Uchiyama Strawberry Country offers strawberry picking from January to early June.
Because they are grown on elevated beds, the strawberries don't get covered in soil, so you can enjoy delicious strawberries without having to stand up or squat down.
The variety is Akihime, known as the king of strawberries. The aisles are about 90cm wide, making them accessible even for wheelchairs.
Dogs are welcome, so you can enjoy the experience with your beloved pet!
Please enjoy Ama large, sweet strawberries.

Uchiyama Strawberry Country

667-0145 1297 Nagano , Yabu City Hyogo Prefecture

Uchiyama Strawberry Country is hugely popular as one of the largest strawberry farms in Tajima. The farm uses elevated cultivation, so you can pick strawberries while standing in an environment where they don't touch the soil! The strawberries grown here are Akihime, a sweet and juicy variety also known as the "king of strawberries." The aisles are designed to be about 90cm wide, so they can be used safely by wheelchair users. Dogs are also allowed, so you can enjoy the farm with your beloved dog! Enjoy the large, sweet strawberries on site. [Experience menu] Strawberry picking experience (includes condensed milk, 40 minutes all-you-can-eat) *Reservation required

⑥ Ishigado Ancient Village Campsite

Ishigadō in Mori Ward, Yabu City, is a place full of ancient romance, where cave ritual sites, Jomon period pottery, and stone tools have been discovered.
The campsite is equipped with one elevated warehouse for overnight stays, eight tent sites, a cooking facility, and toilets. Water activities and river activities are also available nearby.
You can also participate in ancient crafts such as making magatama beads, clay flutes, and bamboo dragonflies (reservations required, available only to hotel guests).
This log house, with its soothing scent of wood, is packed with features designed for comfortable stays with family and friends. It includes not only well-equipped kitchens and bathrooms, but also a wide range of rental equipment.

Experience menus can only be booked by hotel guests.

Ishigado Ancient Village Campsite

Mori 16-17, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, 667-0141

Ishigadō in Mori Ward, Yabu City, is a place full of ancient romance, where cave ritual sites, Jomon period pottery, and stone tools have been discovered. The campsite is equipped with one elevated warehouse for overnight stays, eight tent sites, a cooking facility, and toilets. Water activities and river activities are also available nearby. You can also participate in ancient crafts such as making magatama beads, clay flutes, and bamboo dragonflies (reservations required, for overnight guests only). This log house, with its soothing woody scent, is packed with features designed for comfortable stays with family and friends. We offer a full range of amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen and bathrooms, as well as a variety of rental items. Please feel free to inquire. (7 units in total, each with a toilet and bath, refrigerator, and some cooking utensils and dishes provided) [Experience Menu] *Reservations required, available only to hotel guests. Magatama (comma-shaped bead) making: 700 yen Bamboo dragonfly making: 700 yen Clay flute making: 700 yen

⑦ Mt. Hyono

Mount Mt. Hyono (elevation 1,510m), the highest mountain in Hyogo Prefecture .
During the green season, many people visit to enjoy the scenery and plants while hiking, trekking, exploring the valleys, and camping.
Many photographers enjoy capturing the various expressions that Mt. Hyono displays throughout the four seasons.

Mount Hyonosen

667-0324 Yokoiki, Oyacho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Mt. Hyonosen (1,510m), the highest mountain in Hyogo Prefecture, is a treasure trove of nature that is among the best in the Kinki region! The surrounding area is blessed with an excellent natural environment, and the only remaining subarctic wetland plants in western Japan are in this area, and the golden eagle, a national natural monument, lives here, making this an area that maintains one of the best natural environments in the Kinki region. During the green season, many people visit the area to enjoy the views and plants, as well as mountain climbing, hiking, valley walks, and camping. Many photographers also come to capture Mt. Hyonosen, which shows different faces depending on the season. One of the most popular photos is the "upside-down Mt. Hyonose" reflected in the rice paddies, taken from the terraced rice fields of Bekku before rice planting in early May, and is visited by many photographers every year.

⑧ Hachi Highlands

Hachi Highlands THE PARK

Hachi Highlands THE PARK is a campsite located on a Takaharu on the slopes of Mount Hachibuse . The elevation is approximately 800 to 900 meters.
During the day, you can admire Mt. Hyono , the highest mountain in Hyogo Prefecture , and at night, you can gaze upon a sky full of stars.
We offer a wide variety of sites, including standard partitioned sites, dog sites, and solo sites.
Furthermore, taking advantage of the abundant natural surroundings, visitors can enjoy activities such as tree climbing, buggy riding, and craft experiences.

BBQ CONTAINER LOUNGE: Equipped with an open terrace with great views! Equipped with authentic American BBQ gas grills, you can enjoy a genuine BBQ experience without bringing anything, while taking in the scenery.

Hachi Kogen THE PARK

667-1124 881-1 Aza-Echū, Tanto, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Hachi Highlands: a spectacular natural sight that delights all five senses. Hachi Highlands is one of the leading outdoor areas in western Japan, offering panoramic views of nature throughout the four seasons. Why not stretch your legs and relax amid the forested mountains? You can enjoy camping at regular sites, dog run sites, and even solo camping. At Hachi Highlands THE PARK, we aim to create an environment that connects people with nature and people with each other through camping, glamping and activities, so that you can spend a quality time in nature. Please come and enjoy with your family and friends.

Plateau Konohana

Plateau Konohana offers a variety of experiential activities that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike, including tree climbing, paragliding, and mountain biking.

Hachi Kogen Hotel Plateau Konohana

909-1 Tando, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, 667-1124

Just one step outside the entrance and you're on the slopes! This lodging allows you to enjoy the student atmosphere while being in contact with nature throughout the four seasons of Hachi Highlands. In winter, we offer a variety of programs, including skiing, snowboarding, and skiing lessons for the disabled, and from spring to autumn, we offer agricultural experiences for each season, mountain biking lessons, touring lessons, paragliding lessons, fishing and climbing Mt. Hyono, and various craft classes. Please feel free to use our facilities for nature schools, forest schools, training camps, etc. In addition, Plateau Konohana is home to some of the best facilities, equipment, and systems in Japan for skiing with disabilities.

⑨Tendaki Falls

After climbing approximately 1.2 km along the mountain trail beside the stream from the parking lot at the entrance to the Tenki Valley, a white column of water suddenly appears before your eyes.
This waterfall, which seems to cascade down as if from the heavens, is none other than the magnificent "Ten-taki" waterfall, boasting the largest drop in the prefecture at 98 meters.
Tentaki Falls has been selected as one of "Japan's Top 100 Waterfalls" due to its majestic and powerful appearance, as well as the legends surrounding the waterfall.
The waterfall displays its beauty in every season: cascading down amidst the fresh greenery of spring, the vibrant autumn foliage, and frozen solid in the bitter cold.

Tendaki Falls

667-0322 Hyogo Prefecture Yabu City Oyacho Ikada

From the parking lot at the entrance to Tendaki Valley, walk 1.2km up the mountain path alongside the stream and suddenly a column of white water will appear before you. This waterfall, which flows down as if it is falling from the sky, is Tendaki, the prefecture's largest waterfall with a drop of 98m. Tendaki was selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Waterfalls because of its majestic and powerful appearance and the legends surrounding it. In the valley leading to Tendaki, there are also waterfalls such as Meotodaki, Tsutsumigataki, and Itodaki. The waterfalls change color with the seasons, from the fresh greenery of spring to the autumn leaves of autumn, and frozen in the bitter cold.

⑩ Wakasu Takaharu Ooya Campsite

Wakasu Takaharu Ooya Campsite is said to be the best campsite in Japan for stargazing, and its magnificent starry sky is its main attraction.
Since it's a campsite on a ski slope, it's at a high altitude and comfortable even in summer.
Enjoy a variety of activities, including day trips for barbecues and water jumping!
The park offers plenty of fun activities for children, including popular trampolines and grass sledding, all of which are easy to enjoy.

Wakasu Highlands

667-0323 99-2 Wakasu, Oyacho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture

Wakasu Highlands is a highland resort where you can enjoy skiing in both summer and winter. In the green season you can enjoy water jumping and snow skiing, and in the ski season you can not only ski and snowboard, but also enjoy sledding on a slope dedicated to sledding. After skiing or snowboarding, refresh your tired body in Wakasu Kogen Hot Springs, located inside the ski resort! The resort has also been ranked number one in Japan as the "place where the stars shine the brightest," as certified by the Ministry of the Environment. Starry sky hikes are also held on Saturdays, Sundays, and during long weekends from around the end of April to mid-November.

This article also features Wakasugi Takaharu Ooya Campsite !

⑪ Akebono Mine

The Akenobe Mine, once the largest tin mine in Japan.
The temperature inside the mine is a cool 12-13 degrees Celsius year-round, even in summer! You can tour a portion of the mine with a guide who will explain the process (reservations required).
Additionally, there are Sunday mine tours available every Sunday without prior reservation (from April to the first Sunday of November).
Take a leisurely stroll through the townscape that remains unchanged from the early Showa. Let yourself be carried away by nostalgia.
Furthermore, from April to November, the 1-yen train will run regularly once a month (with more frequent runs in May, July, and August)!
A cute one-yen train rattles along a 150-meter track.
*Reservations required at least 3 days in advance.

Akenobe Mine

667-0436 Hyogo Prefecture Yabu City Oyacho Akenobe

Akenobe Mine is an old mine where legend has it that copper was used to cast the Great Buddha of Todaiji Temple in Nara. In 1909, a tin vein was discovered and the mine flourished as "Japan's largest tin mine." It was the largest tin mine in Japan, accounting for 90% of the nation's total. Parts of the mine are now open to the public as exploration tunnels, where visitors can see the exposed rock surfaces, ground, jackhammers, mining vehicles, and more. (Reservation required) Every Sunday, there is also a Sunday Mine Tour, where visitors can tour the mine without making a reservation. You can also experience a ride on the 1 yen train that once carried people and ore.

This article also features the Akebono Mine !

⑫ Ayu Park

Ayu Park, located in Oya-cho , Yabu City Hyogo Prefecture , is a water and fish experience facility along the clear waters of the Oya River. Visitors can enjoy catching fish by hand, fishing for rainbow trout, and having a barbecue in a safely maintained artificial river, and can even have the fish they catch grilled with salt on the spot.

Ayu Park

582 Kabo, Oya-cho, Yabu City, Hyogo Prefecture, 667-0315

With an Midori river where you can catch fish by hand, a fishing spot where anyone can fish, and barbecue facilities, it's highly recommended for families and groups looking for fun. ☆Playing in the river (The water level is regulated, so it's safe even for small children) • Free of charge ☆ Midori fish by hand (The types of fish will vary depending on the season.) 【Fee】 Ayu (sweetfish): 600 yen per fish (mid-July to early September) Rainbow trout: 600 yen per fish (early May to early July, and early September until closing) ☆Fishing Pond: Catch rainbow trout that have been released into the fishing pond using a bamboo rod! First session [Late April to late May] Second session [mid-September to late October] • Price: 2,600 yen per rod (You can catch up to 4 fish with one rod. You can catch 5 or more fish for an additional fee.) You can enjoy the fish you catch or fish you fish by barbecuing or grilling them with salt at the "Riverside House" by the river!

⑬ Ooya Art Village

We are committed to various art activities, including providing hands-on art experiences, serving as a workspace for artists, and hosting workshops.
It can be used for various purposes, such as music, dance, and theater. It's a place that anyone can easily use, a place for interaction, and a place where adults and children alike can experience art up close.
Why not fully experience "creating, learning, and having fun" in the peaceful town of Oya, surrounded by mountains and abundant nature?

Dyeing and weaving (indigo dyeing, natural dyeing) workshop (reservations required)

Calligraphy beginner's course / Sutra copying course (reservations required)

Oya Art Village BIGLABO

667-0315 Hyogo Prefecture Yabu City Oyacho Kaho 7

Oya Art Village BIG LABO is a place for artists to experience making art, hold workshops, and focus on various art activities. It can be used for music, dance, theater, and more. It is a place where anyone can feel free to use, and where both adults and children can feel close to art. Why not try your hand at "making! learning! having fun!" in the tranquil town of Oya, surrounded by mountains and full of nature? You may discover something new. [Prices] Exhibition hall viewing fee Adults (high school students and above) 300 yen / Groups 200 yen Elementary and junior high school students 150 yen / Groups 100 yen Groups of 15 or more people

⑭ Silkworm Village

This facility was built to honor Morikuni Uegaki, a local hero who made significant contributions to sericulture in Japan. It recreates a sericulture dwelling from the early Showa period, conveying the lifestyle of sericulture farmers at that time. Kaiko no Sato and the Morikuni Uegaki Sericulture Memorial Museum are located on the same grounds.
From late May for about a month, you can visit the silkworm rearing site and observe their growth process.
In June, the Morikuni Silkworm Festival is held, where visitors can see demonstrations and experience traditional techniques such as silk floss making and silk spinning.

⑮ Yabu Distillery

Yabu Distillery is a whiskey distillery that was established in 2021 in Nakama , Yabu City .
To promote the rich natural beauty of Yabu City to the world through Japanese whisky, to make Yabu Distillery a tourist destination, and to revitalize Yabu City itself, we have been conducting distillery tours by reservation only since August 2025.
The tour includes a visit to the distillery and barrel storage facility, and a tasting of two types of whiskey (10ml each). The tour takes approximately one hour.
*We regret that we cannot allow anyone under the age of 20 to enter.

For sightseeing in Yabu City, the "fixed-rate sightseeing taxi" is convenient!

Since tourist attractions in Yabu City are scattered, getting around by car is essential.
In that case, a fixed-rate sightseeing taxi based on time is very convenient!

You can take a taxi from JR Yoka Station, Michi no Eki Yoka Tajimagura, Michi-no-Eki Tajima Rakuza, or from accommodations within Yabu City.
Within the allotted time, you can tour any tourist spot you like in Yabu City!

Please be sure to use our services when you visit Yabu City!
*Please make your fixed-rate sightseeing taxi reservation at least 3 days in advance.

About fixed-rate sightseeing taxis (English version)

About fixed-rate sightseeing taxis (Japanese version)

Yabu City has tons of great places to visit!

There are many other sights to see in Yabu City.
For an area guide and recommended spots in Yabu City, please see this article.