Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News Jan/Feb 2013 part two

Hello, everyone!

Brazilian CIR, Luciana here. Seeing as it’s still only February, I’d like to wish you all the best for 2013!

In Japan, the cold weather shows no signs of ending, but in my home country it’s summer right now – the exact opposite.  In Brazil, a four-day carnival is held every February (this year it was from February 9^th through 12^th).  Did any of you manage to watch it on T.V? It’s only short, but the fact that it has become this famous all over the world is amazing.  Seeing as these four days are a public holiday, we Brazilians often say that the New Year really starts after the carnival.

(Here in Japan,) you can enjoy the New Year atmosphere right up until February.  This month, I’d like to introduce somewhere in Hyogo where beautiful decorative lights will be on until February 17^th.  I actually went to this particular place in August or September, but I’d love to go there again.

Kobe Municipal Fruit & Flower Park

Kobe Municipal Fruit & Flower Park is easily accessible from Kobe (JR Sannomiya) by local train, but I think bus is probably the easiest way to get tere.  Why don’t you try heading there on a sunny day?  It’s the kind of place that can be enjoyed as a family, with friends, in a couple or alone!  You can go there as a day trip, or stay at the park’s beautiful and spacious hotel if an overnight stay takes your fancy.

As the name suggests, the focus of this large, idyllic park is fruit and flowers. Different flowers bloom depending on the season, so make sure to take a look at the park’s “flower calendar”.  There are also loads of greenhouse plants, and you can see fancy cacti like the ones in these pictures.  You’re not limited to just taking pictures; if you are particularly fond of any of the flowers you see in the park, you can buy them in the shop.

The fact that you can try delicious fresh fruit right there and then is probably what I like best about this park.  It’s really great!

Fruit Picking
Why not try your hand at fruit picking? It’s all you can eat fruit for a separate fee, so you’ll be heading home feeling more than satisfied!  It’s worth noting that the times for each fruit are different.
Peaches – early August
Grapes – mid August – early September
Pears – mid August – early September

Hands-on sessions

 

Visitors to the park can take part in all sorts of hands-on taster sessions, for example, gardening, preserving flowers, flower pressing, pottery and making butter.  Outside the park, there is also a theme park aimed at children. Inside you’ll find slides, putt-putt golf, go-carts and much more.  It’s a huge park and you’ll no doubt see crowds of happy-looking children running around freely inside.  It’s definitely a great place for creating some happy memories! For when you get hungry, there are restaurants and a canteen so no worries there! But that’s not all:  What surprised me was the park is fully equipped with tables and barbecue facilities.  Using these, large groups can all eat together, which is a relief.  After lunch or dinner, if you still feel like getting some dessert, there are shops selling ice cream and sweets.  My personal recommendation is the wine and dried vegetable snacks sold at the shops.  These are all products made from fruit and vegetables grown in the park.  Knowing it was all grown on site makes it all the more delicious, don’t you think?

Hot springs & pool

The photos below are of the pools for adults and children respectively. There is also a hot spring.

Animals

The park also features a free monkey show, a sheep petting area, horse riding taster sessions and even an exhibition of beetles!  There’s also the chance to run around with your dog!  Why not give it a go?

Event Info

Upcoming exhibition: Ancient Remains of Hyogo, vol.5
Introducing results of investigative studies

This is an exhibition that publicizes the results of archeological excavations and artifact research carried out by Hyogo Prefecture.  The exhibition will feature select materials unearthed from ruins all over the prefecture from Paleolithic times to the Middle Ages and visitors can see the results of the latest studies carried out in this field.
Place: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archeology
Opening times: January 26, 2013 – April 07, 2013, 9:30 – 17:00. Closed Mondays, except      national holidays (closed following day). April Opening times: 9:30 – 18:00
Fees: Adults 200 yen
     University Students, 150 yen
     High School Students, 100 yen
     Junior High School Students and younger, free of charge.
Website http://www.hyogo-koukohaku.jp/events/p6krdf00000018fx.html
Phone: 079-437-5589