Nishinomiya

The city is the setting for much of the Studio Ghibli film Grave of the Fireflies (火垂るの墓, hotaru no haka), which is based on a novel by Akiyuki Nosaka. There was heavy damage throughout the city from the Great Hanshin Earthquake on January 17, 1995. This city is also the setting for the anime The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya (涼宮ハルヒの憂鬱). While taking pictures of Nishinomiya-Kita High School (where much of the anime is set) from the outside is perfectly legal, entering the gates to take pictures inside is not. Hankyu Imazu line is the setting for Hankyu Railway movie (阪急電車 片道15分の奇跡), where stations from Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station to Takarazuka Station appear in the movie.

There are three main train lines running through Nishinomiya: JR, Hanshin (阪神), and Hankyu (阪急). They run parallel to each other and go from east to west, with the Hanshin and Hankyu lines connected by the short Imazu Minami line between Hanshin Imazu station and Nishinomiya-kitaguchi (西宮北口). Hanshin and Hankyu buses also run throughout the city, though it can be difficult to travel from north to south.

• Hanshin Tigers (阪神タイガース). Go to Koshien Stadium to see one of Japan's oldest baseball teams. Fans of the Tigers are known to be the most fanatical and dedicated. The stadium itself is the oldest in Japan and is famous for having a grass field, dirt infield, and being visited by Babe Ruth. The summer high school baseball tournament is held here every year. (updated Nov 2016)
• Hyogo Performing Arts Center (兵庫県立芸術文化センター) (The center is closest to Hankyu Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station. It's about a 2-minute walk and is connected to the station by a walkway). The venue offers a variety of performances such as orchestra concerts, ballets, plays, and operas. Some performances include a Japanese puppet show (bunraku, tickets start at ¥2000) or a traditional Nutcracker ballet (tickets from ¥4000-12,000). (updated Nov 2016)
• Manchidani Park (満池谷公園) (to get to the reservoir take the train to Hankyu Kurakuen-guchi station and walk about 10 minutes to the east). Not so much a park, but part of a series of reservoirs called Nitekoike. This place is particularly beautiful during cherry blossom season and is a famous scene from the novel Grave of the Fireflies by Akiyuki Nosaka. (updated Nov 2016)
• Nishinomiya Shrine (西宮神社). It is a Shinto shrine near Hanshin Nishinomiya Station. The Ebisu festival is held here every year in January. (updated Nov 2016)

Hanami. Go to Shukugawa Park (夙川公園) end of March/early April for Nishinomiya's most popular hanami location. There are over 2300 cherry blossom trees along the Shukugawa River that stretches all the way from Hanshin Koroen Station to Hankyu Kurakuen-guchi station. Get off at either of these train stations or Hankyu Shukugawa Station to enjoy the festival.

• Kidzania. In this roleplaying theme park children can act out different occupations, earn money, and learn about the adult world. Located next to Lalaport. (updated Nov 2016)

Mukogawa Cycling Road. This is a 7.1-km-long cycling road along the Mukogawa River from the JR line to Hanshin line. It's a nice place to enjoy cycling free of cars. Bikes can be rented for the day at hotels in the area.

National High School Baseball Championship (全国高等学校野球選手権大会). Every summer in August, Japan's national high school baseball tournament is held at Koshien Stadium. Games are free so it's an excellent opportunity to participate in this popular national event!

The leafy main campus of Kwansei Gakuin University (関西学院 Kansei Gakuin), one of Japan's oldest private universities, is in Uegahara, on the north side of Nishinomiya. The oldest buildings on campus date back to 1929 and are in a Spanish Mission style that resembles California more than Kansai.

• ACTA Nishinomiya. Near Nishinomiya Gardens, this shopping area is made up of two buildings and is just north of the train station. The shopping center has a branch Junkudo (ジュンク堂) where you can find a good selection of English language books and Japanese learning materials. (updated Nov 2016)
• Lalaport Koshien (ららぽーと甲子園). A small mall with stores, restaurants, arcade, and the Ito Yokado supermarket. This is a nice place to shop with the family. The mall is a short walk from Koshien Stadium. (updated Nov 2016)
• Nishinomiya Gardens (西宮ガーデンズ). This relatively new mall (opened in 2008) at Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station on the Hankyu line features over 400 specialty shops, restaurants, and a movie theater. (updated Nov 2016)

• Eden (韓国料理エデン), ☏ +81 798-43-3876. 3-17 Ueda-Nishimachi (３－１７上田西町). Open 16:00-22:30. A local favorite! This is a small restaurant with a very friendly staff (speaks some English) and delicious, traditional Korean dishes. Vegetarian options available. Take Hanshin Bus from Hanshin Koshien Station bound for either Mukogawa-danchi (武庫川団地) or Naruohama (鳴尾浜) and get off at Ueda-Nishimachi (上田西町). Walk about one block north and the restaurant is on a corner on the left. Bus fare is ¥210. 
• Cafe NADI, New Kobe Building 2F, 7-21 Shoraisho (松籟荘7-21 ニューコーベビル2F), ☏ +81 798-52-7080. Closed every Tuesday. Indonesian and Asian food restaurant owned by a Japanese wife and an Indonesian husband often dressed in Balinese attire. Small restaurant but has a nice and cozy atmosphere. Nasi Goreng and Mie Goreng are some of the favorites. Asian souvenirs available for sale. Take the train to Hankyu Kotoen Station and walk about 2 minutes south of the station. 
• Gontaro Sushi (権太呂すし), Kofuen 1-7-9 (〒622-0832 西宮市甲風園1-7-9) (just north of Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station on the Hankyu line), ☏ +81 798-63-8333. 11:00-23:00. A small sushi bar just north of Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station on the Hankyu line. An English menu is available and they are great for the price! 15 seats. 
• Okonomiyaki Tombo (お好み焼き とんぼ), 9-5 Minamikoshikiiwacho (南越木岩町9-5), ☏ +81 798-73-0950. 17:30-21:30, closed Thursdays. Tonbo is a family-run okonomiyaki and teppanyaki restaurant that is over 20 years old. It’s across from main exit of Kurakuenguchi Station (苦楽園口) on the Hankyu Koyo Line (阪急甲陽線). The food is very popular with the sizeable ex-pat community in the neighborhood and Japanese locals alike, especially families. Tonbo serves Kansai Okonomiyaki plus regional variations like Hiroshimayaki, modanyaki, and monjayaki. Try the popular buta-kimuchi (grilled pork with Korean kimchee). The owner is a former Hanshin Tigers pitcher and some local sports stars come in on occasion. Some English spoken. English menu available. ¥1,500-2,500 

• Amagasaki
• Ashiya
• Kobe
• Takarazuka
• Itami
• Akashi
• Kawanishi
• Inagawa
• Osaka