Maiko Park Hyogo

• Maiko Park Attractions
• Maiko Marine Promenade
• Former Residence of the Kinoshita Family
• Former Residence of Sanji Muto
• Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall
• Accommodation near Maiko Park
• Access
• Awaji & Akashi Map
• Japan Parks & Gardens

Maiko Koen (Maiko Park) 舞子公園

Maiko Koen (Maiko Park) is a genteel old park in Kobe established in 1900 and right beside the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. This mammoth bridge connects Hyogo Prefecture, of which Kobe is a part, to the island of Awaji across the Akashi Straits. This proximity to the bridge makes Maiko Park all the more attractive as a place to spend half a day.

Dream Lens, by Japanese sculptor Keizo Ushio, is a popular photo spot in Maiko Park

Things to See & Do in Maiko Park

Maiko Park has large grassy areas with sea and bridge views. There is also a pine forest and several historic houses. It also has the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Exhibition Center with displays showing the history of what is the world's longest suspension bridge.

Maiko Marine Promenade

The Maiko Marine Promenade is a glass-enclosed walkway under the roadway of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge. This makes it possible to go up into the bridge and out across the water. From the ground floor entrance you ride an elevator up and then walk along the 300 meter long walkway, 50 meters above the water below, to the observation lounge. Here you can look up and down the coast, across to Awaji Island, or watch the boats pass underneath you. There is also a cafe and small souvenir shop here.

Hours: 9 am - 6 pm. Admission: 300 yen for adults on weekends and public holidays, or 250 yen on weekdays. Free for children.

Maiko Marine Promenade

2051 Higashimaikocho, Tarumi-ku

Kobe-shi, Hyogo 655-0047

Tel: 078 785 5090

Former Residence of the Kinoshita Family

The former residence of the Kinoshita Family is built in the ancient sukiyazukuri style but is fairly modern, dating from 1941. It was a private residence for Matano Ryosuke before becoming the property of the Kinoshita family who donated the house and garden to Hyogo Prefecture.

Hours: 10 am - 5 pm (Last admission: 4.30 pm); closed on Monday unless Monday is a national holiday, when it will close on the following day.

Admission: 100 yen for adults.

Former Residence of Sanji Muto, Maiko Park

Former Residence of Sanji Muto

The former residence of Sanji Muto (aka the Former "Kanebo Maiko Club") is older, built in 1907 in a more western style. Sanji Muto  (1867-1934) was both a businessman, journalist and politician who was involved with a number of companies in Japan. He was murdered in 1934 as part of the fallout of the Teijin Incident. The house was acquired by Kanebo (where Muto had once been president), now a mainly cosmetics company which had started out in textiles, and was used as a social club for employees.

Hours: 10 am - 5 pm (Last admission: 4.30 pm); closed on Monday unless Monday is a national holiday, when it will close on the following day.

Admission: 100 yen for adults.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (Ijokaku)

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (Ijokaku)

Sun Yat-sen was the first president of the Republic of China and spent a lot of time in exile in Japan. The house with its octagonal three story tower displays documents and materials related to him. The property was the villa of a prosperous Chinese merchant, Wu Jintang (1855-1926) and Sun Yat-sen was honored with a dinner at the villa in 1913 hosted by the local Chinese business community. The octagonal tower was added as an annex in 1915.

Hours: 10 am - 5 pm (Last admission: 4.30 pm); closed on Monday unless Monday is a national holiday, when it will close on the following day.

Admission: 300 yen for adults.

Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall (Ijokaku)

Accommodation near Maiko Park

There are a couple of upmarket hotels located in and around Maiko Park that afford wonderful views of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and the ocean.

These are the four star Seaside Hotel Maiko Villa Kobe and the Hotel Setre Kobe Maiko, also four star and right on the waterfront. Views from both hotels are spectacular.

See here for a full list of hotels, ryokan and minshuku in Kobe and Hyogo Prefecture.

There are several historic buildings in Maiko Park, including the former home of Sun Yat-sen, the founding father of the Chinese Republic; in the background is the Former Residence of Sanji Muto (aka the Former "Kanebo Maiko Club")

Access

The closest train stations to Maiko Park and the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge are Maiko Station on the JR Sanyo Line and Maikokoen Station on the Sanyo Electric Railway, both just a few hundred meters from the park. The journey is 35 to 45 minutes from Himeji, or 25 minutes from Sannomiya Station in Kobe.

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Maiko Koen are easily reached from nearby Kobe, Kyoto or Osaka.

Awaji & Akashi Map

Nearby

Akashi Kaikyo Bridge Tour - see spectacular views and learn how the bridge was built.

Akashi Castle - built in 1619 to protect the approach to Osaka from the west.

Awaji Puppet Theater - has daily performances of Awaji Ningyo Joruri.

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