Hyōgo Prefecture · Japan
Nishinomiya travel guide
Nishinomiya is a city in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, home to about 487,000 people.
- Nearest airport
- ITM10 km · Osaka Itami International Airport
- Currency
- JPYyen
- Time zone
- Asia/Tokyo
- Language
- Japanese
About
About Nishinomiya
Nishinomiya (西宮市, Nishinomiya-shi) is a city located in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 November 2022, the city had an estimated population of 484,368 in 218,948 households and a population density of 4,800 persons per km2.
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.
Wikipedia and Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Nishinomiya
See
- Hanshin Tigers
- Hyogo Performing Arts Center
- Manchidani Park
- Nishinomiya Shrine
Do
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
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in Nishinomiya
1 hotel within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel Hewitt Koshien | 2.3 km |
When to go
The best time to visit Nishinomiya
Nishinomiya has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; June is the wettest, with about 198 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Nishinomiya: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM), about 10 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kobe Airport (UKB, 16 km) and Kansai International Airport (KIX, 36 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Nishinomiya has access to three airports: Kansai International Airport (KIX), Kobe Airport (UKB), and Osaka International Airport (ITM). Despite its name, Osaka International Airport is a domestic airport. There is bus service to and from the airport for ¥700 to Hanshin Koshien (甲子園) Station. Kansai International Airport also has bus service for ¥1700 (or ¥3000 round trip) to and from JR Nishinomiya, Hankyu Nishinomiya-kitaguchi, and Hanshin Nishinomiya stations. The Shinkansen (新幹線) is another option when traveling from other parts of Japan.
Getting around
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.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ITM · Osaka Itami International Airport
UKB · Kobe Airport
KIX · Kansai International Airport
Questions
Nishinomiya: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Nishinomiya?
Nishinomiya has no month that is both mild and dry by the measure used here. August is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; June is the wettest, with about 198 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Nishinomiya?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Osaka Itami International Airport (ITM), about 10 km from the city centre in a straight line; Kobe Airport (UKB, 16 km) and Kansai International Airport (KIX, 36 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Nishinomiya?
yen (JPY).
Nearby
Destinations near Nishinomiya
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.