Akashi, Japan
明石市
Akashi is a town of 303,601 people in Hyōgo, Japan, founded in April 1, 1889.
Why visit Akashi
Townapedia lists 36 museums and landmarks, 54 parks and trails, 349 places to eat, 5 places to stay and 13 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, Esaki Lighthouse, Akashi Castle and Akashi Municipal Planetarium.
Weather in Akashi
Forecast from MET Norway (CC BY 4.0). Full forecast
About Akashi
Akashi (明石市, Akashi-shi; Japanese pronunciation: [ä́.kä̀.ɕì, ä̀.kä́.ɕí.ɕì]) is a city in southern Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 February 2024, the city had an estimated population of 305,925 in 137,288 households and a population density of 6,200 people per km2. The total area of the city is 49.42 square kilometres (19.08 sq mi).
From the Wikipedia article Akashi, Hyōgo (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Travel tips from other travellers: Akashi on Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Things to do13
Akashi Kaikyō Bridge
Bridge · 4.5 km
Suspension bridge in Kobe, Japan
Kobe City College of Nursing
School · 5.4 km
Higher education institution in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
School · 5.6 km
Higher education institution in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Kobe Design University
School · 5.2 km
Higher education institution in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Kobe Gakuin University
School · 2.2 km
Higher education institution in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
Mukogawa Women's University
School · 7.7 km
Japanese private women's university
Nijigen no Mori
Monument and historic site · 8.9 km
Anime-themed amusement park in Japan
University of Hyogo
School · 4.9 km
Higher education institution in Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan
University of Marketing and Distribution Sciences
School · 5.8 km
Private university in Kobe, Hyōgo, Japan, established in 1988
1 more on the map.
Museums and landmarks36
Maiko Battery Site
Monument and historic site · 3.4 km
Fortification in Kobe, Japan
Matsuho Battery Site
Monument and historic site · 5.2 km
Fortification in Hyōgo, Japan
24 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds54
42 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes349
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337 more on the map.
History
Akashi is mentioned in a waka (five-line, 31-syllable poem) written by Kakinomoto no Hitomaro in the 7th century and it is the setting for one of the chapters of the 11th-century novel The Tale of Genji. It developed as the castle town of Akashi Domain during the Edo Period, from 1617 to 1871 due to its location dominating the San'yōdō highway connecting the Kinai region with western Japan. The famous swordsman Miyamoto Musashi is claimed to have laid out the design of the castle town. The town of Akashi was established on April 1, 1889 with the creation of the modern municipalities system. It was raised to city status on November 1, 1919. The city annexed the neighboring villages of Hayashizaki on February 11, 1942 and Okubo, Uozumi and Futami on January 10, 1951 to reach its present dimensions. A proposal to merge with the city of Kobe was rejected by a referendum in 1955. The city suffered from the Great Hanshin earthquake of 1995 with 4,839 houses were completely or partially destroyed and nine fatalities.
On July 21, 2001, 11 people were killed and 247 were injured during a crowd crush after a fireworks show. Five city officials were subsequently convicted of negligence in connection with the incident.
Akashi became a Core city on April 1, 2018 with increased local autonomy.
From the History section of Akashi, Hyōgo on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay5
Churches and places of worship31
Shopping31
Gas and EV charging3
Schools, colleges and libraries21
Healthcare54
Map of Akashi
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Getting there and nearby towns
Kobe Airport (UKB) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 20 km away.
- Higashinozoe 13 km northwest, about 13 min by car
- Inami 13 km northwest, about 13 min by car
- Kobe 17 km east, about 17 min by car
- Miki 16 km north, about 16 min by car
- Kakogawachō-honmachi 21 km northwest, about 21 min by car
- Awaji 21 km south, about 21 min by car
- Takasago 23 km northwest, about 23 min by car
- Takarazuka 36 km northeast, about 36 min by car
- Osaka 45 km east, about 45 min by car
- Kyoto 79 km northeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- GeoNames (CC BY 4.0): population, coordinates, regions and time zone
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Akashi Castle Hitsujisaruyagura, Tomomarusan, CC BY 2.5
- Akashi Kakimoto-jinja04s5s2490, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Banshu Shinkin Bank Akashi Branch, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
- Akashi Uenomaru Post office, Suikotei, CC BY 4.0
- Hitomarucho, Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture 673-0877, Japan - panoramio - kcomiida (9), kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hitomarucho, Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture 673-0877, Japan - panoramio - kcomiida, kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Akashi Kakimoto-jinja06s3, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Akashi Kakimoto-jinja05s3, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Gesshoji Akashi Hyogo pref Japan05n, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Hitomarucho, Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture 673-0877, Japan - panoramio - kcomiida (2), kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Hitomarucho, Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture 673-0877, Japan - panoramio - kcomiida (1), kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gesshoji Akashi Hyogo pref Japan03bs3, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Gesshoji Akashi Hyogo pref Japan06n, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Hitomarucho, Akashi, Hyōgo Prefecture 673-0877, Japan - panoramio - kcomiida (4), kcomiida, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Gesshoji Akashi Hyogo pref Japan04s3, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Akashi Bridge, Tysto, Public domain
- Esakitoudai 01, Pinqui, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kobe-City-College-of-Nursing01, Hasec, Public domain
- Kobe-CUFS-Entrance01, Hasec, Public domain
- Mukogawa Womens University, Suguri F, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Univ-of-Hyogo-HimejiShosha-MainBldg01, Hasec, Public domain
- Akashi-han Maiko-daibaato01nt3200, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- 151017 Kobe Sports Park Kobe Japan07bs5, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Akashi Castle 20200623, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi Castle09n4592, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Akashi City Okura junior high school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi City Asagiri junior high school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi city Kinjo jhs, Bakkai, CC BY 3.0
- Hyogo Prefectural Library 2019-07 ac (3), Asturio Cantabrio, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi baseball field01, Kanko3131, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Akashi city Taikan elem-sch, Bakkai, CC BY 3.0
- Akashi Minicipal Planetarium, PekePON ( talk ), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Akashi City Hospital 20151219, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi City Museum of Culture Hyogo pref Japan01s3, 663highland, CC BY 2.5
- Gesshoji (Akashi)1, KENPEI, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Inazume shrine, Bakkai, CC BY 3.0
- Akashi City Nakazaki elementary school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 赤羽神社, 焼肉定食大盛り, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi port old and new light, 藤谷良秀, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Akashi City Matsugaoka elementary school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi City Asagiri elementary school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi City Hitomaru elementary school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Daisyoji, Bittercup, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Honsyouji, Bittercup, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Akashi stadium140608-01, Kanko3131, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 休天神社, Skate-song, CC0
- KGU island, Oh-moo, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Kobe City Arise elementary school 20200816, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kobe City Koudubashi elementary school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Unseiji Temple Main Hall, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Kobe City Ikawadani elementary school, KishujiRapid, CC BY-SA 4.0
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