Itineraries

Getting off at Yoshiminosato, a small station on the Nankai Main Line, you'll step into a peaceful and quiet little town. Start your walk along the narrow road, lined with grocery stores and other shops that have hardly changed over the years. Once the road begins to widen, the ocean comes into sight. It's there at the road's end you'll find the Tajiri Marine Exchange Center, built to shelter the crowds of fishing boats and yachts that anchor at the port. Opening every Sunday, the morning market is thronged with people coming to shop at over 40 different stalls selling seafood, fruits and vegetables, tempura, tsukemono pickles, towels, and more. Even during the weekdays there are sushi restaurants and cafes open for business. Visitors still hankering for a little more ocean can also try out the Fishing Industry Experience (reservation required). Another popular activity is seaside barbecues: Savor freshly caught seafood while taking in a view of the ocean blue.

Kishiwada Castle can be seen even as you're coming into the area by train. Situated in the middle of a modern landscape, the castle presents the sort of gorgeous sight that only a classic Japanese castle town can bring. Destroyed by fire in 1827 and subsequently rebuilt in 1954, the dazzling keep reflects sunlight off its white walls. If you look out to the west from the third floor of the keep, you'll just barely see the figures of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge and Awaji Island in the distance. Turn your gaze below and there you'll find the castle garden transformed. The garden design was created by Mirei Shigemori and based on castle wall plans dating back at least 500 years to before the Muromachi era. It appears the plan was built to incorporate Zhuge Liang’s Eight Formations. The "general" stands in the center, and each of the Sky, Earth, Wind, Cloud, Dragon, Tiger, Bird, and Snake formations are set around it.

TRANSLATOR'S NOTE: Head on and let your eyes wander along Kishiwada Castle's moat until you arrive to the Kishiwada Danjiri Hall, a solidly built structure. This museum is a place to experience the world of one of Japan's most notable festivals: the Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri. As the automatic door opens, paper lanterns light up the dim space with their otherworldly glow. The hall is packed with a variety of things to interact with: a screen showing the intensity of the Danjiri festival, a display of Kishiwada’s oldest danjiri portable shrine, a reproduction of the old townscape, and a corner where visitors can try on happi coats, pose with paper lanterns, and try out festival instruments. Among those, the 3D image of a danjiri is a must-see! Put on the 3D glasses in the small theater space and you'll see a projection of footage taken from atop a danjiri. Since it's at eye level as if you were seated on the danjiri, you'll be able to really feel the sway and tremor of the float and the passionate energy of the people pulling it. Don't forget to take a closer look at the elaborate carving on the danjiri, too. Come here to experience the vitality of the town and the passion they pack into a single festival!

Heading straight towards Kishiwada Station along the road in front of the Danjiri Kaikan, you'll come to a shopping district avenue. Turning right and you'll head down the covered Kishiwada Ekimae-dori Shotengai arcade; turn left toward the seaside and you'll be at the open-air Kishiwada Hon-dori Shotengai shopping street. The Ekimae-dori Shotengai has ample space beneath its arches so that the danjiri floats can come through in full vigor when the Danjiri Matsuri festival is being held. A point of interest here is how all the shops, from the record shop and stationary store to the toy store, sell danjiri goods. At the shoe shop you'll find the two-toed tabi shoes needed for the festival: However, in recent years inflated “air tabi” have become quite popular. Over along the Hon-dori Shotengai you'll find a more nostalgic, laid-back atmosphere drifting along the street. The shops here include a retro-style engagement gift shop, classic hardware stores, and sweet shops selling Kishiwada's famous murasame, a Japanese-style sweet steamed cake made with rice and wheat flour.

Cut through the Kishiwada Hon-dori Shotengai and head toward the sea: Once you've come to the end of the road, you'll see the sign for the Kishiwada CanCan Bayside Mall. Though Rinku Town Premium Outlet Mall next to Kansai International Airport is a strict outlet mall, CanCan Bayside Mall fuses outlet stores with a shopping mall. In addition to the outlet zone, the mall brings together a huge variety of fashion, general goods, restaurants, amusement facilities, a cinema, and more. The highlight here is the large deck in front of the seaside promenade facing the ocean. With its European-style exterior and rich atmosphere, it's the perfect date spot.