Asago

Asago (朝来市) is a city in northern Hyogo Prefecture, Japan.

Tourist information site
The local tourist association has a Japanese-only guide site.

Get in
Asago is served by the Sanin Main Line, which travels from Kyoto and Kameoka to Shinonsen and Tottori and the Bantan Line which runs from Himeji to Wadayama Station in Asago. The Limited Express Train Kinosaki provides the fastest connection to Wadayama Station from Kyoto. From Osaka, the Limited Express Train Konotori travels via the Fukuchiyama Line to reach Wadayama Station. From Wadayama Station, you can transfer to the Bantan Line where a lot of the tourist sites are located. Also departing from Osaka, but much less frequently than the Konotori, is the Hamakaze, but the Hamakaze takes a different route. The Hamakaze travels on the Sanyo Main Line to Himeji and then up the Bantan Line to reach Asago with stops in Ikuno and Wadayama en route to Tottori. Travelers from West Japan can transfer to the Hamakaze at Himeji Station.

Get around
Targeting individual sites or areas is relatively convenient. Takeda Castle and its castle town are accessible from Takeda Station. The castle town's historic temple district is located on the opposite side of the station and the trailhead to the castle is also there, so if you don't mind the hike, you can get around completely on foot. If you don't want to hike up to the castle, there is a bus, as well. The Ikuno Mines and Ikuno's historic district can be accessed from Ikuno Station. The historic district is within easy walking distance of the station but it is recommended to rent a bike if you want to reach the mines. Otherwise, it'll take about an hour to walk there.

If you want to see sites in separate areas, they spread out far beyond reasonable walking distance. The Tajimawaru Bus is the only public transport connecting the various tourist attractions in the city (they also have connections to attractions in the city to attractions outside the city, such as Takeda Castle and Kinosaki Onsen). For Asago's attractions, the "Koseki no Michi" Route Bus (鉱石の道号) connects Wadayama Station, Takeda Castle's castle town (below the castle), the Mikobata Ore Processing Site Ruins, Ikuno Station, and the Ikuno Silver Mines. It is not a tour bus however, it does stop for 35 minutes at the Mikobata Ore Processing Site, which is otherwise inaccessible without an expensive taxi ride. That's enough time to see the site and get back on the bus. Reservations are required in order to ride the Tajimawaru Bus and each bus has its own seasonal length of operation, so check to make sure your bus with be operating during your intended travel date and reserve accordingly.

Without the Tajimawaru Bus, a combination of trains and other methods of transportation are necessary without a car.

Eat
"Hayashi rice" is derived from "hashed": hashed beef on rice.

Go next

 * Yabu
 * Toyooka
 * Kami
 * Shinonsen
 * Fukuchiyama
 * Tamba
 * Kamikawa
 * Fukusaki
 * Himeji