Time flows gently. Travel back to old, beautiful Japan at "Ogo-juku Honjin"

Old houses and Showa retro. As an adult, nostalgic things tug at the heart. At the Ogo Honjin Site (Ogo-cho), about 20 minutes by car from the hotel, you can feel nostalgia throughout your whole body.

Engawa, shoji screens, low ceilings, tile roofs. The grace of Japanese houses remains intact, and the building has even been used for movie filming. In this place where old, beautiful Japan remains, you can enjoy lunch using local ingredients and spend time as if you've traveled back to old Japan.



《On the comfortable engawa, feel traces of history.》

Watching the charming building across the way, enveloped by the clear country air, peaceful time spent leisurely on the engawa. During the visit, the news reported a heat wave, but the shade of the engawa was so cool and refreshing that you'd forget all about it.

Engawa, once commonplace in Japan, have become quite rare these days. Yet sitting on an engawa brings a sense of relief — strange, isn't it.

 Ogo-cho was once a post town developed by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. Honjin refers to inns within post towns used by people of higher status. The Ogo Honjin site, also known as the Murakami Residence (Daishoya), was a venerable inn said to have been used by daimyo during sankin-kotai.

Even the Murakami Residence could not resist the flow of time and was sadly vacant for over 50 years. However, the Murakami Residence held architectural beauty too precious to leave abandoned. "We must not lose this," said local volunteer members who stood up. They beautifully revived it. While retaining clear traces of history, it has been reborn as a peaceful place to soothe the hearts of modern people.

《Relax on the engawa and enjoy a cozy meal。》

At the café "Honjin Nanafuku" inside the Ogo Honjin Site, you can have lunch using local ingredients. Of course, café-only use is also possible. Beyond the engawa, the atmospheric tatami rooms are also charming.

On this day, I had the signature "Steamed Mackerel Sushi Tasting Set" (1,650 yen).

Two pieces each of regular mackerel sushi and Ogo-grown black-bean miso mackerel sushi, plus three small dishes featuring seasonal local ingredients, and even watermelon for dessert.

Tender steamed mackerel with a soft, gentle texture. Between the rice mixed with fragrant sesame seeds, lovely pink ginger and shiso leaves were placed. Visually splendid, a supreme accent. So tasty and never tiring that you'd be reluctant to eat the last bite.

Enjoying delicious meals on the engawa veranda. Such a peaceful, luxurious time fills both stomach and soul.

Surprised by huge eggplants! You may also encounter fresh, wallet-friendly vegetables.

After lunch, why not stroll around the Ogo Honjin Site? You may have wonderful encounters. On this day, vegetables from local farmers were on sale. This day, seasonal items like tomatoes and eggplants, plus refrigerator essentials like potatoes and onions, were lined up.

Surprisingly affordable! Each one is just 100 yen — an unbelievable price. Welcome news in these times of rising food prices.

Another surprise: an eggplant larger than the palm of your hand!

Surely larger than the palm of your hand — perhaps the size of a face? Encounters with such small surprises are exciting, aren't they?

Hidden happiness discovered!

Speaking of small encounters, on this day, we also encountered small happiness. In Ogo, a Bamboo Project to maintain bamboo groves is underway. Perhaps for that reason, there were many bamboo cylinders here.

Among them...

Heart found!

Sharing in the happiness, we felt as if we'd received a small bonus.

You may have an unexpected wonderful encounter — "Free Bazaar・Re Era"

Across from Nanafuku-san's engawa, there is a building that resembles a former barn. It is "ReEra," a general goods shop selling secondhand items under the motto "new futures for things." The lineup, full of nostalgic tableware and handmade accessories, tugs at maiden hearts.

What captured my heart was a figurine of Calcifer, the lovable character from Studio Ghibli's "Howl's Moving Castle." I remembered going to see the movie with a friend and getting completely hooked, encountering nostalgic memories in an unexpected place.

《In a nostalgic building also used for movie filming》

The Ogo Honjin Site, which fully retains the appearance of old Japan, has also been used for filming movies. It was used as the Shinsengumi headquarters in the film "Rurouni Kenshin," starring Takeru Sato. (By the way, scenes of Kenshin and Tomoe at home were also reportedly filmed at the nearby "Aina Sato Park.")

Actually, our hotel was also a filming location for "Fullmetal Alchemist," starring Ryosuke Yamada. A pilgrimage tour is another way to enjoy Kobe's Kita Ward.

Take a favorite photo as if you've stepped into a movie

You can freely enter and leave the Ogo Honjin Site even without using the café. The retro interior fills the space everywhere — you may even take photos that look like a movie scene.

Why not travel back to old, beautiful Japan with its leisurely flow of time at the Ogo Honjin Site, located close to the hotel.

Reserve Kobe Hotel Fruit Flower here



Notes when visiting Ogo-juku Honjin

① If the Honjin parking lot is full, we recommend stopping by the nearby Michi-no-Eki Ogo before returning! You'll find fresh local vegetables and unique local products.

Access

　For those coming by car

　・From central Kobe, head north on Route 428 for about 20 km (about 35 minutes)

　・Chugoku Expressway: From Yoshikawa IC, head south on Route 428 for about 10 km (about 10 minutes)

　・Sanyo Expressway: From Miki-Higashi IC, head toward Sanda on Prefectural Road Miki-Sanda Line for about 7 km (about 10 minutes)

If coming by Shinki Bus

 　・Sannomiya ⇄ Ogo Honmachi-kita bus stop (Shinki Bus direct) 

　　　* For the bus timetable, please refer to the Honjin Site official website's Access page.

Filming usage fee　

　Free admission, free parking　

　Meal: 2 people, 3,500 yen

   Vegetable purchase: 3 varieties for 300 yen　

　A small souvenir: 1,500 yen

　Total: 5,800 yen

Distance from the hotel

　13 km, 21 minutes by car

Address

　〒651-1603 792-1 Ogo, Ogo-cho, Kita-ku, Kobe-shi, Hyogo

Phone number

　TEL: 078-219-3460

　Official website here ⇒　https://www.ogo-honjin.com/