On March 29, 2019, Amagasaki Castle was rebuilt near Hanshin Amagasaki Station in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. I am a familiar town myself, so I took a bicycle stroll around Amagasaki Castle and Hanshin-Amagasaki Station for the first time in a long time.

1. Amagasaki Castle with a beautiful quadruple castle tower

First of all, I cannot tell you about Amagasaki-jo Castle, so please refer to the following.

http://kansai-tourism-amagasaki.jp/en/amagasaki/castle.html

The beautiful quadruple castle tower that you can see first when you get to the castle is impressive.

The front of the castle tower is covered with lawn, making it a place for relaxation.

Beautiful cherry blossoms are also blooming along the river that flows west of the castle.

The east side of Amagasaki Station seems to have changed drastically after the tower apartment building was also built.

2.Hanshin Electric Railway Amagasaki Brick Warehouse, which is popular for its Instagrammable spot

The Amagasaki Brick Warehouse of Hanshin Electric Railway located opposite Amagasaki-jo Castle is the former Amagasaki Power Station.

The building of red bricks is very beautiful and seems to be popular as a Instagrammable spot.

3.It’s so fantasy! In front of Hanshin Amagasaki Station

Speaking of Hanshin-Amagasaki Station, it was a rather downtown image, but the central park in front of this season’s station is full of tulips.

The contrast with the cherry blossoms is also beautiful, and the fantasy is quite surprising about the scenery.

4.Amagasaki Central Shopping District bustles with the same atmosphere as in the past

On the west side of Amagasaki Station is the Amagasaki Chuo, Miwa, and Deyashiki Shopping District, which stretches about 2km from north to south from east to west. Walk your bike through the shopping district from Amagasaki Chuo Shopping District Ichibangai, which is the closest to the station.

Even when the new Amagasaki Castle was added to the Hanshin Tigers and Shichifukujin, the town was as bustling as it used to be, and I was relieved.

5.Manjuya, a long-established Japanese and Western confectionery store in the Miwa Shopping District

Manjuya is a Japanese and Western confectionery shop, you found in the Miwa shopping district that went from Amagasaki Station to Deyashiki Station. I asked “How long have you been in business?” The shop master an answered “I’ve been doing business for a long time.” Maybe there is such a history as he don’t remember.

I bought the Sakura-mochi and Kashiwa-mochi that a regular grandmother had already purchased and go to the next destination.

6.Amagasaki Ebisu-jinja Shrine, where a large torii gate is impressive

Amagasaki Ebisu-jinja Shrine is the place where I wanted to stop by for the last time during this cycling. The red big torii is very impressive! But somehow the name is not on the torii.

I ate the sakura-mochi and Kashiwa-mochi here!

I finished the cycling of the Amagasaki bicycle while thinking about 30 years ago.

7.Summary

When I saw the news that a castle was built near Amagasaki Station, it was around Amagasaki Station, but watching the cherry blossoms reminded me of the old days.

About thirty years ago, when I began working as a member of society, I was in charge of the Hanshin section, and every day I did walk-in sales from this Hanshin-Amagasaki station. On this day, the cherry blossoms were in full bloom just like at the joined the company in April.
The Amagasaki Ebisu-jinja Shrine, which I introduced earlier, Old days I sit same bench every day. But I .didn’t know its name until this day!
I was very impressed that I was able to enjoy cherry blossoms and sakuramochi slowly at this place.

I think you can enjoy a “bicycle trip” where you can feel your own old and new things, such as things that are new and unchanged, and things that remain unchanged.

Writing by YASU