Hamasaka

Hamasaka is a town in Shinonsen Town, Mikata District, Hyogo Prefecture, home to Hamasaka Fishing Port, known for landings of firefly squid and Matsuba crab. It is also known as a hot-spring town forming the Hamasaka Onsen area together with Shichikama Onsen and Futsukaichi Onsen. When you get off at Hamasaka Station on the JR San’in Main Line, an “ashiyu” (footbath) welcomes you first. Next, it’s a good idea to get information at the town-walking guide office “Shorai-an.” You can enjoy strolling through the town, for example along “Ajiwara Alley,” where old houses and stone walls evoke the prosperity of the past (when the town thrived through industries such as sewing-needle production). Or you can relax and gaze at the clear sea at “Hamasaka Kenmin Sun Beach,” selected among the “100 Best White Sand and Green Pine Beaches in Japan.” In this calm San’in-style town, you can enjoy both a settled atmosphere and rich nature. The San’in Coast is also known as a geopark (a “park of the earth”). At the “Shinonsen Town San’in Kaigan Geopark Museum,” located near the boarding point for the Tajima Coast sightseeing boat, you can learn about the region’s geology, culture, and way of life through various exhibits. Also, don’t miss trying crab recommended by “Crab Sommeliers,” experts who require as many as three years of training.