6.1 Cafes & Sweets Spots to Visit After Your Pilgrimage
🔸 “Vegetables and Pasta Cobalt Kitchen”
A cafe restaurant run by a vegetable sommelier and registered dietitian, located in a quiet residential area of Nishinomiya City.
Enjoy nutritious vegetable dishes, authentic pasta, and homemade sweets by a former pastry chef in a West Coast-style interior that evokes the feeling of the sea. A popular spot for girls’ gatherings and families.
🔸 “Hiro Coffee Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Branch”
A well-known coffee chain in the Kansai region. Enjoy specialty coffee and light meals in a relaxed atmosphere. It’s also a great place to reflect on the day’s memories while looking through your goshuincho (pilgrimage stamp book).
🔸 “Cafe Kamin”
A relaxing space in a renovated old house in Ichigatani-cho, Nishinomiya City, popular for its healthy menu including steamed chicken set meals and French toast. Pets are welcome, and there’s even a menu for dogs, allowing you to spend a relaxing time. A heartwarming hidden gem of a cafe run by a grandmother and grandchild.
6.2 Nearby Nature Walking Spots
🔹Hirotayama Park (Behind Hirota Shrine)
Located just behind the shrine, Hirotayama Park is a quiet and relaxing place with well-maintained walking paths and benches. Enjoy cherry blossoms in spring and autumn foliage, and it’s popular with locals.
🔹Shukugawa Park (On foot or via Hankyu “Shukugawa Station”)
A representative cherry blossom viewing spot in Nishinomiya. Perfect for enjoying the changing seasons while strolling along the river after visiting the shrine. The cherry blossom trees in spring are breathtaking.
6.3 If You Want to Venture a Little Further…
・Around Hankyu “Kurakuen-guchi Station”: Stylish shops and bakeries are scattered throughout, making it ideal for a leisurely stroll.
・Nishinomiya Gardens (Directly connected to Nishinomiya-Kitaguchi Station): A large commercial complex where you can enjoy lunch and shopping all in one place. It also has a rooftop garden, perfect for a quick refresh.
Why not use a visit to Hirota Shrine as a starting point to spend a day themed around “nature,” “tranquility,” and “peace”? It’s sure to be a time that brings peace to your mind until the very end of your trip.