Shiawase-no-Mura, meaning “Village of Happiness,” is a large multi-purpose recreational complex in Kita Ward, Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture. Set amid expansive green spaces, it offers a wide variety of facilities, including sports grounds, recreational areas, welfare services, hot springs, barbecue sites, and outdoor adventure activities. Designed to welcome people of all ages and abilities, it is a wonderful destination for enjoying nature and spending time with family and friends.
The complex opened on April 23, 1989, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of Kobe City. Since then, it has become a popular place for residents and visitors to relax, exercise, and enjoy outdoor activities.
Shiawase-no-Mura serves as a community gathering place and hosts a variety of sporting events, including the Kobe Open wheelchair tennis tournament and the Kobe Longevity Festival. It has also served as a venue for major competitions and events, such as the FESPIC Games, the Hyogo National Sports Festival, the Japan Agunary, and the Japanese Athletics Championships 20 km race walk.
The buildings throughout the complex feature a distinctive combination of red roofs and white walls, creating an attractive landscape that blends harmoniously with the surrounding greenery. Open lawns, playgrounds, and a variety of outdoor spaces provide plenty of opportunities for children and adults to enjoy the outdoors.
Sports enthusiasts can enjoy a wide range of facilities, including a gymnasium, tennis courts, and a golf course. Horseback riding experiences are also available, offering another way to enjoy the natural surroundings.
The barbecue and camping areas make it easy to enjoy an outdoor meal or a camping experience. Charcoal and ingredients are available for purchase, while tableware and barbecue equipment can be rented. Visitors can therefore enjoy a barbecue without bringing all their own supplies.
Bouken-no-Mori is a paid outdoor adventure facility where visitors can challenge themselves on elevated obstacle courses among the trees. Wearing a safety harness, participants cross between trees and navigate thrilling challenges designed to test their balance and courage. Some courses rise more than five meters above the ground, and zip lines add an extra dose of excitement.
This activity challenges participants to cross the tops of containers approximately five meters high using ropes. From above, visitors can enjoy impressive views of the surrounding lawns and open green spaces while experiencing the thrill of an elevated adventure course.
At the Treetop Adventure course, visitors move through living trees using nets and ropes before finishing with an exhilarating zip-line ride. It is a popular activity for those who want to experience the excitement of moving through the treetops while surrounded by nature.
Jungle Onsen Shiawase-no-Yu is a spacious hot spring facility featuring ten different types of baths. Surrounded by greenery, it offers a relaxing place to unwind after sports, outdoor adventures, or a leisurely walk around the grounds.
Shiawase-no-Mura features an authentic Japanese strolling garden centered on a pond. Carefully arranged garden stones, trees, and other plants create a landscape that changes with the seasons. Visitors can enjoy the quiet beauty of traditional Japanese garden design throughout the year.
A tea house stands within the Japanese garden and is used for tea gatherings and lessons in the Japanese tea ceremony. The peaceful setting also provides a place of comfort and relaxation for patients staying at the rehabilitation hospital and residents of welfare facilities.
Seasonal illuminations add a magical atmosphere to the garden. In spring, cherry blossoms are illuminated after dark, while autumn brings beautiful lighting displays among the changing leaves. Please note that pets are not permitted during the illumination periods.
More than 80 species of wild birds inhabit Shiawase-no-Mura, making it an appealing destination for birdwatchers. Visitors can observe birds throughout the year, with different species appearing according to the season.
Summer visitors: Blue-and-white flycatchers, narcissus flycatchers, and lesser cuckoos.
Winter visitors: Daurian redstarts, dusky thrushes, and mallards.
Resident birds: Japanese white-eyes, long-tailed tits, Japanese tits, and Japanese bush warblers.
The fruit orchard features a variety of seasonal trees, including Japanese plum, Japanese apricot, grapes, and citrus fruits. It offers visitors an opportunity to appreciate the changing appearance of fruit trees throughout the year.
The medicinal herb garden grows plants traditionally used for medicinal purposes, including dokudami, also known as fish mint, and Geranium thunbergii. The garden provides an opportunity to discover the diversity of useful plants and learn more about their traditional uses.
The Universal Farm has been designed to make gardening more accessible to older adults and people with disabilities. Crops and flowering plants are cultivated here for seasonal events and other activities, allowing more people to participate in gardening and enjoy the benefits of working with plants.
Shiawase-no-Mura has walking trails where visitors can experience the beauty of nature throughout the year. Take a leisurely stroll beneath the trees, listen to birdsong, and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere away from the busy city.
Shiawase-no-Mura can be reached by bus from several railway stations in the Kobe area. Major routes include Kobe City Bus Route 66 from the Sannomiya area, Route 17 from the Shin-Nagata and Kosoku-Nagata areas, Route 120 from Myodani Station, and Hankyu Bus Routes 150 and 158 connecting with surrounding stations and districts. Route 87 from Myohoji Station operates only two round trips on Saturdays and serves the Hospital stop via Silver College-mae.
There are four bus stops within the complex: Silver College-mae, Byoin-mae (Hospital), Shiawase-no-Mura Chuo (Central), and Tennis Court-mae. Hankyu Bus Route 150 is one of the main services, stopping at all four locations.
A free shuttle bus connects facilities within the complex, making it easier to get around. Bicycle rentals are also available for visitors who prefer to explore by bike. Free shuttle services from nearby railway stations may operate on certain days, but services are limited, so checking the operating schedule in advance is recommended.
Driving is a convenient way to reach Shiawase-no-Mura. The complex has its own entrance on the Hanshin Expressway Route 7, the North Kobe Line, providing direct access to the grounds. There are eight parking areas, including two reserved for visitors with disabilities.
Drivers must complete the required parking procedures and pay the applicable parking fee in addition to the expressway toll. Even vehicles equipped with an electronic toll collection (ETC) system must stop at the entrance to receive a parking ticket and complete the necessary procedures.
Shiawase-no-Mura offers a wide range of ways to enjoy a day outdoors, from sports and adventure activities to hot springs, barbecues, traditional Japanese gardens, and nature walks. With facilities designed to accommodate families, older adults, and people with disabilities, it is a welcoming destination where visitors can relax, stay active, and enjoy the natural beauty of Kobe.