15 Sights in Amagasaki, Japan (with Map and Images)

The Amagasaki derailment occurred in Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan, on 25 April 2005 at 09:19 local time, just after the local rush hour. It occurred when a seven-car commuter train came off the tracks on West Japan Railway Company's Fukuchiyama Line just before Amagasaki on its way for Dōshisha-mae via the JR Tōzai Line and the Katamachi Line, and the front two cars rammed into an apartment building. The first car slid into the first-floor parking garage and as a result took days to remove, while the second slammed into the corner of the building, being crushed into an L-shape against it by the weight of the remaining cars. Of the roughly 700 passengers on board at the time of the crash, 106 passengers, in addition to the driver, were killed and 562 others injured. Most survivors and witnesses claimed that the train appeared to have been travelling too fast. The incident was Japan's most serious since the 1963 Tsurumi rail accident.

Wikipedia: Amagasaki derailment (EN), Website

Ryōichi Sasakawa was a Japanese businessman, philanthropist, far-right politician and suspected war criminal. He was born in Minoh, Osaka. In the 1930s and during the Second World War he was active both in finance and in politics, actively supporting the Japanese war effort including raising his own paramilitary units. He was elected to the Japanese parliament during the war. After Japan's defeat he was imprisoned for a time, accused of war crimes, and then found financial success in various business ventures, including motorboat-racing gambling events (Kyōtei) and ship building. He supported anticommunist activities, including the World Anti-Communist League. In 1951 he helped found the Nippon Foundation and became its first president. The foundation has done charitable work around the world, for which it and Sasakawa have received many official honors.

Wikipedia: Ryōichi Sasakawa (EN)

Amagasaki Port Station (Amagasaki Port Station) is a station (abandoned) that existed in Nanjo, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It was the terminus of a branch line of the Fukuchiyama Line of the Japan National Railways.

Wikipedia: 尼崎港駅 (JA)

Amagasaki Castle was a flatland type Japanese castle located in the city of Amagasaki, Hyōgo Prefecture, Japan. The castle was the headquarters of Amagasaki Domain, which ruled this portion of northern Settsu Province under the Tokugawa shogunate of Edo Period Japan. The castle was destroyed in the early Meiji period, but a portion was reconstructed in 2018.

Wikipedia: Amagasaki Castle (EN), Website

Kouzenji is the only Rinzai sect Myoshinji temple located in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. There are no Rinzai sect Myoshinji temples in the nearby areas of Itami and Takarazuka, making it a valuable Zen Rinzai temple in this region.

Wikipedia: 興禅寺 (尼崎市) (JA)

Hyogo Prefectural Amagasaki Forest Central Ryokuchi is a prefectural urban park located in the waterfront area of Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. As the central base of the Amagasaki 21st Century Forest Initiative, it is planned to be expanded and maintained for several decades after its opening.

Wikipedia: 尼崎の森中央緑地 (JA), Website

Jōonji is a Nichiren Buddhist temple located in Teramachi, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. Its mountain name is Daigyōzan. It is an old branch temple of the main temple Honkōji (Rokujō school) and one of the three main temples of the Rokujō school along with Chōmanji and Chōgendō. It is affiliated with the Shinshi sect. Chūsei-in serves as its sub-temple.

Wikipedia: 長遠寺 (尼崎市) (JA)

Amagasaki Ebisujinja is a shrine located in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. It is also known as Kuramochi Ebi-Omiya or "Chijimi-san" 。 It is popular among worshippers as the god of business prosperity and "Ebesan the Nun", and the 10-day Ebi Festival is held every year from January 9 to 11.

Wikipedia: 尼崎戎神社 (JA), Website

Kotokuji Temple is a temple of the Daitokuji sect of the Rinzai sect located in Teramachi, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. The name of the mountain is Mt. Ruiun. The main Buddha is Shakyamuni Buddha.

Wikipedia: 広徳寺 (尼崎市) (JA)

Amagasaki City Memorial Park is an urban park (sports park) in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Based on the designated manager system, it is managed and operated by the Amagasaki City Sports Promotion Corporation.

Wikipedia: 尼崎市記念公園 (JA)

Kosaiji Temple is a temple of Nichiren Buddhism located in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. The name of the mountain is Kusakachiyama. It used to be the Jinguji Temple of Chimyomi for a long time, and it is also known as a temple related to Chikamatsu Monzaemon. The former main temple is Kyoto Honmanji Temple (Rokujōmon-ryū) and Rōgenkai (Ryugenkai).

Wikipedia: 広済寺 (尼崎市) (JA), Website

Kifu Nejinja is a shrine located in Nishihonmachi 6-chome, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. With Kifune Shrine in Kyoto as its main shrine, it is the former Soji deity of Amagasaki Town. The so-called Amagasaki Danjiri Festival is famous for the company.

Wikipedia: 貴布禰神社 (尼崎市) (JA), Website

Hoonji Temple is a temple of the Jodo sect located in Teramachi, Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. The name of the mountain is Mt. Eko, the name of the temple is Xie Toku-in, and the main temple is Amitabha. It is the place where the Sasanari government came to an end.

Wikipedia: 法園寺 (尼崎市寺町) (JA)

Sakurai Shrine is a shrine located in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. The former company name is Gosha. Located on the east bank of the Shoshita River. It enshrines the Sakurai Matsudaira family (Matsudaira clan, changed name to Sakurai clan after the Meiji era), who ruled the Amagasaki domain from the first year of Shotoku (1711) to the end of the Edo period, from the first Nobusada to the 16th Tadaoki.

Wikipedia: 桜井神社_(尼崎市) (JA)

Omononushi Shrine is a shrine located in Amagasaki City, Hyogo Prefecture. It is worshipped as the guardian deity of the local residents in the former Omono Town (now Omono Town 2-chome) and Omono Village (near Higashi Omono Town).

Wikipedia: 大物主神社 (JA)