Miki, Industrial town in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan
Miki is a town on the Harima Plain northwest of Kobe, surrounded by forested hills and rice paddies between two mountain ranges. Residential areas alternate with workshops and small factories as the Miki River winds through the flat landscape.
A castle stood on a hill above the present town center during the 15th and 16th centuries. The settlement officially became a city in 1954, growing from its origins as a fortified town.
Workshops and small shops show craftsmen at work as they grind and polish steel blades. The town has kept its reputation for sharp tools over generations, and visitors can watch how traditional techniques are passed along.
An electric train connects several stations to Kobe and larger transit hubs in the region. Expressways run through the area and provide access to nearby cities and the mountains in both directions.
Rice paddies in the area produce a variety considered the best ingredient for sake. The town keeps partnerships with places in California and Australia, creating unusual connections across the Pacific.
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