Hanshin Racecourse / 阪神競馬場

[My Rating]

・Accessibility ★★★ Excellent (Easy to get there by public transport)
・Atmosphere ★★★ Excellent
・Facility ★★☆ Good
・Entertainment around the racecourse ★★☆ Good

<Grand Stand and Homestretch with view of Rokko Mountain>

[Best Season to visit]

April*

<Paddock in Summer with a mist of water>

[General Information]

・Location: Takarazuka, Hyogo prefecture / 兵庫県宝塚市
・Nearest Station: Nigawa / 仁川 (Hankyu Imazu line / 阪急今津線)
・Established in: 1949
・Operated by: JRA (Japan Racing Association)
・Type of race: Flat and Hurdle
・Type of racecourse: Turf and Dirt (Right-handed)
・Racing Season: March, April, June, September and December*
・Dress Code: None
・Fee: 200 yen for general admission with free seats on first-come-first-served basis. Besides, there are several luxury seats required reservation by internet in advance or by ticket booth at the racecourse.

[Flat Grade races in Hanshin Racecourse]

<March>
- GIII / Hankyu Hai 阪急杯 / 1,400m Turf (4yo or older)
- GII / Tulips Sho チューリップ賞 / 1,600m Turf (3yo filly only)
- GII / Fillies Review フィリーズレビュー / 1,400m Turf (3yo filly only)
- GII / Hanshin Daishoten 阪神大賞典 / 3,000m Turf (4yo or older)  
- GIII / Mainichi Hai 毎日杯 / 1,800m Turf (3yo only)

<April>
- GI / Osaka Hai 大阪杯 / 2,000m Turf (4yo or older)
- GII / Hanshin Himba Stakes 阪神牝馬ステークス / 1,600m Turf (4yo or older filly only)
- GI / Oka Sho 桜花賞 (JPN 1,000 Guineas) / 1,600m Turf (3yo filly only)
- GIII / Arlington Cup アーリントンカップ / 1,600m Turf (3yo only)
- GIII / Antares Stakes アンタレスステークス / 1,800 Dirt (4yo or older)

<June>
- GIII / Naruo Kinen 鳴尾記念 / 2,000m Turf (3yo or older)
- GIII / Mermaid Stakes マーメイドステークス / 2,000m Turf (3yo or older)
- GI / Takarazuka Kinen 宝塚記念 /2,200m Turf (3yo or older)

<September>
- GII / Centaur Stakes セントウルステークス / 1,200m Turf (3yo or older)
- GII / Rose Stakes ローズステークス / 2,000m Turf (3yo filly only)
- GII / Kobe Shimbun Hai 神戸新聞杯 / 2,400m Turf (3yo only)
- GIII / Sirius Stakes シリウスステークス / 2,000m Dirt (3yo or older)

<December>
- GIII/ Challenge Cup チャレンジカップ / 2,000m Turf (3yo or older)
- GI / Hanshin Juvenile Fillies 阪神ジュベナイルフィリーズ / 1,600m Turf (2yo filly only)
- GI / Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes 朝日杯フューチュリティステークス / 1,600m Turf (2yo only)
- GII / Hanshin Cup 阪神カップ / 1,400m Turf (3yo or older)

[Jump Grade race]

<March>
- J-GII /Hanshin Spring Jump / 阪神スプリングジャンプ, 3,900m  

[Access from major cities]

1. from Tokyo (Tokyo station)
- Tokyo Station → Shin Osaka Station (Tokaido Shinkansen (bullet train) / 2h 30m)
- Shin Osaka Station → Takarazuka Station (JR Sanyo line and Takarazuka line / 40m)
- Takarazuka Station → Nigawa station (Hankyu Imazu line / 10m)

2. from Osaka (Umeda Station)
- Osaka Umeda Station → Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station (Hankyu Kobe line / 15m)
- Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station → Nigawa Station(Hankyu Imazu line / 5m)

3. from Kobe (Sannomiya Station)
- Kobe Sannomiya Station → Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station (Hankyu Kobe line / 20m)
- Nishinomiya Kitaguchi Station → Nigawa Station(Hankyu Imazu line / 5m)

[Official website]

<ENG> https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_racing/jra_racecourses/j04.html
<JPN> https://www.jra.go.jp/facilities/race/hanshin/
<How to bet> https://japanracing.jp/en/racing/go_racing/guide/betting.html

[Entertainment around the racecourse]

- Takarazuka Revue: Famous theater company based in Takarazuka
  (15 min by train) https://kageki.hankyu.co.jp/english/
- Arima Onsen / Hot-spring: One of the oldest hot-spring in Japan
 (45 min by train and buss) https://visit.arima-onsen.com/
- Hanshin Koshien Stadium: Iconic baseball stadium
 (30 min by train) https://www.hanshin.co.jp/koshien/global/en/
- Nada "Sake" Brewery District: Several famous Sake breweries located
 (30 min by train) http://www.nadagogo.ne.jp.e.agg.hp.transer.com/brewery/
- Kobe: Scenic tourism city with harbor, china town, and Kobe beef!
 (30 min by train)  https://www.feel-kobe.jp/en/

Information on other racecoueses in Japan 🏇🇯🇵