Kobe Kitano NOSTA Makes First Foray into Himeji! Participating in the 'Japan's Exquisite Gourmet Fair' at Sanyo Department Store from April 1-6

GLION Group (Headquarters: Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture; Representative Director: Hidetake Kikuchi) and Aqua Ignis Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Tokyo) operate Kobe Kitano Sweets & Cafe Co., Ltd., which will participate in the Sanyo Department Store event 'Japan's Exquisite Gourmet Fair' held from April 11, 2026, as 'Kobe Kitano NOSTA,' a gourmet complex facility renovated from the former Kitano Elementary School.

This event is a popular gathering of carefully selected popular gourmet foods from all over Japan, and this will be Kobe Kitano NOSTA's first participation in the Himeji area.

Bringing the Charm of Kobe to the Himeji Area

Kobe Kitano NOSTA is a food complex facility born from the renovation of the former Kitano Elementary School site, built in 1931.

It disseminates Kobe's unique Western confectionery culture and food experiences.

At this event, we will offer the charm of Kobe to customers in the Himeji area, featuring the "NOSTA Pancake Sand," which boasts over 20,000 units sold, as well as popular baked goods for souvenirs, original coffee, and tea.

Event Outline

Event Name: Japan's Exquisite Gourmet Fair

Venue: Sanyo Department Store

Period: April 1 (Wed) - April 6 (Mon), 2026

Products for Sale

NOSTA Pancake Sand

Fluffy pancakes with lightly sweetened whipped cream sandwiched in between.

The Sanyo Department Store exclusive "Cream Anko" is available only for a limited time.

Cream 432 yen

Cream Anko 486 yen

Kobe Kitano Aoi Tori

Kobe Kitano NOSTA x Kobe Tourism Bureau's first-ever collaboration sweets. Characterized by a moist, melt-in-your-mouth texture, made with "Takaragasa Series," a long-established flour brand from Kobe.

Financier (3 pieces) 950 yen

Milk Manju (3 pieces) 734 yen

Cookies (3 pieces) 734 yen

Kobe Kitano NOSTA Original Teabags / Coffee Bags

Enjoy authentic drinks at home, made with Kobe Tea and Kobe Kitano Roastery products.

Teabag 200 yen

Coffee Bag 220 yen

"Kobe Kitano NOSTA" Overview

Facility Name: Kobe Kitano NOSTA

Area: 648.94 tsubo (facility only)

Location: 3-17-1 Nakayamate-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe City

Business Hours: 9:00-19:00 (varies by store)

Closed: Year-end and New Year holidays (some stores have irregular holidays)

Nearest Station: Approx. 12 minutes walk from Sannomiya/Motomachi Stations on various lines

Large bus parking, general car parking, EV rapid chargers available

Kobe Kitano NOSTA Official Website: https://kobekitano-nosta.jp/

Official Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kobekitanonosta/

Official X: https://x.com/kobekitanonosta

About Former Kitano Elementary School

The school building, built in 1931, features a modern Kobe-like design with wooden staircases and arched ceilings in the corridors.

Located in the Kitano Ijinkan district, it was attended by foreign children, but due to a decrease in student numbers and the partial damage to the school building from the Great Hanshin Earthquake, it was integrated with an adjacent elementary school and closed in 1996.

The current three-story school building, which suffered less damage, was scheduled for demolition at the time, but its high cultural value, having survived the Pacific War and the earthquake, has allowed it to remain to this day.

About GLION Group

GLION Group is primarily engaged in the authorized dealership business for 33 brands, including BMW, covering both imported and domestic cars. We have bases not only throughout Japan but also overseas, handling all aspects of the automotive business. In recent years, with the desire to "deliver more satisfaction to more customers," we have expanded our fields beyond automotive-related businesses to include beverage, wedding, and ryokan (Japanese inn) businesses. We deliver "感動 (Kando - deep emotion/inspiration)" that only GLION Group can provide to our customers with sophisticated brands and hospitality.

Representative Name: Hidetake Kikuchi, President and Representative Director

Location: GLION Awa-s Building, 11-1 Shinko-cho, Chuo-ku, Kobe City, Hyogo 650-0041

GLION Group HP

About Aqua Ignis Co., Ltd.

Aqua Ignis develops and operates complex hot spring resort facilities that attract many visitors from all over Japan, featuring restaurants by world-renowned chefs and patissiers, and hot spring and accommodation facilities designed by creators active both domestically and internationally. Aqua, meaning water, and Ignis, meaning fire, in Latin, "Aqua Ignis" represents the hot springs and ingredients nurtured by the earth, as well as men and women.

In 2012, we opened a complex hot spring resort facility in Yunoyama, Komono-cho, Mie Prefecture, themed on "healing" and "food." In 2021, we opened VISON (Beautiful Village), a facility that combines town development and commerce, bringing together all of Japan's food culture, lifestyle, and technology, attracting visitors from both Japan and abroad, while also serving as a community gathering place for local residents. We are revitalizing local areas through "healing" and "food" by connecting local ingredients, food culture, chefs, and creators with producers.