addition, the city also operates one. and the prefecture operates two, special education school for the handicapped. Transportation Railways JR West - Kobe Line - - JR West - Fukuchiyama Line - - Hankyu - Hankyu Kobe Main Line - Hankyu - Hankyu Imazu Line - - - - Hankyu - Hankyu Kōyō Line - - Hanshin Electric Railway - Hanshin Main Line - - - - - Hanshin Electric Railway - Hanshin Mukogawa Line - - - Highways Meishin Expressway Chūgoku Expressway Sister and friendship cities Sister cities Spokane since September 1961 (U.S., Washington) Friendship cities Londrina since May 1977 (Brazil, Paraná) Shaoxing since July 1985 (China, Zhejiang) District of Lot-et-Garonne and Agen since April, 1992 (France, Burlington (U.S., Vermont) Aquitaine Amami since October 1981 (Japan, Kagoshima) (formerly Naze) Yusuhara since March 1991 (Japan, Kōchi) Local attractions Hirota Shrine - Hirota Shrine was called by aristocrats in Kyoto. That is the origin of the city name. Hyogo Performing Arts Center Kannō-ji Koshikiiwa Shrine Nishinomiya Shrine Mondo-yakujin (Tōkō-ji) Kitayama Botanical Garden Mount Kabuto In Popular Culture Much of Grave of the Fireflies is set in Nishinomiya. Nishinomiya is the setting for the popular light novel, manga, and anime series The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya. Notable people from Nishinomiya Mana Ashida – teen actress Aimyon – singer-songwriter Nagaru Tanigawa – author of the light novel series Haruhi Suzumiya Yuichiro Nagashima – kickboxer Ryūsui Seiryōin – novelist Kaoru Betto - baseball player Hiro Matsushita – Businessman, former driver in Champ Car series. Chairman of Swift Engineering & Swift Xi Hōsei Yamasaki – comedian Eizo Sakamoto – heavy metal musician Kaoru – lead guitarist of Dir En Grey Yuya Matsushita – singer and actor Mina – American-born Japanese singer based in South Korea, member of Twice (Originally from San Antonio, Texas, United States of America) Akira Tozawa – professional wrestler Rika Kihira – figure skater Daisuke Inoue - inventor of the karaoke machine Gallery References External links Nishinomiya City official website Hyogo Performing Arts Center Cities in Hyōgo Prefecture Port settlements in Japan Populated coastal places in Japan