Located on the western side of the mainland, Hiroshima Prefecture shares borders with Okayama, Tottori, Shimane, and Yamaguchi prefectures, with the south side facing the Seto Inland Sea. Famous for Itsukushima-jinja Shrine and the Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima also has many other highly-recommended places to visit by taking a little side trip.
This dome remains standing at the same location, which is almost immediately below where the atomic bomb was dropped in 1945. It was registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in 1996.
Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in the same area displays various items which tell about you the damage caused by the atomic bomb.
| URL | https://dive-hiroshima.com/en/ |
Right after getting off at Yokogawa Station, which is about 5 minutes by JR train from Hiroshima Station, you will see a not-so-well-known but interesting place with an artistic and cultural atmosphere.
Here and there you can find interesting wall paintings, which should be really instagrammable! There are many shops and stores, including galleries, stylish cafes, and izakayas.
Selected as a preservation district for groups of traditional buildings, Takehara Townscape Preservation Area is about 15 minutes on foot from JR Takehara Station.
In this area, the old townscape is from the time when this area prospered from salt making and sake brewing in the Edo period (the 17th to mid-19th centuries).
The unique view with cobblestoned paths along with traditional wooden buildings and plaster walls makes you feel as if you are back in the Edo period.
This area has been used as a filming location for TV dramas, commercials, and anime works.
| Address | 3 Chome Honmachi, Takehara, Hiroshima |
| URL | https://www.takeharakankou.jp/en/ |
If you have time to spare on your trip, it is highly recommended to stay overnight at NIPPONIA Hotel Takehara Saltworks Town.
The guestrooms used to be used as restaurant areas and storehouses, so they have different features, with warmth unique to Japanese traditional architecture. *A total of 10 guestrooms. Capacities from 2 and up per room.
The restaurant serves fusion cuisine, made with carefully selected ingredients from the Seto Inland Sea and the essence of French cooking. With a great selection of dishes created particularly to go well with sake, you can enjoy pairing of dishes with local sake at lunch or dinner.
| Address | 1 Chome-4-16 Honmachi, Takehara, Hiroshima |
This quaint port town can be reached in about 30 minutes by bus from JR Fukuyama Station. This place was designated as part of “Japan Heritage” in 2018. The night light at the port stands as a symbol of the area.
The paths of this port town are narrow, creating an atmosphere reminiscent of the Edo period. While waiting for nightfall at the port, you can enjoy the landscape changing over time.
“Homeishu” is a specialty of Tomonoura, which is a Japanese liqueur made with 16 kinds of ingredients, including shochu, glutenous rice, koji (malted rice), and spices (root of Rehmannia glutinosa and liquorice, etc.). Without a strong flavor, it is easy to drink and fun to mix with soda water or milk to create cocktails.
| URL | https://visittomonoura.com/about-tomonoura/ |
If you want to fully enjoy Onomichi, a scenic town with the ocean and mountains, take a walk for 15 minutes from JR Onomichi, get on Mt. Senkoji Ropeway to the mountaintop, and walk down to Onomichi Hon-dori Shotengai shopping street.
From Senkoji Park Observatory, you can get a great view of the streetscape of Onomichi, which is listed in Japan Heritage as a miniature garden-like city, as well as Mukaishima and other islands across Onomichi Suido Strait.
Senkoji Park is beautifully decorated with cherry blossoms in spring and other seasonal flowers in different seasons.
The vermillion-lacquered main building of Senko-ji Temple is a symbol of Onomichi and a must-see spot.
As you come down from the mountaintop, you will come across many spots to see, such as a retro cafe and “hidden place” associated with cats. Stroll around as you feel like or you may have fun getting lost for a while.
| URL | https://www.ononavi.jp/index.html |
Be prepared to be overwhelmed by fields covered with beautifully blossoming flowers. You can enjoy different flowers in different seasons, such as tulips in spring, sunflowers in summer, and dahlias in autumn.
Ticket: 1,000 yen
| Address | 1124-11 Betsusako, 世羅町 Sera, Sera District, Hiroshima |
| Access | 1 hour by car from Onomichi Sta. |
| URL | https://sera.ne.jp/en/ |
Relax at a verdant gorge. Take a tour boat or kayak to enjoy the wonderful view of the gorge from Lake Shinryu. There is lots to see, such as steep cliffs and strange-shaped rocks on both sides of the gorge and “Onbashi,” a natural bridge formed by the erosion of a mountain stream.
| Address | Tojocho Taishakumido, Shobara, Hiroshima |
| Access | 1 hr by car from Sera Kogen Highlands |
| URL | http://taishakukyo.com/en/ |
If you want to find great souvenirs from Hiroshima, “ekie” at Hiroshima Station is the place to go.
ekie has a souvenir area, with specialties from Hiroshima Prefecture and the Setouchi region.
Famous Momiji Manju is available from various manufacturers and you can compare them at this place.
There are various products made with lemons and oysters. At a dining area, you can enjoy various kinds of delicious dishes, including Hiroshima’s specialty okonomiyaki, local dishes with local ingredients, and seafood dishes. There are also many places serving desserts. You can find lots of beautiful and delicious sweets!
| Address | 1-2 Matsubaracho, Minami Ward, Hiroshima |
| URL | https://www.ekie.jp/lang/english.html |
