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Kagamiyama Park

Kagamiyama Park

Kagamiyama Park, located in the Saijo district of Higashihiroshima City, is a vast park developed on the site of "Kagamiyama Castle," once the residence of a powerful regional clan. Remains of earthworks and baileys of the mountain castle still exist, making it an irresistible walking course for history enthusiasts. Additionally, about 500 cherry trees, azaleas, and vibrant autumn foliage are planted throughout the park, serving as a relaxation spot for many citizens and tourists. Especially the seasonal colors reflected in the pond are very beautiful, making it ideal for strolls and picnics. Located close to the Sake Brewery Street of...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring

Shofukujiyama Park

Shofukujiyama Park

Shofukujiyama Park, located on a hill in Akitsu-cho, Higashihiroshima City, overlooks the calm Seto Inland Sea and is known as one of the best cherry blossom spots in the prefecture. In spring, about 1,200 Yoshino cherry trees bloom, covering the entire mountain and creating a breathtaking contrast between the blue sea and islands and the pink blossoms. Especially the sea view with "oyster rafts" floating below is full of unique Setouchi charm. Even outside the cherry blossom season, you can take a leisurely stroll while feeling the refreshing sea breeze, making it a popular view spot for admiring archipelago beauty....

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring

Saijo Sake Brewery Street

Saijo Sake Brewery Street

The "Saijo Sake Brewery Street" around JR Saijo Station in Higashihiroshima City is ranked among Japan's top three sake producing areas and is a very photogenic area where white-walled storehouses, red roofs, and unique red-brick chimneys stand side by side. Seven sake breweries are concentrated in a small area, and you can observe traditional sake making or enjoy tasting their proud labels at each brewery. Comparing the tasting water protected by each brewery is also part of the fun. At cafes and restaurants converted from breweries, you can taste sake-based sweets and the regional specialty "Bishu-nabe" (sake hot pot). Walking...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Food
Spring
Summer
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Winter

Higashihiroshima City

Higashihiroshima City

Higashihiroshima City, located east of Hiroshima City, is a historic city hosting "Saijo," one of Japan's leading sake producing areas, while also serving as an academic city with many universities and research institutions. Its major charm is the "Sake Brewery Street" around JR Saijo Station, where you can savor top-quality Japanese sake amidst beautiful scenery lined with red-brick chimneys and Namako-kabe walls. Furthermore, the northern part of the city features beautiful gorges and rural landscapes, while the southern part offers the calm Seto Inland Sea scenery of the Akitsu district, perfectly merging mountains, sea, tradition, and modernity. It is a...

Hiroshima
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Spring
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Yamano Gorge

Yamano Gorge, located in Yamano-cho in northern Fukuyama City, is a beautiful canyon created by the erosion of the Oda River, featuring dynamic rock walls and clear streams. Designated as a Prefectural Natural Park, its scenery with beautiful waterfalls like "Yodan-no-taki" and "Ryuzu-no-taki," as well as the rugged beauty of "Enmeikyo" (Monkey Crying Gorge), overwhelms visitors. Fresh greenery in spring and vibrant autumn foliage paint the entire mountain like a painting. With campsites and promenades well-maintained, it's ideal for hiking and playing in the river. It is a hidden "inner parlor" of Fukuyama where you can feel the beauty of...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
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Winter

Former Residence of Rai Tadakiyo

Former Residence of Rai Tadakiyo

This residence in Takehara City was the home of Rai Tadakiyo, the grandfather of Rai San’yo, a famous Edo-period Confucian scholar who authored "Nihon Gaishi." Located within the Townscape Preservation District, it strongly retains the lifestyle of those days when the family operated a dye shop (Konyasan). The simple but well-kept rooms and gardens, along with the spirit of valuing scholarship inherited by the Rai family, convey the traditional intellectual lifestyle of Japan. Thinking that the spirit cultivated here had a major influence on later Japanese historical thought gives the place a weight beyond a simple old folk house. It...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
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Winter

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum

Okunoshima Poison Gas Museum

This museum, quietly standing on Okunoshima, known as Rabbit Island, was established to face the "negative history" that poison gas was once manufactured secretly here and to convey the preciousness of peace. Inside, production facilities, protective suits, and vivid records of damage are displayed, speaking more eloquently than words about how war causes tragic sacrifices. The quiet exhibition space, in contrast to the adorable rabbits running around the island, poses a strong message to "never repeat the same mistake." It is an essential place to visit to think deeply about war and peace and to recognize the value of life...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Takehara City Museum of History and Folklore

Takehara City Museum of History and Folklore

Located within the Takehara Townscape Preservation District, this museum utilizes the building of the former Takehara Post Office built in the early Showa era, standing out with its Western-style appearance amidst the historical townscape. Inside, you can see valuable tools and historical documents related to the "salt industry" and "sake brewing" that supported Takehara's prosperity since the Edo period, providing deep insight into how this city cultivated its rich culture. There is also information about literary figures and prominent historical characters associated with Takehara. Stopping by before a town walk deepens your perspective on the surrounding buildings and landscapes. It...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Okunoshima

Okunoshima, floating about 15 minutes by ferry from Tadanoumi Port in Takehara City, is world-famous as the "Rabbit Island," inhabited by about 900 wild rabbits. From the moment you land, adorable rabbits welcome you, and you can spend a healing time interacting with them. However, it also has a history as a "map from which the island was erased" because poison gas was manufactured here secretly during the war, and ruins of power plants and forts still remain. The unique environment, where ruins of a dark history coexist with rabbits as a symbol of peace, makes you think deeply about...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Okakae Jizo

The "Okakae Jizo," located within the Takehara Townscape Preservation District, is a unique and friendly Jizo statue. It is said that if you make a wish and pick up the statue, and it feels lighter than you expected, your wish will come true. Located slightly back in a quiet alley, it has become a popular spot for tourists to test their luck. The experience of facing your own wishes through the sensation of the statue's weight becomes a delightful episode of your journey. Its appearance, blending naturally into the surrounding old townscape, is somewhat heartwarming, making it a compassionate power...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kagi Castle Ruins

Kagi Castle Ruins

The "Kagi Castle Ruins" in the Tadanoumi district of Takehara City is a historical site of a sea castle that served as a base for the Kobayakawa navy and had deep ties with the Murakami pirates during the Sengoku period. Located on a small hill jutting into the sea, it is said that this location was used to monitor ship movements in the Seto Inland Sea and control maritime rights. Currently maintained as a park, the site of the main enclosure offers a magnificent view of Okunoshima and the archipelago beauty of the Seto Inland Sea spreading before your eyes....

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Tokoura Shrine

Tokoura Shrine, located in the Tadanoumi district along the coast of Takehara City, is a shrine with an excellent location overlooking the calm Seto Inland Sea. It has been deeply worshipped by locals since ancient times as a guardian deity protecting sea safety and household peace. From the shrine grounds facing the sea, you can see "Okunoshima," famous as the island of rabbits, up close, and enjoy a quiet prayer while feeling the sea breeze. While it doesn't have the bustling atmosphere of major tourist sites, it allows you to feel the "original landscape of Japan" where local faith and...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Former Morikawa Family Residence

Former Morikawa Family Residence

The "Former Morikawa Family Residence" near the entrance of the Townscape Preservation District is a luxurious mansion of a former salt field landowner built in the Taisho era. Designated as a National Important Cultural Property, the vast grounds house the main building, tea rooms, storehouses, and a beautiful Japanese garden. Highest-grade building materials of the time were used generously, and you can feel the craftsman's attention to detail in the delicate transom carvings and modern designs. Especially the time spent in the tatami room gazing at the garden tells of the traditional beauty of Japanese living spaces and the overwhelming...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Shounji Temple

Shounji Temple, located in the Townscape Preservation District, is a Sōtō sect temple that attracts many visitors as a power spot due to its auspicious name meaning "Winning over Luck." This temple has been deeply connected with influential figures of Takehara and has walked alongside the town's history. The grounds are very quiet, with well-kept gardens and buildings that evoke history warmly welcoming visitors. Especially by touching the old legends and history passed down in this temple, you can deeply understand the footprints left by the city of Takehara. Stopping by during a town walk and offering a quiet prayer...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
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Winter

Shorenji Temple

Shorenji Temple

Shorenji Temple, located in the Townscape Preservation District, is a prestigious temple of the Jodo Shinshu Hongwanji school with history dating back to the Muromachi period. It was once used as a study center for the Kobayakawa family and is known for its deep connection to academia and art. The vast grounds feature impressive gates and main halls, creating a heavy atmosphere that harmonizes with the surrounding old townscape. Especially during the autumn foliage season, the large ginkgo trees in the grounds turn brilliant gold, making it a very beautiful photo spot against the townscape. This place, visited by many...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Saihoji Temple

Saihoji Temple, standing on a hill overlooking the Townscape Preservation District, is a Jodo sect temple known for its scenic beauty. The biggest highlight is the "Fumeikaku" hall next to the main temple. It is a vermilion stage-style building said to be modeled after Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto, offering a simultaneous view of Takehara's old townscape and the Seto Inland Sea, making it a quintessential spectacular spot for Takehara. It frequently appears as a movie filming location, and the sight of the townscape dyed in gold at dusk is breathtaking. Combining the tranquil atmosphere of a historic temple with the panorama...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Takehara Machinami Bamboo Workshop

Takehara Machinami Bamboo Workshop

Located in the Townscape Preservation District, this workshop allows you to observe and experience bamboo crafts, a traditional industry of Takehara. As the name "Takehara" suggests, it conveys the bamboo culture deeply rooted in this land since ancient times. Here, you can watch skilled artisans weaving bamboo closely, and there are various experience programs that even beginners can easily participate in. Making your own bamboo basket, pinwheel, or coaster is a precious moment to touch the spirit of Japanese "Monozukuri" (craftsmanship). Beautiful bamboo products are also displayed and sold, perfect for souvenir hunting. It is a culturally warm spot where...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Takehara Townscape Preservation District

Takehara Townscape Preservation District

The "Takehara Townscape Preservation District" in central Takehara City is a beautiful area that strongly retains the atmosphere of its prosperity during the Edo period through salt and sake production. Lined with merchant houses and white-walled storehouses, it is designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Stepping inside feels like traveling back in time to a quiet Edo period. You can visit luxurious residences such as the "Matsusaka Residence" and "Morikawa Family Residence" to glimpse the advanced architectural techniques and wealthy lives of the time. In a calm atmosphere that isn't overly commercialized, it is...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Mt. Kurotaki

Mt. Kurotaki in Takehara City is a famous mountain known for its magnificent views despite its relatively low altitude of 266 meters. Stone Buddhas are scattered along the hiking trail, allowing you to walk while feeling history and faith. Standing at the rocky summit, you can enjoy a spectacular view where the town of Tadanoumi and islands of the Seto Inland Sea, including "Okunoshima," spread out like a miniature garden below. On clear days, you can see as far as the Shikoku mountains, and the sense of openness is exceptional. Because it can be climbed easily in a short time,...

Hiroshima
Nature
Spring
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Winter

Takehara City

Takehara City, known as the "Little Kyoto of Aki," is a town full of historical emotion with rows of wealthy merchant residences that flourished through salt production and sake brewing during the Edo period. The townscape, designated as a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings, possesses a silence and beauty as if time has stopped, and is loved as a setting for movies and animations. True to its name "Takehara" (Bamboo Field), bamboo crafts are flourishing, and bamboo designs can be seen throughout the town. Located on the coast, it is also the gateway to Okunoshima, famous...

Hiroshima
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Yamato Museum

The Yamato Museum in Kure City conveys the history of Kure, which flourished as the top naval port in the East and built the battleship "Yamato," as well as its shipbuilding and steelmaking technology. Inside, a 1/10 scale model of the battleship "Yamato," stretching 26.3 meters, is displayed, and its precision and scale are overwhelmingly powerful. Real materials such as a Zero fighter and the human torpedo "Kaiten" are also exhibited, making visitors think deeply about the tragedy of war and the preciousness of peace. Simultaneously, you can learn how the advanced technology cultivated in Kure contributed to Japan's post-war...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
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Winter

Irifuneyama Memorial Museum

Irifuneyama Memorial Museum

Irifuneyama Memorial Museum in Kure City is a museum that conveys the history of Kure as a naval port city, centered on the former Kure Naval District Commander-in-Chief's Official Residence. The residence, a National Important Cultural Property, features a beautiful harmony of a Western-style wing with luxurious "Kinkarakawashi" (gold-embossed paper) walls and a calm Japanese-style wing. The designs and furniture, concentrating the highest technology of the time, tell the story of Japan's modernization and its brilliant culture. Within the grounds, there is also a local museum and a "Hill with a View of History," allowing you to deeply learn about...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Yoshiwa Observatory

Yoshiwa Observatory

Yoshiwa Observatory, located in the Yoshiwa highland district in northern Hatsukaichi City, is a spot where you can overlook the majestic mountain ranges of the West Chugoku Mountains. Due to its high altitude, it is cool even in summer, and you can enjoy the changing seasonal expressions of the mountains in the clear air. Especially the mountain scenery where peaks overlap one after another allows you to feel the powerful beauty of Japanese nature, different from the archipelago beauty of the Seto Inland Sea. In winter, the area becomes a world of silver, serving as a precious rest and observation...

Hiroshima
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Mt. Kyogoya

Mt. Kyogoya, at an altitude of 596 meters in Hatsukaichi City, is located opposite Miyajima and is a spectacular spot boasting one of the best views of the Seto Inland Sea. From the observatory near the summit, you can enjoy a panorama where the buildings and Grand Torii of the World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea spread out like a miniature garden. Especially the angle looking down on Miyajima from directly above is a charm unique to this place. In addition to hiking trails, you can also access near the summit by car, making...

Hiroshima
Nature
Spring
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Autumn
Winter