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Yamaguchi Prefecture

Located at the western tip of Honshu, Yamaguchi Prefecture is a treasure trove of breathtaking views surrounded by the sea on three sides. Photogenic landscapes such as the Tsunoshima Bridge stretching across the clear blue sea, the Motonosumi Shrine with its 123 red torii gates, and the mysterious Akiyoshido limestone cave are drawing attention from all over the world. The prefecture is steeped in deep history and culture, including Yamaguchi City, which once flourished as the "Kyoto of the West," and the castle town of Hagi, which strongly retains the atmosphere of the samurai era. Additionally, the gourmet food of...

Yamaguchi
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Hiroshima

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

The Peace Memorial Museum, located within the Peace Memorial Park, conveys the reality of the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, and continues to appeal for the abolition of nuclear weapons and eternal world peace. Displayed items like belongings of victims, photographs, models showing the devastation, and testimonies from survivors pose direct questions to the heart about the weight of each life lost, rather than just treating it as a historical figure. Many dignitaries and travelers from around the world visit to deeply learn about the horror of nuclear weapons and the preciousness of peace. While viewing...

Hiroshima
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Hiroshima

Abuto Kannon

Abuto Kannon (Bandai-ji Temple), standing on a sheer cliff at the tip of the Numakuma Peninsula in Fukuyama City, is a sacred site boasting some of the best views in the Seto Inland Sea. The sight of the vermilion Kannon hall standing on the rough rocks jutting into the sea is overwhelmingly powerful, and it has long been deeply worshipped as a guardian of maritime safety, fertility, and safe childbirth. From the hall's gallery, you can see the waves crashing below and a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea islands spreading as far as the eye can see, providing...

Hiroshima
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Hiroshima

Shukkeien Garden

Shukkeien Garden, located in the center of Hiroshima City, is a famous historic site with over 400 years of history, built in 1620 as a villa for the Hiroshima daimyo, Asano Nagaakira. As a "chisen kaiyu" (stroll around a pond) style garden, it is said to express various scenic views in miniature ("shukkei"), featuring a central "Takuei-chi" pond and the elegant "Koko-kyo" bridge, perfectly arranged with mountains, rivers, and tea houses. Despite being in the city center, stepping inside envelops you in silence and traditional beauty. The seasonal changes of cherry blossoms in spring, greenery in summer, foliage in autumn,...

Hiroshima
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Hiroshima

Sera Kogen Farm

Sera Kogen Farm, located in Sera Town, is one of Japan's largest floral paradises where vast hills are buried in seasonal flowers. In spring, hundreds of thousands of tulips bloom, in summer, a million sunflowers stand tall, and in autumn, vibrant dahlias spread, offering an overwhelming scale and beauty. The flower fields, meticulously designed, are picturesque from any angle, earning immense popularity among photo enthusiasts and social media users worldwide. You can also enjoy gourmet food and BBQs using local specialties within the farm, making it ideal for families and couples to spend a whole day leisurely. Being enveloped by...

Hiroshima
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Hiroshima

Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park

The "Hiba-Dogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park," spanning Hiroshima, Shimane, and Tottori prefectures, is a vast park gathering dynamic natural beauty representing western Japan, such as the legendary Mt. Hiba, elegant Mt. Dogo, and the grand Taishakukyo Gorge. Pure beech forests spread across mountains at altitudes around 1,000 meters, where a mysterious atmosphere flows. Authentic outdoor activities like trekking, camping, and winter skiing can be enjoyed year-round. This area, filled with geological wonders like natural bridges and limestone caves, and a history of mountain worship, is truly a power spot overflowing with great nature's energy. For travelers seeking authentic wilderness and mysterious natural...

Hiroshima
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Hiroshima

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

Hiroshima

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

Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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Hiroshima

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
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