Exploring Hiroshima Prefecture

Intro

Hiroshima is a famous and popular destination for international travellers, but while many visitors to Japan are familiar with the city’s history and landmarks, they are less knowledgeable when it comes to the wider region, especially if you enjoy going off the beaten path. Located along the Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima Prefecture can be found in the Chugoku Region, in the south-west area of Japan’s largest island, Honshu. The biggest city in the prefecture is Hiroshima itself, whose name was forever etched into world history at the end of the Second World War when it was one of two Japanese cities hit by atomic bombs. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and the Atomic Dome are landmarks that serve as a powerful warning from history about the horrors of war and a rightful reminder never to use such weapons again. Equally famous is the city’s beautiful ‘floating’ Torii gate, which appears to hover over the waters of Miyajima in Hiroshima Bay and attracts millions of tourists every year. Just look at the photo above and you'll instantly see why. Yet while these iconic landmarks often steal the headlines, both the city and the wider prefecture have a great deal more to offer. In this dedicated JapanDen guide, we’ll begin in the city itself before venturing out into the rest of the beautiful part of Japan. 

Go Beyond the Landmarks in Hiroshima Prefecture

Hiroshima Prefecture has a huge number of lesser known and off the beaten path attractions. The city itself is home to hidden neighbourhoods that are a great place to explore, while also being an excellent base for day trips further afield, in the Sanyo area, and beyond. Let’s take a look at 10 reasons why you'll fall in love with Hiroshima Prefecture.  

1. Visiting Shukkeien Garden

Starting in the prefecture’s capital, Hiroshima, yet away from the main tourist attractions, the city has a number of quieter, lesser known neighbourhoods full of interesting and authentic things to see and do. Naka-ku is a great example. The neighbourhood is home to Shukkeien Garden, a serene and traditional Japanese landscaped garden, with beautiful ponds and sculpted pathways, right in the heart of the city. It was first established in 1620 by Lord Asano Nagaakira and was named after its goal to represent the natural landscape in miniature. It is a great place to get away from urban life, while admiring the specially pruned trees and cherry blossoms, and gazing into the still waters of the tranquil pond.

This is just one of the interesting neighbourhoods waiting to be discovered in Hiroshima if you’re interested in going off the beaten path. Next is Miyajima-Guchi. This historic district is another of the city’s best, lesser-known spots and can be found close to the famous iconic Itsukushima Shrine. While exploring Hiroshima’s neighbourhoods, also look out for the city’s thriving street art scene. You’ll find prime examples in the vicinity of Higashi-Hiroshima Station, Hatchobori, and Nagarekawa.

2. Walk The Futabanosato Walking Trail

The Futabanosato Walking Trail is a chance to step back in time and learn about Hiroshima’s history prior to World War II. The trail stops at a variety of sights, temples and shrines, each with their own story to tell, and will take the visitor on a route that shows the unexplored side of Hiroshima. There are 16 stops along the trail, which climbs through the local mountains and includes a variety of temples, historical sights and old living quarters, beginning at Fudo-in Temple and ending at Saizo-ji, a temple guarded by the statue of Samurai Saizo Kani. Along the way, you’ll stop at Toshogu Shrine, one of Hiroshima’s cultural treasures. Established in 1648, the Toshogu shrine pays tribute to the first Shogun of Tokugawa Shogunate, Tokugawa Ieyasu. Built on the foot of Mount Futabayama, it provides scenic views over the city and castle of Hiroshima. 

3. Mitaki-Dera Temple

Hiroshima is home to many serene and beautiful temples of course and we’d recommend this one if you're looking for something more off the beaten path. Mitaki-Dera Temple dates back to 809 and is a beautiful Buddhist temple found in the dense forest of Mount Mitaki. The temple’s name means ‘three waterfalls’ and you’ll find them on the slopes of the mountain. They’re a stunning sight. The surrounding forest is also famous for its beauty during cherry blossom season in spring and during ‘koyo’ season in autumn. As well as the temple itself, the grounds contain a number of pagodas, serene Buddhist statues like those pictured below, and tranquil water features. 

4. The Mazda Museum

At first glance it may seem unusual for Hiroshima to have a museum fully dedicated to Mazda, but the car company has its origins in the city. The Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in Hiroshima in 1920, first starting out by selling a three-wheel auto-rickshaw. Obviously, the company grew and expanded over the decades and was an essential part of the city’s economic growth. To this day, Mazda has kept their global headquarters and factories in Hiroshima, occupying a lot of land along its waterfront. Just to give you a sense of how important the tie is between Hiroshima and Mazda, the name of the city’s baseball stadium is Mazda Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima and there’s even a Mazda Hospital. The museum, which is near the headquarters, first opened in May 1994 and has been expanded since. A visit to the museum is one of the best free things to do in Hiroshima, even if you’re not that much of a car person. 

5. Explore the San’in and San’yo Regions 

When you’re ready to leave the city behind, why not plan a stay in the San’in and San’yo regions of Hiroshima Prefecture? These areas are more sparsely populated than the urban centres and therefore much quieter, less touristy, and more at one with nature and the region’s landscape. They’re also stunningly beautiful and home to three of Japan’s incredible national parks, Daisen-Oki National Park, San’inkaigan National Park, and Setonaikai National Park.

6. Stay in Onomichi

Onomichi is a picturesque, hidden gem and harbour town located on the mountain range along the Seto Inland Sea. The town’s delights include the view from Mt. Senkoji, the temple walk and Path of Literature, Ichibangai Shōtengai shopping street, and the start of the Shimanamikaido, a 70 km long cycling road connecting Honshu with Shikoku, travelling through six islands in the Seto Inland Sea. Onomichi is located about 100 km west of Hiroshima and 250 km from Osaka and is accessible by rail. You can even travel via high-speed bullet train via the Sanyo Shinkansen to Fukuyama station followed by a quaint local train from there to Onomichi.  

7. See The World’s Largest Rice Spoon

There are lots of reasons to visit the famous Miyajima island in Hiroshima Bay (not least the famous floating torii gate) but a lesser known reason is to see the world’s largest rice spoon! Yes, you read that right! Located on Miyajima Island’s famous Omotesando shopping street, this giant wooden spoon is a staggering 7.7 meters in length, 2.7 meters in width, and 2.5 tons in weight. It was crafted to commemorate Miyajima’s history as the birthplace of the rice scoop as well as a centre for the traditional art of wood carving. It was created in 1996 as part of celebrations to honour the official designation of Itsukushima Shrine (and the aforementioned torii gate) as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

8. Look for Ponyo by the Sea

The real-life fishing village which inspired Studio Ghibli’s Ponyo is a great day trip from Hiroshima. The peaceful and pretty town of Tomonoura is located at the top of Numakuma Peninsula in Setonaikai National Park, south of Fukuyama City in Hiroshima Prefecture. The film’s director, Hayao Miyazaki visited the town of Tomonoura in 2005 and loved the location so much he stayed for two months and decided to include it as the main setting in the film he was working on at the time (Ponyo). One of the many theories about why Miyazaki chose Tomonoura is because as well as being incredibly pretty, it is also famous for its sea life, particularly red sea bream. Tomonoura is known for its history, ranging back a thousand years, and for its picturesque harbour, which was built during the Edo period (1603-1867) and earned the town a reputation for its views. Famously, a Korean envoy staying in an Edo period guest house overlooking the Seto Inland Sea claimed that Tomonoura had ‘the most beautiful view in Japan’ – high praise indeed and a great trip from Hiroshima. 

9. Visit Hiroshima’s Most Unusual Museums, from eggs to brushes!

Get ready for two of the more unusual museum experiences Japan, and Hiroshima specifically, has to offer. The Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum is dedicated to the history and cultural importance of okonomiyaki. This savoury Japanese pancake, which is grilled on a teppan, is a beloved dish across Japan, but especially in Hiroshima where it is said to have originated. It is a much loved regional specialty made using layers of ingredients rather than mixed as it is elsewhere in the country. This is what makes Hiroshima’s okonomiyaki unique. The word okonomiyaki means ‘what you like’ and ‘grilled’ and frequently used ingredients include cabbage, meat, seafood, as well as aonori (dried seaweed flakes), Japanese mayonnaise, katsuobushi (bonito flakes), and pickled ginger. Visitors can enjoy cooking classes with teppan grills and traditional hotplates, led by expert cooks. Next is another unique museum experience - the Fude no Sato Kobo Brush Museum, a museum dedicated to the art of traditional brush making. To learn more, you’ll have to visit Kumano, a quiet town in Hiroshima Prefecture, where around 80% of Japan's calligraphy and makeup brushes are made using ancient, passed-down techniques. This art is known as Kumano Fude. Kumano produces around 80% of Japan's calligraphy and makeup brushes, each crafted using centuries-old techniques. Visitors to this historic museum can get hands on and enjoy interactive workshops

10. Rabbit Island

Home to more than 1,000 rabbits that roam free across the tiny island’s forests and fields, Okunoshima (or Rabbit Island) can be found in the Seto Inland Sea in Eastern Hiroshima and has become a hugely popular tourist attraction in recent years. Rabbits are associated with safe childbirth and fertility in Japanese folktales and mythology and visiting the island is said to bring good luck to couples and families.

Where did the rabbits on Okunoshima mysteriously come from? Interestingly, rabbits have a long association with the island and there are rumours of bunnies living there back when the island was used by the military. However, the current colony dates back to more recent times. Apparently, in 1971, a group of school students from the mainland visited the island and released a small number of rabbits. The rest is history. More than 40 years later and there are now more than 1,000. I guess that’s where the saying ‘breeding like rabbits’ comes from.

Useful Links 

Ready to start planning your perfect stay in Hiroshima? Alongside our carefully curated selection of hotels and ryokans, we hope to provide everything else you need to plan your visit, from in-depth travel guides to 24/7 customer assistance, as well as our upcoming community forum. We can also point you in the right direction for the most cost-effective and enjoyable transport, portable Wifi devices, and partner services to ensure everything goes smoothly during your time in Japan:

• Looking for accommodation in Hiroshima? Visit our Hotels page and choose from more than 2,800 hotels and 1,800 traditional ryokans.

• If you want to learn more about Japan’s regions and prefectures so you can decide the best place to visit, you should check out our Destinations page. 

• And if you’re looking to explore Japan then the country’s train network is the way to go. Japan’s railways are renowned as being the fastest, cleanest, and safest in the world. The country’s rail network is so vast and interconnected that it can help you reach almost any corner of Japan you’d like to visit. Furthermore, with a Japan Rail Pass you can enjoy unlimited travel on the majority of the country’s trains, including the famous Shinkansen ‘bullet trains’. The JR Pass is by far the most cost effective and flexible way to get around Japan. Find out more by visiting our partners at www.jrpass.com today.

• Do you want to use Google Translate to support your language skills? Or Google Maps for live train updates? What about posting photos to social media or keeping in touch with home? For all this and more, you’ll need a PocketWifi device like those from Ninja Wifi. With unlimited data, support for five devices simultaneously, the ability to share your Wifi with your travel companions, and more, renting a PocketWifi is highly recommended. Our Pocket WiFi guide has everything you need to know.   

• Finally, if you’re looking for information about Japan and want to speak with expert travellers who have been there and done that, then you should join our Community. This welcoming and friendly forum is the place to go to share stories, knowledge, and experiences about Japan, ask questions, make new connections, and find travel inspiration.