How to Spend 3 Days Around Hiroshima

In a recent blog post, we shared some insight about what you can do in the famous city when you are visiting. Many travelers regard Hiroshima as a day trip to visit the Genbaku Dome (原爆ドーム, Atomic Bomb Dome), pay their respects at the Peace Memorial and eat some amazing okonomiyaki. However, there are so many great spots around the city that it is impossible to experience the true beauty of Hiroshima in a single day. We recommend spending at least two to three nights in the historical city, and here is a list of some of the day trips in nearby areas you can enjoy when you stay.

Fukuyama

Hiroshima Prefecture’s second-largest city, Fukuyama is a perfect blend of small-town tradition and new-age sensibilities. This is very evident in the fact that the Fukuyama Station is situated directly across from the Fukuyama Castle, on what was once the Castle grounds. In fact, it’s probably the only place in Japan where you can actually see a Castle and a Station in the same frame. In addition, Fukuyama is also home to the Hiroshima Prefectural Museum of History as well as the Museum of Art. The Museum of History has a reconstruction of a part of the old town, which sheds some light on how the people lived in this town in the past.

About 10 km away from the town, is another popular local attraction, the Shinshoji Temple, a Buddhist temple that allows visitors to have a real Zen experience for an entire day, which includes meditation, lunch, and engaging in other hands-on activities. Advanced notice and booking are required for participation. If you are not eating at the Shinshoji Temple, do try and taste uzumi rice, a rice dish that originated in Fukuyama. It is a mouthwatering portion of shrimp, seabream, taro and other vegetables that were simmered in broth and rice served over that broth. This dish came about in the Edo Period when there was a food trend where you hid all the ingredients of rice dishes under the rice so that it looked more simple. Despite its simple looks, it’s incredibly delicious, so why not try it in the city that invented it? And for dessert, treat yourself to a Momiji Manju, a maple leaf-shaped cake, stuffed with various fillings!

Reaching Fukuyama: Direct Shinkansen trains are the best way to visit Fukuyama from Hiroshima, and it generally takes about 1 hour to travel from one city to the other.

Onomichi

The port town of Onomichi is filled with old-world charm, and a lot of zigzag slopes, on which the entire area is built. Despite its size, the town has played a large role in popularizing Japanese culture, thanks to its portrayal in many comic books and movies. Onomichi is well known for its Temple Walk, which follows the route of 25 small Buddhist temples. It is about a 2.5 km walk, and can be very easily done in 2 hours, or it may take longer if you want to spend more time in some of the temples. It has also been home to many authors and moviemakers, and there is also a museum highlighting this aspect.

A Literature Path, like the Temple Walk, also connects several monuments that honour Japanese writers and poets. If bridges are your thing, the Shimanami Kaido is a popular attraction, that connects the islands of Honshu and Shikoku, and many islands in between. It’s the only one that can be crossed either on foot or on a cycle. And if all this fails to intrigue you, Onomichi also has a maneki-neko (Lucky Cat) path and a museum dedicated to the Lucky Cat! Spend a half day or more in Onomichi, to truly soak in the history and culture Hiroshima has to offer.

Reaching Onomichi: It takes roughly 40 minutes to reach Onomichi from Hiroshima, by the Kodama Shinkansen, on the JR line. If you decide to take the local trains, it takes double the time, with one transfer at Itozaki Station. Bus services are also available, and take about 90 minutes, about the same time as the local trains.

Sandan-kyo Valley

Roughly 90 minutes away from Hiroshima by bus is a lovely valley that’s littered with pools, scenic waterfalls and virgin forest trails. Designated as a certified National Special Place of Scenic Beauty, the Sandankyo Valley has several hiking trails, for hikers of all skill levels.  Depending on whether you are in the area for a day trip from Hiroshima or an overnight stay, you can also indulge in water activities like a boat ride in the crystal clear green waters of the Kurobuchi Pool or enjoy the ferry to the two-tiered Nidantaki Falls. Whether you decide to do the treks or take a boat ride, if you are seeking the perfect spot to escape the city, and dive deep into nature, you won’t find a more suitable spot than Sandan-kyo Valley.

Reaching Sandankyo: The best way to get to the valley is to take the express bus from Hiroshima Bus Centre. For a perfect day out, take the 8:18 am bus from Hiroshima to Sandankyo, spend the day at the valley, and take the bus back to Hiroshima around 3:00 pm.

Takehara

A Japan Heritage Site, roughly 90 minutes away from Hiroshima, this historic town flourished over 300 years ago. Thanks to its coastal location, it was once a hub for salt and sake production. A trip to Takehara can give you a perfect opportunity to visit some of the old sake breweries that are still operational. But Takehara deserves a visit for more than just its sake breweries. The old town is home to many historical buildings that have been designated Important Cultural Properties, including the Buddhist Saihoji Temple. Another example of this old-school architecture is the Matsuzaka family residence, the home of a former local merchant. While you are in the area, you can also take a 40-minute journey to Ohkunoshima, popularly known as Rabbit Island, thanks to its population of roughly 500~600 wild rabbits that wander the streets freely.

Reaching Takehara: The most convenient way to reach Takehara from Hiroshima is to take the direct bus from Hiroshima Station. You can take a train as well, but it will involve changing stations and may take longer than the bus.

Saijo

One of the top three sake brewing regions in Japan, Saijo is every sake-lover’s must-visit destination! With excellent groundwater resources and the perfect climate for sake production, Saijo is often referred to as “Sake Town”. One of the main reasons why Saijo is such a big hub for sake breweries is ‘shikomi mizu’, or the miracle water, with the perfect level of medium hardness, which makes it ideal for sake manufacturing. Furthermore, many traditional breweries have passed down their secret brewing techniques for generations, and for years have adhered to the most stringent quality control standards. For anybody who really wants to learn more about the hard work and dedication it takes to prepare your favourite Japanese drink, a visit to Saijo and its breweries should be a top priority!

With old castles, sake breweries, natural beauty and so much more to do and experience, Hiroshima definitely deserves more than just a day trip to explore. One can easily spend two to three days in Hiroshima, getting to enjoy the rich tradition and natural beauty of the region. Keep this in mind, and plan your visit accordingly.

If you are interested in learning more about Sake and would love to try some with us on a tour, you can book your local guide here. And if learning more about sake doesn’t appeal to you as much, join in on one of our famous food walks, where you get an opportunity to taste some amazing local drinks and food. Click here to learn more about our Best of Hiroshima food tour.

While discovering Hiroshima, why not join a culinary tour and discover the city as a local?

Featured Photo: Juliana Barquero on Unsplash