Hiroshima Prefecture attracts many tourists from all over the world. In Hiroshima City, visitors can see the World Peace Memorial Cathedral and the World Heritage Site of the Atomic Bomb Dome, as well as family-friendly spots such as the Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum and the Mazda Museum.
Hatsukaichi is home to Miyajima and Itsukushima Shrine, while Kure is home to the Yamato Museum, which exhibits a 1/10 scale model of the battleship Yamato.
To enjoy sightseeing in Hiroshima Prefecture
On Miyajima Island in Aki, one of Hiroshima Prefecture's most popular tourist destinations, you can visit the national treasure Itsukushima Shrine, take a ropeway up Mt. Yayama for a panoramic view of the Seto Inland Sea, or visit the park and Miyajima Aquarium to be entertained by the cute animals.
In downtown Hiroshima, visitors can stroll through Peace Memorial Park and visit the World Peace Memorial Cathedral and the Atomic Bomb Dome, a World Heritage Site. There are also many places to enjoy history and culture, such as Hiroshima Castle, Shukkeien Garden, and Hiroshima Museum of Art, as well as family-friendly spots such as Asa Zoological Park, Wood Egg Okonomiyaki Museum, and Mazda Museum.
There are also many other places of interest in the western part of the prefecture, such as Kure, which was once the shipbuilder of the Battleship Yamato, and Saijo, known for its sake brewing industry. In the eastern part of the prefecture, where countless islands float in the Seto Inland Sea, tourists can enjoy Onomichi, with its beautiful hillside townscape; Fukuyama, with its Tomonoura, a port mentioned in the Manyoshu poetry anthology; Takehara, with Okunojima, made famous by its rabbit island; and Mihara, known for its autumn leaves at Butsuno-ji Temple.
In the mountainous areas nestled in the Chugoku Mountains, there are many natural attractions such as the atmospheric Sandan Gorge and Teishakyo Gorge, the Sera Plateau where flowers bloom in spring, and the Misty Sea Observatory in Miyoshi where you can admire a spectacular view of the mysterious sea of clouds.
History of Hiroshima Prefecture
During the Warring States period, Hiroshima Castle was built by the Mori clan, which unified the Chugoku region. In the Edo period (1603-1867), Korean envoys to Japan began to dock at Kure and Fukuyama, and the coastal areas of the city began to develop. In the Meiji era (1868-1912), shipbuilding plants for warships were located mainly in Kure, and the military industry developed in Hiroshima Prefecture.
However, Hiroshima Prefecture, with military facilities scattered throughout the cities, was the target of numerous air raids during the Pacific War, and finally, on August 6, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on the city of Hiroshima. Hiroshima was the first city in human history to be threatened by an atomic bomb, and the prefecture lost most of its urban area, and it took much time and sacrifice to rebuild after the war.
Today, Hiroshima Prefecture is the economic center of the Chugoku and Shikoku area, but since the end of the war, the prefecture has been a leader in advocating the eradication of war and has continued to appeal for peace to the world, with the city of Hiroshima at its center.
Local Gourmet, Food Culture, and Specialties of Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture is a treasure trove of unique local delicacies, such as Hiroshima tsukemen (noodles with a spicy dipping sauce) and soupless tantanmen (noodles without soup). In particular, Hiroshima's unique okonomiyaki, filled with fresh seafood, cabbage, and buckwheat noodles, is well known throughout the country, and as the soul food of the residents of the prefecture, you can enjoy okonomiyaki with a lot of originality in various places.
Hiroshima Prefecture faces the Seto Inland Sea, and fresh seafood such as sea eel, sea cucumbers, and sardines can be enjoyed in the coastal areas and islands. In particular, Hiroshima is famous for its oysters, one of the three most famous in Japan, and freshly caught oysters can be tasted at various places, including the pilgrimage route to Itsukushima Shrine and oyster huts at Hiroshima Port.
Other local delicacies include Onomichi Ramen, Fukuyama Ramen, and Kure Ramen from Onomichi, and a treasure trove of B-class gourmet foods such as Kure's fine udon curry, meatball rice, Miyajima's petterapottera, and eejan-nabe hot pot sold throughout the prefecture.
Hiroshima Prefecture is also a major producer of citrus fruits such as mandarin oranges, dekopon, hassaku, and lemons, and jelly and lemon cake made from hassaku are souvenir sweets along with momiji manju, a famous confectionery.
Itsukushima Shrine is located on Miyajima Island and is registered as a World Heritage Site. It enshrines the three Munakata Goddesses and was worshipped by the Heike clan. It was built in 593, and was worshipped by the Heike clan. The shrine was built in 593 and is characterized by its long corridor, which is an adaptation of the Heian-period shinden-zukuri style of shrine architecture. The thre...»
This marble garden is located in the precincts of the temple Kosanji.It is 5,000 square meters in area, 25 meters in elevation, and 3,000 tons of marble from Carrara, Italy, is used for this environmental art. The hilltop overlooks the town of Setoda and the Seto Inland Sea, and the entire hill is dotted with more than 10 monuments of various sizes, including "Bishamonten" and "Koumei no To (Towe...»
Designed by Czech architect Jan Retzl and opened in 1915. It is the former site of the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, which once stood in the city's downtown area. The building has been permanently preserved to show the actual atomic bombing of August 6, 1945.It was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996....»
Kosanji Temple was built by Kozoji Kozo, a former businessman who became an ordained Buddhist monk, as a family temple for his mother. The temple was built by Kozoji, a former Buddhist architect and ordained Buddhist monk, as a family temple for his mother. The pagodas were modeled after national treasure buildings, 15 of which are designated as National Tangible Cultural Properties.Among the hig...»
Senkoji Temple is located in Senkoji Park, halfway up Senkoji Mountain. Senkoji Ropeway to the top of Senkoji Temple. The vermilion main hall and the Ryugu-zukuri bell tower are representative of Onomichi's scenery, and the giant and oddly shaped rocks, such as Jade Rock and Mie Rock, on which a shining pearl is said to have once been placed, are a must-see. According to temple legend, the templ...»
Hiroshima Castle was built by Terumoto Mori in 1589. The castle was called "Koi Castle," and the castle tower and other castle buildings survived until 1945, when the castle tower was completely destroyed by the atomic bomb. The castle tower and other castle buildings were reconstructed after 1958, and the castle is now a history museum that mainly introduces samurai culture. ◎Mouri Terumoto (15...»
Senkoji Park stretches from the top to the middle of 144.2-meter-high Senkoji Mountain, and is centered around Senkoji Temple. Visitors can take the Senkoji Ropeway to the summit of Senkoji Temple. From the observation platform at the top of the mountain, which is connected to the Senkoji ropeway station, visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Onomichi City and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea,...»
This Buddhist temple is said to have been founded by Kobo Daishi (Kukai) in 807.It is located at the foot of Mt. Atago facing the Ashida River and adjacent to the Kusado Inari Shrine. In the Middle Ages, Kusado-Sengen-cho prospered as a gate town. The main hall and five-story pagoda are designated national treasures. The main hall was rebuilt in 1321 and is considered to be a representative exam...»
The ropeway connects Shishi-iwa Station and Momijidani Station (Momijidani Park) on Yayama, a 535-meter-high mountain in the center of Miyajima (Itsukushima) where Itsukushima Shrine is located. The Miyajima Ropeway connects two different types of ropeways: a circular type (from Momijidani Station to Kaya-dani Station) and an alternating type (from Kaya-dani Station to Shishi-iwa Station), both o...»
A gorge eroded from the limestone plateau. It is one of the 100 most scenic spots in Japan. Together with Sandankyo, it is known as one of Hiroshima Prefecture's representative scenic spots and one of the most famous gorges in Japan. A sightseeing boat operates on Lake Shinryu and takes passengers to the Teishakagawa Dam area. There is also a promenade called "Sansho Hodo" (exploration trail) whe...»
Peace Memorial Park was established as a place to pray for lasting world peace. The park is dotted with many memorials and monuments, including the World Heritage Site of the Atomic Bomb Dome, the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, the National Peace Memorial Hall for the Atomic Bomb Victims, the Hiroshima International Conference Center, and the Cenotaph for the Atomic Bomb Victims....»
This shrine is said to have been built in 806 and is the first shrine in Bingo Province. Locals call it "Ikkyusan" (Ichikyu-san) and it is well known to them. It is located in the northwestern part of Fukuyama City, on the border with Fuchu City, and is regarded as the general guardian of Bingo Province.The nearby city of Fuchu is said to have been the site of the national capital of Bingo Provin...»
One of the 55 best beaches in Japan. The beauty of the white sand beach and the setting sun is the best in the Seto Inland Sea. A seaside sports park with tennis courts, campgrounds, and barbecue facilities.Gourd Island can be seen 1.9 km offshore....»
The Murakami Suigun Museum is located on Innoshima Island. The Murakami Suigun was an allied group of the "Mishima Murakami Clan" (Innoshima Murakami, Nojima Murakami, and Kurushima Murakami) that controlled the Seto Inland Sea from the Muromachi Period to the Sengoku Period. The castle tower never existed in the past, and was built in 1983 in the image of a naval castle as a museum.A group of fa...»
The entire temple grounds are a museum of Zen and gardens, with a 17th century hall, a restored tea house of Sen no Rikyu, a temple office designed with pine trees symbolic of the Seto Inland Sea, and an atmospheric Zen garden within. The art pavilion "Ko-niwa" is a boat-shaped building wrapped in wood.From a collection of 1,500 Zen calligraphies and paintings, about 30 pieces are displayed in va...»
The Yume Suspension Bridge is a pedestrian-only suspension bridge with a beautiful red parapet on the blue lake surface at Hachidahara Dam. It is recognized by the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest suspension bridge without piers.Completed in 1996, it is 172.6 meters long and 2.5 meters wide. It is said that if you make a wish while crossing the bridge, your wish will come true....»
Located in the upper reaches of the San'tani River, the gorge is famous for its clear waterfalls, greenery, and rocks, including Nidan Falls, Okunotaki Falls, Namera Falls, Oimorino Falls, and Oimori Falls. It has been selected as one of the 100 best-kept secrets in Japan. The summit of the mountain offers a 360-degree panoramic view of the Chugoku Mountains. Visitors can enjoy the murmuring of ...»
The original horumonburg is a hamburg made of minced meat and horumon (small intestines), born in a grilled meat restaurant in Hiroshima. The innovative hamburg made of minced meat, beef stomach and small intestines create a new harmonious taste and texture. Nowadays a variety of tastes can be enjoyed in different restaurants, but the original restaurant serves it with the secret salt sauce. Don’t...»
Mentai (snubnose brotula) is a popular fish sold as fillets in fish shops in Kure, Hiroshima. It is a watery fish with an elegant taste, which is enjoyed often as deep fried or tempura....»
Nikujaga is a dish with potatoes, beef, konnyaku and onion, simmered with soy sauce and sugar. The nikujaga of Kure uses May Queen for its potatoes, and is cooked without carrots or peas. It is said that the origin dates back to when the cook of General Heihachiro Togo was ordered to make “beef stew”, and tried his best to cook something he had never seen before. As a result this sweetly simmered ...»
Ikuchishima, Onomichi city, Hiroshima prefecture is an island flourished for its saltpan during the Edo period, and those who worked at the saltpan were called “hamako”. “Hamako nabe” is a hotpot that was eaten by these “hamako” workers. It is a hotpot with octopus, seashells, seasonal fish and other seafood simmered in local miso together with locally harvested vegetables. Only miso and the water...»