|
Symbol of world peace,
Hiroshima - Miyajima Island symbolized by the grand torii gate in the
sea
Hiroshima is situated at the center of the Chugoku region in
western Honshu (the main island of Japan) Island. It contains
In'noshima Island and 150 other islands in the Seto Inland Sea.
Hiroshima City was leveled by an atomic bomb in WWII. Today Hiroshima
is internationally known as a city of peace that continues to convey
its experiences to the entire world. The Chugoku Mountains extend from
east to west to the north of Hiroshima. The Akana-toge Pass and
Misaka-toge Pass are access routes to areas in the Sea of Japan side.
The plains are narrow, and the coastlines are mostly saw-toothed
coasts with mountains drawing close to the shore.
An important cultural property, Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine, is located
on Miyajima Island, one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan,
and is a special historic site. Its symbol is the great torii gate
(shrine gate) that stands in the sea. There are other important
cultural properties here such as Mitaki-dera Temple, the Fudo-in
Temple built in the mid-14th century, and many other noted temples.
Hiroshima is surrounded by the sea and mountains, and has abundant
natural beauty. Here, too, are Setonaikai National Park,
Hibadogo-Taishaku Quasi-National Park, and West Chugoku Mountains
Quasi-National Park. In Hiroshima City, known to the world as the
first city attacked by an atomic bomb, there is the Hiroshima Atomic
Bomb Dome to symbolize the importance of world peace and which was
designated as a World Cultural Heritage with the adjacent Peace
Memorial Park.
Getting there
An hour and 25 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for 4 hours and
50 minutes from Tokyo Station to Hiroshima Station. It takes 2 hours
and 10 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station.
-
Hiroshima City
City of
water where six rivers flow - City of peace restored from
devastation by the atomic bomb
Hiroshima City facing the Hiroshima Bay in the Seto Inland Sea
is one of the most prominent cities in the Chugoku region (the
southwest end of Japan's main island), and a center of the
administration and economy of Hiroshima. Six rivers flow through the
city, so it is also called the "city of water." It was devastated by
an atomic bomb in World War II. All structures vanished, but one
miraculously remained standing. It is called the Hiroshima Atomic
Bomb Dome, and Hiroshima is internationally known as the city of
peace.
Hiroshima developed as a castle town after a feudal lord, Mori
Terumoto, built Hiroshima Castle in the 16th century. Hiroshima
Castle is also called Ri-jo, or Carp Castle, because the exterior
painted in black resembles a black carp. There are a number of
must-see places, such as the Shukukei-en Garden, or a miniature
scenery garden, so named because there is a miniature version of
Lake Xiyu (West Lake) in Hangzhou in China and many other miniatures
of scenic sights, and the old Mitaki-dera Temple built in 809. The
red Taho-to Tower in the Mitaki-dera Temple was transferred from a
shrine in Wakayama as a memorial tower for the victims of the atomic
bomb attack.
Hiroshima also offers gastronomical pleasure, including oysters the
culture of which has been going on since 1673 and okonomi-yaki
Hiroshima style, unique flour crepes fried with vegetables and
noodles that are different at each restaurant.
Getting there
An hour and 25 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for 4 hours
and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station, or 2 hours and 10 minutes from
Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station.
-
Heiwa Kinen Koen
(Peace Memorial Park)
World Cultural Heritage to tell the horror of atomic bombs and wish
for permanent peace
The Genbaku-dome (The Atomic Bomb Dome) is the symbol of
Hiroshima, the city that advocates peace in the world. It is located
in Hiroshima and faces Hiroshima Bay in the Seto Inland Sea. It was
originally the Hiroshima Industrial Promotion Hall built in 1915.
While all structures vanished in the atomic bomb explosion, only
this building miraculously remained standing. It was August 6, 1945
when the first atomic bomb in history was dropped on Hiroshima.
People from all over the world visit this Dome to resolve never to
repeat this tragedy and wish for peace.
Bare, scorched steel sticks out from the roof and collapsed walls.
The miserable half-demolished figure expresses the dire disaster at
that time. It was registered as a World Cultural Heritage to
continue to express the sins of wars and preciousness of peace to
the future.
The Heiwa Kinen Koen (Peace Memorial Park) is located in the ground
sandwiched between the Ota-gawa River and Motoyasu-gawa River near
the Atomic Bomb Dome. Here are the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum,
several monuments of peace, a tower erected for the repose of the
souls of the victims of the atomic bomb attack, a memorial tower,
and a fountain with an eternal flame of peace. Doves, the symbol of
peace, fly around in flocks.
Getting there
An hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Take a bus for 48 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to
Hiroshima Station. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for
5 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station, or for 1 hour and 15
minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station. Take a
streetcar for 12 minutes from Hiroshima Station to Genbaku-Dome-Mae
stop.
-
Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine
A shrine that stands in the sea, a World Cultural Heritage
The Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine in Miyajima Town in southwestern
Hiroshima is a unique shrine that stands in the sea. It boasts
solemn and gorgeous architectural beauty in the palace style popular
around the 10th century. Its symbol, The O-torii (big shrine gate)
in the sea and the main shrine with red pillars and white walls
create a wonderful contrast with the green woods and the blue sea.
It was designated as a World Cultural Heritage in 1996.
Most of the main shrine, a national treasure, was built in the 12th
century. Twenty-one buildings are laid out around the main
sanctuary, and a Noh stage and other special structures are placed
among them. All buildings are connected with corridors painted in
red that extend to encircle the main sanctuary. The total length of
the corridors is 300 meters. The layout was cleverly designed to
make the shrine look like a bird stretching its wings when viewed
from Hiroshima. The O-torii Gate is usually half submerged in the
sea, but you can walk to it at low tide. In the neighboring areas,
there are the Senjokaku Hall that had been left incomplete and
abandoned, and a red, 27-meter tall, five-story pagoda built in a
blend of Chinese and Japanese styles. They are also designated as
important cultural properties.
Getting there
An hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Then take a bus for 48 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to
Hiroshima Station. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for
3 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station, or for 1 hour and 15
minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station. Then take the
JR Sanyo Main Line for 26 minutes from Hiroshima Station to
Miyajima-guchi Station. Take a ferry for 10 minutes from
Miyajima-guchi to Miyajima.
-
Miyajima
Miyajima, a harmony of the mountains, sea and red shrine buildings -
Beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea viewed from Mt. Misen
Miyajima Island is the popular name of Itsuku-shima Island
situated in Miyajima Town in southwestern Hiroshima. It is a scenic
site in which the mountains, sea, and red shrine buildings blend in
harmony, and the entire island is designated as a historic site. It
is one of the three most beautiful sights in Japan, along with
Matsushima in Miyagi and Ama-no-hashidate in Kyoto. The origin of
Miyajima is said to date back to 593 when Empress Suiko took the
throne when the Itsuku-shima-jinja Shrine was built to commemorate
it. But the island of Miyajima itself has had a history of being an
object of worship, especially with Mt. Misen that rises at the
center of the island. Men of power had always worshiped and
protected Miyajima.
The Momiji-dani Park, or maple leaf park, where the Momiji-dani-gawa
River flows, has many maple trees as the name implies, and is a
famous spot for viewing colored leaves in autumn. You can climb Mt.
Misen from here by ropeway or by a climbing path. You can enjoy the
beautiful scene of the numerous islands of the Seto Inland Sea from
the mountaintop. There are many bathing beaches with camping grounds
around the island, and sea bathers throng here in summer.
Another must-see is the Miyajima Aquarium, one of the largest
aquariums in western Japan, where 13,000 fishes and aquatic animals
of 350 kinds are exhibited.
Getting there
An hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Take a bus for 48 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to
Hiroshima Station. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for
3 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station or for 1 hour and 15
minutes from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station. Then take the
JR Sanyo Main Line for 26 minutes from Hiroshima Station to
Miyajima-guchi Station. Take a ferry for 10 minutes from
Miyajima-guchi to Miyajima.
-
Onomichi
Center for marine traffic in the Sea of Japan since olden times -
The Tahoto Tower, one of the three famous towers in Japan
Onomichi, situated in southeastern Hiroshima, faces the Onomichi
Channel in the Seto Inland Sea and stretches from east to west. It
is a scenic port town that has thrived as a center for marine
traffic in the Seto Inland Sea.
There are many old temples. The Senko-ji Temple located halfway up
Mt. Senkoji-san is noted for its bright red main sanctuary commonly
called the "red hall" that is cleverly laid out on the slope of the
mountain. The Jodo-ji Temple famous for the Tahoto Tower, one of the
three famous towers in Japan, offers an elegant view of the straight
line formed by the main sanctuary and other structures built in an
ancient Chinese style. Another must-see is the Saikoku-ji Temple,
where a huge Japanese sandal over 2 meters long is suspended on the
Niomon Gate.
As you climb Mt. Senkoji-san by ropeway, you can get a bird's-eye
view of the whole of Onomichi, the brightly shining Onomichi
Channel, the beautiful green Mukai-shima Island, houses crowded on
the hills, and the Seto Inland Sea. The mountaintop is a park with
must-sees such as Onomichi Castle and the Onomichi City Art Museum.
It is a popular spot among the citizens to enjoy the night view.
When you cross the bridge to Mukai-shima Island, you can get a view
of Onomichi from the seaside.
Getting there
An hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Take a bus for 40 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to
Hiroshima Station. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for
3 hours and 30 minutes from Tokyo Station or for 2 hours from
Shin-Osaka Station to Shin-Onomichi Station.
-
Sandan-kyo Valley
Meandering pool and deep green pool - Cruise through deep virgin
forest
The Sandan-kyo Valley is a 16-kilometer long ravine along the
Shiwaki-gawa River, a tributary of the Ota-gawa River in
northwestern Hiroshima. It is surrounded by deep virgin forests, and
is one of the five famous ravines in Japan. You can enjoy
magnificent views such as the Kurofuchi Pool that meanders over 100
meters and the Sarutobi, a narrow passage sandwiched with precipices
covered with moss. At the Sandan-no-taki Falls, or the three-step
falls, water falls over the head of 30 meters in the 120-meter long
passage in three stages with a thunderous roar. It is the best
scenic spot in the Sandan-kyo Valley. A riverboat runs through this
ravine. It is utterly thrilling to pass through the Nidan-no-taki
Falls and the Sarutobi where the precipices on both sides are only 2
meters apart.
There is a well-maintained 12-kilometer long promenade with few ups
and downs. The local bus that runs between the station and the
Deai-bashi Bridge near Saruiwa is convenient. There are other
attractions, such as the Sandankyo-onsen Hot Spring in front of the
station and Mt. Osorakan-zan where a splendid virgin forest of beech
trees covers the entire mountaintop.
Getting there
An hour and 30 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Hiroshima
Airport. Then take a bus for 48 minutes from Hiroshima Airport to
Hiroshima Station. Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for
3 hours and 50 minutes from Tokyo Station, or 1 hour and 15 minutes
from Shin-Osaka Station to Hiroshima Station. Then take the JR Kabe
Line for 2 hours from Hiroshima Station to Sandan-kyo Station.
-
Shimanami-Kaido
The bridge linking Shikoku and islands in the Inland Sea with Honshu
- Enjoying the luxurious multi-isle beauty of the Inland Sea
The Seto Western Expressway, also known as the Seto-uchi
Shimanami-Kaido (highway above the sea), was opened to traffic on
May 1, 1999. Located between Onomichi City in Hiroshima and Imabari
City in Ehime, it links Mukai-shima, In'no-shima, Ikuchi-jima, Omi-shima,
Hakata-jima, and O-shima, six islands in all, within the Geiyo
Islands situated nearly in the center of the Inland Sea of Japan.
The completion of the Shimanami-Kaido has made Ehime more easily
accessible from Honshu (the main island of Japan) and driving
through the Geiyo Islands is possible. The highway also allows
passage by cycling and on foot.
With unique island-to-island bridges, like the Tatara Grand Bridge,
the longest askew-arched bridge in the world, and the Kuru-shima
Strait Triple Suspension-Type Grand Bridge, the Shimanami-Kaido
provides brand-new scenery in harmony with the insular nature. The
capital viewing points overlooking the bridges over the Inland Sea
and dotted islands, are the Hanaguri Seto observation spot on Omi-shima
Island and Mt. Hoko-san on Hakata-jima Island. Thanks to the mild
climate, there are many flower-viewing spots, like Yoshimi-cho Rose
Garden where you can see various kinds of roses collected from all
parts of the world, Citrus Park Setoda that boasts citrus plants as
a main attraction, and In'no-shima Flower Center. Also on the
Shimanami-Kaido, are the Yoshiumi Produce Center Iwaki House and the
Marine Oasis Hakata and local specialty centers, where you can enjoy
shopping.
Getting there
An hour and 25 minutes to Hiroshima Airport from Tokyo Haneda
Airport. Fourteen minutes from Hiroshima Airport to Shiraichi
Station by bus. Forty-two minutes from Shiraichi Station to Onomichi
Station by the JR Sanyo Main Line. Four hours and 30 minutes to
Shin-Onomichi Station, with a change at Okayama Station, from Tokyo
Station by the JR Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line; 1 hour and 57
minutes from Shin-Osaka Station by the JR Sanyo Shinkansen Line. An
hour and 30 minutes to Imabari Station via Shimanami Kaido from
Onomichi or Shin-Onomichi Station by JR bus.
-
Taishaku-kyo Valley
Great valley carved
into a karst tableland, with one of the three largest natural
bridges
The Taishaku-kyo Valley is a 15-kilometer long canyon carved
into a karst tableland in the Kibi Heights by the Taishaku-gawa
River in eastern Hiroshima. It has magnificent scenery with a wide
variety of features, including precipitous cliffs, cave mouths,
mountain streams, depths, torrents, and waterfalls.
There is the Taishakuten Eimei-ji Temple, an old temple that
enshrines the chief deity in Buddhism, Taishakuten, from which the
name of the canyon derives. Along a promenade that starts from this
temple, there are a series of scenic spots, such as the
Yosekura-Iwakage Ruin, where many articles from 5,000 BC were
excavated and a 200-meter long limestone cave, Hakuundo Cave.
The highlight of the Taishaku-kyo Valley is a 90-meter long,
19-meter wide and 40-meter high natural limestone bridge, Onbashi
Bridge. This is one of the three largest natural bridges in the
world; the other two are the Purehishu in Switzerland and the Rock
Bridge in the US. It is also designated as a natural monument. A
sightseeing horse-drawn carriage service is offered from the
Taishaku Provincial Museum to Onbashi from spring to autumn, so you
can leisurely enjoy the natural scenery from the carriage.
Getting there
An hour 20 minutes from Tokyo Haneda Airport to Okayama Airport.
Take the JR Tokaido and Sanyo Shinkansen Line for 3 hours and 15
minutes from Tokyo Station or for 40 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station
to Okayama Station. Then take a Limited Express on the JR Hakubi and
Geibi Lines for 1 hour and 40 minutes from Okayama Station via Niimi
Station to Tojo Station. Take a bus for 12 minutes from Tojo Station
to Taishaku.
|
Hiroshima
Information
provided by Japan National Tourist Organization.
