Introduction
It is safe to say that most tourists heading to Hiroshima must visit the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Dome and the World Heritage Site Itsukushima Shrine as the G7 leaders did in 2023. However, how about taking a leisurely stroll through the quiet port towns and islands facing the calm Setonaikai Sea that still retain the atmosphere of the past? There you can trace the footsteps of great men and wemen who made the history of Japan and find the real countryside of Japan.
Detail
1st day
Takehara was once connected to Kyoto. (80minutes from Hiroshima by bus)
08:20 Start from Hiroshima Bus Center (Department store “Sogo” 3rd floor) near prefectural office stopping by Hiroshima JR staton, 9:38 Arrival at Takehara JR station enjoying mountainous scenery in the Chugoku region on the way. (almost one bus per hour)
That island occupied by rabbits (15minutes boat trip to Ohkuno island)
11:31-11:41 taking train from Takehara JR station to Chukai JR station. 12:00 ferry* from Chukai port terminal, about 300m away from station.
*)Almost every 1 hour but not 13:00. Don’t forget to buy rabbit food at the convenience store near the station first.
The cat road full of slopes is photogenic. Onomichi is a mecca for movies and anime. (40-60minutes depend on time zone from Chukai station to Onomichi)
14:56-15:10 ferry back to Chukai port. 15:18-15:55* JR train from Chukai to Onomichi station. Strictly recommend taking a bus (almost every 20minutes) to bus stop “Joudo temple below” avoiding round trip on foot at Onomichi. Let’s enjoy the cat’s slope along the contour line from Joudo temple.
*)You can schedule your visit in the evening to enjoy sun set over Setonaikai Sea on the hill top.
2nd Day
Cruising to Tomonoura, a historic town (about 1 hour from Onomichi by ship)
Please note that this cruise ship makes two round trips a day only on weekends and holidays. 10:00/13:00 Onomichi departure. You can walk around Tomonoura in about two hours. There is a bus that runs along the coast on the right and arrives at Fukuyama Station in 30 minutes every 30 minutes. The Shinkansen, High speed railway, stops at Fukuyama Station, where you can see Fukuyama Castle from the platform..
Detour 1
Still, I can’t help but stop by Itsukushima Shrine (about 30minutes from Hiroshima JR station to ferry station for Miyajima island)
There are many ways to get to Itsukushima Shrine. It is not necessary to introduce it in this blog, so I will omit it. Check high and low tide times in advance. In addition, the JR ferry will sail near the torii.
Detour 2
Kintai Bridge, an arch bridge completed by the feudal lord’s obsession (30minutes from Miyajimaguchi to Iwakuni JR station)
If you come to Itsukushima, you should make another detour. It takes about 30 minutes by JR from Miyajimaguchi to Iwakuni Station, and there are about four trains per hour. However, be careful when transferring from Iwakuni Station to a local bus. Multiple bus companies operate and multiple routes pass through Kintai Bridge, so I get lost at the bus stop in front of Iwakuni Station. Choose a bus with people who look like tourists on board. A lucky bus every 20 minutes takes about 15 minutes to Kintai Bridge.
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