1. Joy in HIROSHIMA
  2. About Hiroshima
  3. Setouchi Area

About Hiroshima

Setouchi Area

The beauty of the many islands of the Setouchi (pronounced “set-OH-oo-chee”) is another attraction in Hiroshima. The Shimanami Kaido and the Tobishima Kaido, roads which take you from island to island, are popular among cyclists. There are also historically important districts such as the former naval academy on Etajima and the Mitarai Street Preservation District on Osakishimojima Island, which also attract many tourists. The mild climate of the Seto Inland Sea also allows for the bountiful cultivation of citrus fruits. The city boasts the largest production of lemons in all of Japan.

Setouchi (Seto Inland Sea)

Flanked by the Chugoku region and the island of Shikoku, there are more than 700 islands in the Seto Inland Sea, and each island has its own unique industry that flourishes. Among them, the most famous is lemon farming. Lemons produced in the Setouchi region account for 30% of the domestic market share, making it the largest producer in Japan.

Cycling trips around the islands of the Setouchi are also popular. There’s the sixty-kilometer-long Shimanami Kaido, which connects Onomichi with Imabari (Ehime Prefecture), as well as the Aki-Nada-Tobishima Kaido, which connects Shimokamagari Island to Okamura Island with seven bridges. Along with the Kakishima Kaido, which connects Kure City and Etajima, all these routes are popular destinations for cyclists to tour the best spots on these islands.

Etajima Island, located in the Seto Inland Sea, is a famous cycling spot where you can rent bicycles to get to Kure and Hiroshima.