Itineraries 2day

Wildlife Immersion Tour

Wildlife Immersion Tour

Hiroshima Prefecture boasts a wide array of locales where animals gather. This itinerary takes visitors to three different cities where they can interact with the local critters in their natural habitat. Mingle with deer on Miyajima, feed the rabbits on Okunoshima, and spot the resident cats all over Onomichi!

Day 1

01 Miyajima Pier (宮島桟橋)

Miyajima Pier is the first stop after getting off either the JR or Matsudai ferry from Miyajimaguchi on the mainland. Inside the building, there is ample infomation on Itsukushima Shrine as a World Heritage Site, and tourists can also use the restroom and stock up on food and drink before setting out into town. The plaza outside the building is an excellent setting for tourists to take their first commemorative photos on Miyajima.

Address
1162 Miyajima-cho Ebisu-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

02 Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社)

Itsukushima Shrine is a famous shrine located on the island of Miyajima within the city limits of Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. Itsukushima Shrine was initially built in the year 593, but it was not until the year 1168 that the military leader Taira no Kiyomori rebuilt the shrine into its present magnificent state. The gods enshrined at the shrine are known as the Munakata Sanjojin. (Three Goddesses of Munakata) They are believed to have power over maritime safety, fishing, traffic safety, and business prosperity. In 1996, Itsukushima Shrine was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site along with the Atomic Bomb Dome.


(Admission Fee)
Adult – ¥300
High School student – ¥200
Elementary/Junior High School
student – ¥100
(Admission & Treasure House
set)
Adult – ¥500
High School student – ¥300
Elementary/Junior High School
student – ¥150
※ If you are a student, please
present your passport or
school ID at reception when
purchasing your ticket.

Address
1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

03 Momijidani Park (紅葉谷公園)

Momijidani Park is a beautiful park located at the foot of Mt. Misen. More than 700 maple trees thrive in the park, making it a popular spot to enjoy the autumn colors. There is also an old-fashioned tea house within the park where you can rest during your walk or climb around the island. During certain times of the year, many photographers come to the park from all around to take beautiful pictures of the colored leaves and the wild animals that live on the island.

Address
345 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

04 Miyajima Public Aquarium (宮島水族館)

The Miyajima Aquarium is the only aquarium on Miyajima Island, and is a popular tourist spot for both domestic and international visitors. The aquarium is divided into 15 areas, where you can see the rare fish and aquatic creatures that live in the Seto Inland Sea, where Miyajima is located. A sea lion show is held every day in a special pool outside the facility. Watch the sea lions perform tricks, see their powerful jumps and experience a great view as you watch them swim up close.

Address
10-3 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

Transportation: Miyajima-guchi Pier [JR Ferry, ~10 minutes]

05 Anago-meshi Ueno Miyajimaguchi Flagship Store (あなごめしうえの宮島口本店)

Anago-meshi Ueno Miyajima-guchi Honten is a long-standing Japanese restaurant established in 1901. It specializes in anago (conger eel) dishes and serves Anago-Meshi, a specialty of Miyajima, along with oysters. This location offers anago-meshi using freshly grilled conger eel in a special recipe. The restaurant also sells takeout anago-meshi lunch boxes.

Address
1-5-11 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

Transportation: Tadanoumi Station [JR Sanyo & Kure Lines & Ferry, ~145 minutes]

06 Ōkunoshima (大久野島)

Okunojima is an uninhabited island located about 15 minutes by ferry from Omishima Island, one of the islands on the Shimanami Kaido, and from Tadanoumi Port, a short distance from JR Tadanoumi Station. Okunojima has long been famous as the “Rabbit Island,” with about 900 wild rabbits living on the island. Okunojima is also known as the island where the former Japanese Army secretly conducted poison gas experiments during World War II, and the island is dotted with facilities such as the Poison Gas Museum.

Address
Okunoshima, Tadanoumi-cho, Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

Lodging: Kyukamura Okunoshima

Day 2

01 Kyukamura Okunoshima (休暇村大久野島)

Kyukamura Okunoshima is a well-renowned island resort on Okunoshima that attracts tourists from all over Japan. Here, visitors can stay the night and see the native rabbit population during hours day trippers cannot. In addition, Kyukamura Okunoshima offers hot springs, luxurious dining options, a bicycle rental service, camp sites, a private beach and outdoor pool (open in the summer), as well as tennis courts for a complete vacation experience. Even those who do not overnight on Okunoshima can make use of the restaurant and bathing facilities in between rabbit-watching and circumnavigating the island.

Address
5476-4 Tadanoumi-cho, Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

Transportation: Onomichi Station [Ferry & JR Kure & Sanyo Lines, ~100 minutes]

02 Ichibankan (壱番館)

Ichibankan is a ramen restaurant located about a 10-minute walk from Onomichi Station. The ramen served in Onomichi is called “Onomichi Ramen,” and is characterized by a light chicken-based soup with a rich flavor and a lot of back oil. Ichibankan is one of the most popular Onomichi ramen restaurants, offering ramen with plenty of green onions and a clear, special broth.

Address
2-9-26 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

03 Cat Alley (猫の細道)

Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi) is a narrow alleyway that stretches about 200 meters from the Ushitora Shrine to the three-story pagoda of Tenneji Temple in Onomichi. It is a tourist attraction nicknamed “Neko no Hosomichi” (the narrow path of cats) as the number of Fukuseki Neko, the works of author Shunji Sonoyama, started to increase in this alley. As the number of these cats increased, the area was nicknamed “Neko no Hosomichi (Cat Alley).”


This is located in a residential area,
so we encourage that you visit
during the daytime.

Address
19-26, Higashitsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

04 Onomichi IHATOV・Maneki Neko Museum in Onomichi (尾道イーハトーヴ・招き猫美術館in尾道)

The Onomichi IHATOV is a museum of maneki-neko (beckoning cats) built in a vacant house in Onomichi. A beckoning cat is an ornament of a cat that originated in Japan and is posed to invite people in with its paws. They have been placed in stores and other places in Japan since ancient times to promote business prosperity and ward off evil. In the Onomichi IHATOV, visitors can experience Japan’s proud culture of maneki neko by viewing the thousands of maneki neko in the collection of Mr. Shunji Sonoyama, a painter of good fortune.

Address
19-26, Higashitasuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

05 Senkoji (千光寺)

Senkoji Temple is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Onomichi. The temple is located halfway up Mt. Taiho and is said to have been built about 1,200 years ago. The vermilion-lacquered main hall, also known as the “red hall,” is said to be unique in its beauty and has been preserved in many postcards and photographs since ancient times. The Senkoji ropeway, which departs from the foot of the mountain, is a convenient way to get to Senkoji. It takes about three minutes to reach the mountainside where Senkoji Temple is located.

Address
15-1 Higashitsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

Transportation: Hatchobori [JR Sanyo Line & Hiroden Streetcar #1, 2, or 6, ~110 minutes]

06 Owl de Base Owl Café (オウルドベース フクロウカフェ)

The Owl de Base Owl Cafe is located a 30-second walk from the Hiroshima PARCO shopping center. More than 30 different bird species, from owls to falcons and even hawks can be seen in the store. You can also interact with rare exotic animals such as hedgehogs, meerkats, chinchillas, grey parrots, and Richardson’s ground squirrels. You can even purchase original store memorabilia with decorative owls and small animal motifs as souvenirs.


Admission Fee – ¥1,500
(tax excluded)
※ On weekdays there is no
time limit (enter any time from
11:00 and stay for as long
as you want until closing)!
On weekends and public
holidays there is a 1 hour time
limit.

Address
Mishima Building 4F, 1-33 Fukuromachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

07 Hondori Shopping Street (本通商店街)

The bustling downtown area called Hondori is named after the pedestrian-only arcade shopping street that symbolizes the city. This shopping street is lined with clothing stores representing Japan and countries around the world. At night, the neon lights of izakaya (Japanese pubs) and pubs come on all at once. Ramen specialty stores and sushi restaurants with counter seating are open until midnight. Nearby, Okonomimura is a collection of restaurants specializing in Hiroshima’s special okonomiyaki.

Address
Hondori, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Detail

Grab dinner before spending the night downtown or proceeding to your next destination.

Miyajima Pier (宮島桟橋)

1162 Miyajima-cho Ebisu-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Itsukushima Shrine (厳島神社)

1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Momijidani Park (紅葉谷公園)

345 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Miyajima Public Aquarium (宮島水族館)

10-3 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Anago-meshi Ueno Miyajimaguchi Flagship Store (あなごめしうえの宮島口本店)

1-5-11 Miyajimaguchi, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Ōkunoshima (大久野島)

Okunoshima, Tadanoumi-cho, Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Kyukamura Okunoshima (休暇村大久野島)

5476-4 Tadanoumi-cho, Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Ichibankan (壱番館)

2-9-26 Tsuchido, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Cat Alley (猫の細道)

19-26, Higashitsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Onomichi IHATOV・Maneki Neko Museum in Onomichi (尾道イーハトーヴ・招き猫美術館in尾道)

19-26, Higashitasuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Senkoji (千光寺)

15-1 Higashitsuchido-cho, Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Owl de Base Owl Café (オウルドベース フクロウカフェ)

Mishima Building 4F, 1-33 Fukuromachi, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN

Hondori Shopping Street (本通商店街)

Hondori, Naka Ward, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture, JAPAN