Island Tour

Hiroshima Station is the bustling transportation hub of our peaceful city, and one of the principal entertainment hubs as well. All JR lines in the city stop here, and from here, people can take numerous buses and streetcars anywhere in the city, or even out of town. The ekie shopping complex located inside the station building also has no shortage of restaurants and souvenir shops to keep visitors busy for hours.

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.

The Omotesando shopping street is the main street of Miyajima, with many souvenir stores, cafés, and restaurants. On weekends and holidays the street becomes crowded with tourists, as there are many nearby tourist attractions like Itsukushima Shrine or Senjokaku five-storied pagoda. There are many stores lined along the street where you can and walk around, eat and enjoy many specialties such as “agemomiji,” which are deep-fried momiji manju, and “anago chikuwa,” which is grilled conger eel fish paste on a (traditionally bamboo but now cardboard) tube.

Reikado is a temple located near the top of Mt. Misen. Within Rekaido, there is a fire burning named the “Unquenchable Fire” that has been burning for about 1,200 years and is still burning at this very moment. It is said that the sacred water from the large tea kettle boiled using the flames of the Unquenchable Fire is effective against all kinds of diseases, and has been visited by many tourists since ancient times. In recent times, it has also become known as a place for lovers to pledge their unending love like an unquenchable fire, and is popular as a date spot.

Kinsuikan is a fancy, traditional ryokan located minutes away from Miyajima’s famed Itsukushima Shrine and bustling Omotesando shopping arcade. As one would expect from any ryokan, Kinsuikan offers exquisite meals in lavish dining rooms as well as hot springs with healing properties, and even day trippers can bathe in the afternoon or evening.  The rooms also feature views of either the Seto Inland Sea or the town, and guests can even order room service so they can enjoy the high life in solitude.

Traversing the Shimanami Kaido by bicycle either from Onomichi to Imabari or Imabari to Onomichi is a bucket-list item for a great many Japanese people as well as for tourists from abroad. Although going all the way provides the most enriching experience, it is more than possible to rent a bicycle from select points on Honshu, Shikoku, or any of the six islands in between. Those who wish to show up empty-handed can do so, as these Rent-A-Cycle stations have plenty of bicycles and helmets to lend, and customers simply pay by the day. Given how popular the Shimanami Kaido is year-round, tourists are advised to made reservations in advance during high seasons of travel.

Bella Vista Spa & Marina Onomichi is a seaside resort located on the eastern extreme of Onomichi City, actually closer to Fukuyama than to Onomichi’s city center. A free shuttle bus at Onomichi Station whisks overnight guests away to a coastal paradise equipped with hot springs, massage parlors, delectable dining options, and much more! As it is a significant distance away from the hubbub of the usual tourist sites, this resort is fit for those who wish for a serene and classy vacation to Onomichi.

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.