Three For Three

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.

Taiyakiya Yoshio is a beloved taiyaki shop in Akiota Town in Hiroshima Prefecture’s northwesterly Yamagata District. Boasting a history that dates back to 1970, this humble confectionary store attracts people from well outside Akiota, and on days off from work, lines can form and snake. Besides taiyaki, they also sell takoyaki, ice cream, jams, and homemade lemon soda.

Kagura Monzen Touji Mura is a popular Kagura themed tourist spot located in Midori-cho, Akitakata City. The town of Mitosato has been home to the traditional art of Kagura since ancient times, and there are still 13 Kagura troupes active there today. In the vast grounds of Kagura Monzen Touji Mura, there are natural hot springs, lodging facilities, and a hall dedicated to the performance of Kagura, all lined up in a row. This creates an amazing atmosphere that will make you feel like you’ve gone to back in time to a traditional Japanese period. In addition to viewing kagura, visitors can also enjoy activities such as experiencing kagura.

The Okuda Genso Sayume Art Museum is located in the center of Miyoshi City. Opened in 2005, the museum is named after the couple, Japanese-style painter Okuda Genso and Japanese doll artist Okuda Sayume, who both received awards for their contributions to culture. The museum has a permanent display of Japanese paintings by Okuda Genso and dolls by Sayume. It also frequently holds special exhibitions such as the Sylvanian Families Exhibition. The museum also has a tea ceremony room, where visitors can enjoy a tea ceremony experience on weekends and holidays for an additional fee.

The Miyoshi Mononoke Museum is located about 10 minutes by bus from JR Miyoshi Station. It is the first public museum in Japan to focus on the theme of yokai, and contains about 5,000 valuable materials and artworks collected by yokai researcher Goichi Yumoto. The theme of the museum, “Yokai,” is a general term for ghosts, demons, and fairies that are believed to have existed in Japan since ancient times, and were thought to cause mischief and bring good luck.

Admission Fee
Per person
Adult – ¥600
High School/University student – ¥400
Elementary/Junior High School student – ¥200
Preschooler – Free
※If you wish to use your student discount, please present your passport or school ID at reception before entering.

Kimita Onsen Mori no Izumi is a hot spring facility located in Kimita Town, deep in the mountains of Miyoshi City. You can take a bath in the natural hot spring, which has been loved by the local people since ancient times, or stay in the cottage attached to the hot spring. Inside the facility, there is a market selling local products of Kimita Town where you can buy souvenirs. There is also a shuttle bus that runs between the facility and JR Miyoshi Station, making it easy to get there even without a rental car.

(Admission Fee)
Junior High School student and above – ¥700
Elementary School student and below – ¥350
3 years or less – Free
※ Face towel, bath towel – Sold separately
※ If you are a student, please
present your passport or
school ID at reception before
entering the bath.
※ If you have a tattoo, please
cover it with skin-colored tape
before entering the bath.

The Mihara Castle Ruins are the ruins of the great Mihara Castle that once existed in Mihara City, Hiroshima Prefecture. Although only a part of the castle still exists, such as the castle tower (the stone foundation of the castle tower), the moat surrounding the castle, and the Funairi Tower, it is known as a popular tourist spot visited by most of the tourists who come to Mihara City for sightseeing due to its convenience of being just a short walk from JR Mihara Station. This is one of the few places in Japan where you can see part of the castle ruins from the platform of JR Mihara Station, or even from the JR train.

Tadanoumi Station is a humble station right by Tadanoumi Port, which is most tourists’ first stop on their journey to Okunoshima, the infamous “Rabbit Island” off the coast of Takehara. As such, the station sign also features a rabbit mascot to remind tourists to disembark here if they wish to see the bunnies. Its location also makes it easy to squeeze a quick visit to either Takehara Preserved Historic District or Mihara Castle in the same day as well.

From the moment passengers step off the train, tourism is instantly possible as the Mihara Castle Ruins are visible from the platform. Mihara Station forms part of the center of Mihara City, and as such, numerous stores and restaurants of interest are concentrated around here. Drop by one of the okonomiyaki joints in the middle of sightseeing for an exclusive Miharayaki, renowned for adding fresh chicken offal as a topping.