Hiroshima Prefecture is full of magnificent spots, such as the shrine floating on the sea, Itsukushima Shrine, or the beautiful views that span across the Seto Inland Sea from Onomichi. You may wonder where to visit first if this is your first time, right? That's why we at FUN! JAPAN have compiled an article filled with info about the top three spots viewers would like to know about. Keep reading until the end to learn about the best way to travel while in Hiroshima Prefecture, as we introduce the convenient Setouchi Area Pass by Discover West Japan!
#3 Learn about Hiroshima's famous Okonomiyaki while making your own at OKOSTA near JR Hiroshima Station
Okonomiyaki is the soul food of Hiroshima. There are around 5.7 okonomiyaki restaurants for every 10,000 people in Hiroshima, making it the prefecture with the most okonomiyaki restaurants! (According to the 2016 Financial Census) Hiroshima's okonomiyaki is made of a thin crust, like a crepe, layered with plenty of vegetables, such as cabbage, then meat, cooked, then layered even more with soba noodles, an egg, and then finally covered in a sweet sauce. If you'd like to learn more about Hiroshima okonomiyaki, we recommend checking out OKOSTA, a restauranted created by the okonomi sauce maker Otafuku Sauce. The staff kinda guide visitors through how to make the perfect Hiroshima okonomiyaki step-by-step, so even beginners can make it without getting confused.
Highlights and Specialties
At OKOSTA, there is an okonomiyaki instructor at each table grill who will kindly teach you how to make the base, layer ingredients, and how to use the spatulas to flip over your okonomiyaki without it falling apart. These instructors also teach you the history and fun facts about okomiyaki, as well as local information that not many others may be privy to. Not to mention, this restaurant is just a 2-minute walk from Hiroshima Station!
How to Have More Fun
Instead of pork, this vegetarian-friendly okonomiyaki uses soy meat
You can choose one of five different toppings, including plenty of local specialty IKA-TEN, lots of cheese, heap of Hiroshima vegetables, super hot spicy noodles, or seasonal topping. You can also get a cute Otafuku Sauce logo apron, as well as a paper hat! For Muslim customers, the restaurant offers a meal plan with squid and prawns as alternative to pork (Muslim-friendly Okonomiyaki Experience 2,000 JPY (tax not included).) Vegetarian customers can choose the Okonomiyaki for Vegetarians (2,000 JPY (tax not included)) which substitutes soy meat for pork.
OKOSTA
- Experience times: 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., 1 p,m. - 2:30 p.m., 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., up to 40 people can participate during each time slot (reservation required)
- Experience fee: Standard Hiroshima Okonomiyaki Experience (1 topping included) 1,800 JPY (tax excluded), Hiroshima Specialty Combo - Enjoy the whole Hiroshima specialty! 3,000 JPY (tax excluded), etc.
- Access: A 2-minute walk from JR Hiroshima Station
#2 Enjoy the 360-degree panorama view that Onomichi's Senkoji Park
Senkoji Park sprawls from Mt. Senko's summit to central reaches and is situated around 144.2 metres to the north of Onomichi Station in Onomichi, a lovely town facing the Seto Inland Sea. There's plenty to see in the park, such as the Onomichi City Museum of Art, which was designed by architect Tadao Ando, and Onomichi Bungaku no Kan, a place built to display the artistic works of artists with ties to Onomichi. The park was also named one of the top 100 places in Japan to view cherry blossoms.
Highlights and Specialties
Visitors can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view looking over Onomichi Waterway, Mukojima, and Onomichi Ohashi from the park's observation deck 114-metres-high near Mt. Senko's summit. The observation deck can be accessed by a 3-minute ride on the ropeway that connects the base and summit of Mt. Senko.
How to Have More Fun
It's a beautiful sight not only during the day, but at night as well. The night view of Onomichi Waterway and the lights connecting from the waterway to Shinonomichio Bridge is breathtaking. The walkway leading to the the observation deck is lit up, making for a romantic stroll. This view was chosen as one of Japan's top 100 night view spots.
Mt. Senko Ropeway
- Access: A 10-minute bus ride from JR Shin-Onomichi Station toward Onomichi Station on the Onomichi bus, then a 1-minute walk after getting off at Nagaeguchi bus stop.
#1 Two of Japan's most famous World Heritage Sites - Hiroshima's Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine
Hiroshima is home to two of Japan's most famous World Heritage Sites: the first is Itsukushima Shrine (Miyajima), which stands in the middle of the ocean, and the second, the Atomic Bomb Dome (Hiroshima City), one of buildings left standing after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, which is located in Peace Memorial Park. Both the Atomic Bomb Dome and Itsukushima Shrine can be reached via the Hiroshima World Heritage Sightseeing Bus operated by Chugoku JR Bus, and tours by ferry or boat that include lunch.
Highlights and Specialties
The Miyajima Ropeway will take you to the approximately 535-metre-high summit of Mt. Misen. As you ride the ropeway, you can see the lush greenery and woods below, as well as the islands spread across the Seto Inland Sea. At Peace Memorial Park, you can ring the Peace Bell while wishing for world peace. The bell is inscribed with a borderless world map, in hopes of creating a peaceful world without borders.
How to Have More Fun
There are around 200 wild deer living throughout the city in Miyajima! A historical record from approximately 820 years ago suggests there were already many deer living in the area long ago. They're very cute and won't mind taking a picture with you. If you're lucky, you might even get to see tanuki as well!
Atomic Bomb Dome
- Access: A 15-minute bus ride from JR Hiroshima Station on the city loop bus, Hiroshima Meipuru-pu, then get off at Atomic Bomb Dome bus stop.
- The city loop bus, Hiroshima Meipuru-pu is included in the service area for the Setouchi Area Pass
Itsukushima Shrine
- Access: After exiting JR Miyajimaguchi Station, then ride the ferry from Miyajimaguchi Matsudai Kisen Ferry Terminal for about 10 minutes, then walk 12 minutes from Matsudai Kisen Miyajima Ferry Terminal
The best way to get around Hiroshima Prefecture - Discover West Japan's Setouchi Area Pass
There are plenty of wonderful places to visit in Hiroshima Prefecture, so many so that you might not be able to choose just one. If you're looking to travel with ease, the Setouchi Area Pass is your best bet! This pass offers unlimited travel via shinkansen, train, and buses (some excluded) over a 5-day period throughout Okayama Prefecture, Hiroshima Prefecture, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and other areas within Setouchi, so it's a must-have for first-time and seasoned travelers! We'll introduce the best way to use this pass in a separate article, so don't miss it!
For more information on the Setouchi Area Pass:
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/setouchi/
Links to related articles:
Okayama Prefecture:
- The Top 3 Major Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes for Your First Okayama Trip! (For Beginners)
- The Top 3 Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes as Recommended by Okayama Experts! (For Previous Visitors)
- Check Out FUN! JAPAN's Top 3 Places to Eat in Okayama Prefecture!
Hiroshima Prefecture:
- The Top 3 Major Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes for Your First Hiroshima Trip! (For Beginners)
- The Top 3 Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes as Recommended by Hiroshima Experts! (For Previous Visitors)
- Check Out FUN! JAPAN's Top 3 Places to Eat in Hiroshima Prefecture!
Yamaguchi Prefecture:
- The Top 3 Major Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes for Your First Yamaguchi Trip! (For Beginners)
- The Top 3 Tourist Spots to Read About in 5 Minutes as Recommended by Yamaguchi Experts! (For Previous Visitors)
Okayama and Hiroshima Prefecture:
sponsored by West Japan Railway Company
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