5 Fun and Easy DAY TRIPS from HIROSHIMA (How to Get There+Things to Do+Where to Stay)

If you decide to spend a night on Miyajima Island, then I am recommending Iwaso Hotel

It is one of the places that I keep coming back to. It is a luxurious Japanese-style hotel. The service is superb and the cuisine is outstanding.

The Iwaso Hotel occupies a traditional wooden building as well as some cottages dating back to 1900. It is situated no more than a 5-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine and from the Giant Floating Torii.

My recommendation is to experience a traditional kaiseki meal, which is served in your room!

If you are an oyster lover, then head straight to Yakigaki No Hayashi Restaurant. You will not miss it! First of all, there is always a small line of people waiting for a table, secondly, the smell of the grilled oysters will lead you right to this place.

They have the best selection of fresh oysters. You can choose from boiled, grilled, deep-fried, or raw oysters. All delicious!

A day trip to Sandankyo Gorge is a perfect choice for nature lovers and hikers. It is one of the day trips from Hiroshima that will let you completely escape the busy city life.

First, get to Hiroshima Bus Center and purchase a bus ticket bound for Sandankyo Gorge. Next, head to Platform # 7. Finally, board the bus and get off at the last stop.

The express buses will get you to Sandankyo in about 80 minutes; the local bus will take about 2 hours before you get to Sandankyo.

My recommendation is to take the 8:18 am express bus. It will get you to Sandanyo Gorge by about 9:30 am.

And, take the return express bus at 3 pm. It will get you back to the Hiroshima Bus center at about 4:20 pm.

Sandankyo Gorge runs through the mountains northwest of Hiroshima City. It is 13 km long.

The hike runs along the gorge and takes you through the most beautiful natural scenery around Hiroshima.

Personally, I loved this hike. The trail has plenty of ups and downs and the breathtaking scenery changes at every turn.

Now, what you need to know is that you can take it as a leisurely stroll and turn back when you had enough of trekking.

Or you can take a full hike, which takes about 5 hours one way and leads up to Hijiri Lake.

The gorge contains five famed scenery spots and it is one of the Top 5 Special Valleys of Scenic Beauty in Japan.

• Shimaidaki Waterfall (Sister Falls)

The first viewpoint that you will reach is Shimaidaki Waterfall (Sister Falls). It takes no more than 10 minutes to reach this point.

Shimaidaki Water is actually two waterfalls that flow parallel to each other.

• Tatsunokuchi (Dragon Mouth Torrent)

Next, after about 30 minutes, you will reach Tatsunokuchi (Dragon Mouth Torrent). Here, the water picks up some speed and creates a few rapids.

• Akadaki (Red Falls)

Continue on, and maybe after 10 minutes, and on your right, you will spot a smaller waterfall called Akadaki (Red Falls). It is a really beautiful waterfall with red soil showing through the cascading water.

• Meotobuchi

After about 1-hour hike from the entrance of the gorge, you will arrive at Meotobuchi.

Meotobuchi is a pool and it is famous for its blue water. It is one of the most scenic spots on the hike. Furthermore, it is also known as one of the most romantic places on this hike.

There is an elevated platform, which gives great views and it is a perfect spot to take some pictures.

• Ishidoi

Next, you will reach Ishidoi. Here the walls of the gorge narrow, creating a breathtaking point with the river pushing through among high rocks on either side.

• Kurobuchi (Black Abyss)

Kurobuchi is one of the most famous spots along this trail. It is a deep pool surrounded by 100–meter-tall rocks.

My recommendation is to take a boat ride to Kurobuchiso. It costs 300 yen, and it is totally worth it! The boats run from the end of April through the end of November.

When you reach Kurobuchiso, you should stop for lunch. There is a restaurant Kurofuchi-so where you can taste famous grilled yamame (landlocked salmon) and rice balls cooked in the super soft water of Sandankyo Gorge. The views of the ravine are absolutely splendid here!

Next, it all depends on how much time you have! You can continue on the trail up to the remaining key sights of Sarutobi, Nidandaki, and Sandandaki, or head back to the bus stop.

Take a stroll back in time at Takehara, also known as ‘Hiroshima’s Little Kyoto’, and then visit Okunoshima Island, also known as ‘Rabbit Island’. It is one of the most diverse day trips from Hiroshima.

First, get to Hiroshima Bus Center. Next, take the bus to Takehara. It is about an 1hour and 20 minutes ride. And, then walk to the town center, which is no more than a 15-minute walk.

If you prefer to take the train, then head to Hiroshima Station. Next, take either a bullet or a regular train to Mihara Station. Finally, transfer to the JR Kure Line for Hiro and get off at Takehara Station.

Once you are done visiting Takehara, it is time to head to Okunoshima.

First, take a train from Takehara Station to Tadanoumi Station. It is about a 15-minute train ride. Next, from Tadanoumi Station walk to Tadanoumi Port to catch the ferry. It is no more than a 5-minute walk to where the ferry is located. Finally, board the ferry and enjoy the views. You will reach Okunoshima in about 15 minutes.

Takehara achieved its modest fame and Edo-era prosperity from sea salt cultivation and sake making. At present,  the area is famed for its preserved historical townscape.

The streets of Takehara are lined with traditional wooden buildings going back to the Edo period (1603-1867).

While you are taking a stroll, take a closer look at the buildings and notice the paper-art-like panel lattice. It is called ‘Takehara Lattice’ and it is adorning many buildings.

You should know that Takehara’s old town is designated as an important preservation district of historic buildings.

Next, visit the Taketsuru Sake Brewery and Ozasaya Sake Museum to learn about how sake is brewed.

In addition, find out about Masataka Taketsuru who was born in Takehara and who is the founder of The Nikka Whisky, one of the renowned whisky brewers in Japan.

Once you are done visiting Takehara, head to Okunoshima Island.

Okunoshima Island is a small island, with a circumference of about 4 km.

At present, it is known as a home to a bunch of roaming rabbits.

However, Okunoshima was formerly a secret island producing poison gas for the Japanese military. Make sure to visit the Poison Gas Museum to learn about the effects of the deadly gas and to remember the victims of the attacks.

It is just fun and relaxing to see all these rabbits roaming around.

Make sure to buy some carrots and cabbage before heading to the island.

Poison Gas Museum was created in 1988 to remind us about the deadly gas that was manufactured on the island. It displays the materials from that time and explains the misery brought by the gas.

Finally, go for a hike around the island and stop once in a while to feed the rabbits and take some pictures of them

The views from the island are breathtaking!

The Kintaikyo Bridge has been Iwakuni’s most distinguished landmark and a subject of admiration for hundreds of years.

However, there is so much more to explore in Iwakuni. Visiting Iwakuni is another of my favorite day trips from Hiroshima.

Take JR Sanyo Line from Hiroshima Station to Iwakuni Station. It takes about 1 hour to reach Iwakuni from Hiroshima.

Next, take a bus from Iwakuni Station to Kintaikyo Bridge. The bus stop is right outside the station. The trip on the bus takes about 20 minutes.

Once you arrive at Iwakuni Station, make sure to purchase a combination entrance ticket which will include:

• entrance to cross the bridge
• ropeway to and from Iwakuni Castle
• Iwakuni Castle castle admission ticket

Kintaikyo bridge is a magnificent pedestrian wooden bridge. It is made of five massive arches standing atop four stone piers.

Kintaikyo was built in 1673 using only wood (no metal pins or nails were used in the construction). Five different types of wood were used in the construction of the bridge – Japanese zelkova, pine, chestnut, oak, and cypress.

Interestingly enough, only samurai were allowed to cross the bridge.

Kintaikyo Bridge kept standing until 1950 when it was destroyed by a typhoon. The reconstruction of the bridge was completed in 1953.

In the early 2000s, Kintaikyo underwent extensive renovations, which cost over two billion yen.

The admission cost to the bridge (round trip over the bridge) is 300 yen. However, if you are continuing to explore the area, then make sure to purchase a combo ticket that includes the bridge, castle, and ropeway.

If you are planning your day trips from Hiroshima during springtime, then Kikko Park is a place to be!

Kikko Park is one of the top best cherry blossom viewing spots in Japan!

The entrance to the park is overseen by a statue of Hiroyoshi Kikkawa, the feudal lord who directed the construction of the Kintaikyo.

Inside the park, there are several samurai family-owned houses, however, they are used as private residences and it is not possible to tour them.

As you are strolling through the park, there are places where cormorant birds are housed. If possible, be there around noon when it’s feeding time.

If you happen to be visiting in the summertime, check out the ancient Japanese art of cormorant fishing.

The fishermen dressed in traditional costumes use trained cormorant birds to catch fish. The birds have a ring around their necks that keeps them from swallowing the fish.

It is quite a spectacular event. It takes place in the evening and into the night. The fishermen use torches to lure the fish. You can watch from ashore, or you can join the boat.

The cormorant fishing boats start leaving at around 6:30 pm from a spot next to Kintaikyo Bridge and the fishing starts at around 8 pm.

In addition, there are two museums worth checking out:

• the Choko-ka – is a library with historical documents and scroll paintings
• the Kikkawa Museum – is dedicated to the family of warlords, and includes some of their weapons

Next, take the cable car up Shiroyama mountain to the Iwakuni Castle. The views along the way to the top are pretty spectacular!

The top of Shiroyama mountain is a nature preserve. If you have time, then go for a short hike as well.

Iwakuni Castle was built in 1608. The site of the castle was chosen for its natural defensive advantages. It is perfectly positioned on top of Mount Shiroyama and half surrounded by a natural moat, the Nishiki River.

Interestingly enough, the castle lasted only about 7 years when it was torn down by the decree of Tokugawa Ieyasu.

The present castle was reconstructed in 1962.

Inside the castle, you will find a great display of samurai swords, armor, and other items related to the castle’s history.

In addition, there is a very informative display on Kintaikyo Bridge, as well as other famous bridges across Japan.

Iwakuni Castle / Day Trips from Hiroshima

Iwakuni Castle / Day Trips from Hiroshima

The White Snake Museum has a collection of white snakes, which are native to the Iwakuni area.

Interestingly enough, white snakes can grow to around 1.8 meters in length. They are quite beautiful with red eyes and white or ivory-yellow scales.

White snakes have been designated as national treasures.

By the way, the Japanese revere these animals and believe that they are messengers of Beten, the Japanese goddess of wealth. Also, they are considered a sign of good luck

Admission to the museum is free and for opening hours click here.

If you decide to stay the night in Iwakuni, I would recommend that you check out Iwakuni Kokusai Kanko Hotel.

First of all, the hotel is located right by all the main attractions in Iwakuni. Actually, you will be able to see the stunning Kintaikyo Bridge right from your room!

Iroro Sanzoku ‘Chicken Shack’ is one of the most popular places to grab a bite while you are visiting Iwakuni.

It is a large sprawling restaurant on the side of a mountain. There is inside dining, as well as open-air dining. If you are visiting during the summer months, then grab a seat under the trees.

They serve grilled chicken on a stick. I recommend that you add a miso soup, rice, or some other accompaniments to complete your meal. My favorite is their Sanzoku Yaki and most definitely their gyoza!

For location, hours, and how to order click here.