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Enjoy the Inland
Sea of Japan: Setonaikai |
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| Recommended spots
> Hiroshima Area |
Shinkansen station and local lines are adjacent to each other.
Tourist Information centers are located inside the Shinkansen
gate and next to the central exit.
Hiroshima and Miyajima are so famous among foreign tourists
that it is hardly necessary to introduce them on this page.
However, we would like to introduce a few special twists!
Places to go:
1. Rivers of Hiroshima
2. Miyajima
3. Cruises round the
Seto Inland Sea |
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 Hiroshima,
like Venice, is a city that is built around water; some parts
are even below sea level. The Ota River splits into six arms
to form a large delta, where the city is situated. Off course,
most tourists stop here to visit the Peace Park, the Atom-Dome
and the Peace Memorial Museum. During the reconstruction process
after the atomic bombing, plans were made to create a city with
much more space and greenery than other Japanese cities. Luckily,
most of these plans came to fruition, and you can now enjoy
walks along green riversides in the middle of the city.
Here are some ways to enjoy the rivers:
Open cafes were
started in autumn 2005 along the river close to the station.
From the Main (South) Exit of Hiroshima station, take the underground
passage to 
Ekimae-Ohashi Bridge, over the river, past the 21 Century Hotel,
until you hit the streetcar line. Follow the rails to the right,
cross the next river and you will find the place. |
 Gangi
Taxi:
Gangi are steps that lead into the water - this used to be the
common connection between land and water along rivers and sea
coasts. In Hiroshima, over 100 Gangi were found to be usable.
Gangi Taxi will take you around the rivers and to a choice of
50 landing places for 500 Yen per 10 minutes. A Gangi Taxi is
a small, open boat, so it might not run during bad weather!
Reservations are needed.
Link:
http://www.gangitaxi.etowns.net/gangi_guide.shtml
Boats to Miyajima:
The two boats Kirara and Rururu run between the Pier in front
of the Resthouse in Peace Park and Miyajima in a 45 minute trip.
While the price is a bit steep (1900 Yen one way, 3000 return),
it is a nice way to enjoy a rest and the change of landscape
from the urban rivers to the islands of the Seto Inland Sea
while moving from one site to the other. Boats run five times
a day. River cruises also run from the same pier. Please make
a reservation and check departure times, as they vary according
to tide conditions.
Link: http://www.aqua-net-h.co.jp/
Tel. 082-240-5955 |
Accommodation:
There are many business hotels and also a Japanese Inn Group
inn in Hiroshima. Look on Gethiroshima homepage for helpful
hints.
If you want to stay by the sea, the Prince Hotel close to Ujina
port sometimes has good offers and can be reached by bus from
the station. From there, you can take a boat directly to Miyajima
(1460 Yen).
Links:
Gethiroshima.com:
http://www.gethiroshima.com/en/
All the information you need to enjoy life or just one evening
in Hiroshima. |
 This
is probably the most famous island of Japan, as its red Torii
(shrine gate) adorns many guidebooks. English homepages of
city, tourism association and Inn association give you all
the information you need ? even when the tide is in, so you
can see the red gate really in the water!
If you are looking for some peace and quiet during an exhausting
trip, we suggest you spend a night on the island. If your
budget is limited, the three places recommended below are
the best choice. At the upper end of the scale, you can spend
as much as 30.000 Yen per person!
There is one more reason to stay over night: to have time
to climb Mt. Misen. Legend has it that this mountain was designated
a religious site 1200 years ago (2006 will be the 1200-year
ceremony). Several paths lead up Mt. Misen, but the one furthest
away from the Itsukushima Shrine, the Omoto-course, is the
most scenic and natural. Allow two hours to get to the top,
from were you have a breathtaking view of the Seto Inland
Sea. Although the mountain is only 530 meters high, donft
forget that you start from zero ? most of the paths are rather
steep. If you are too tired to walk down, you can take the
ropeway. The ropeway station is about 20 minutes from the
mountain top. A simple map with the hiking paths is available
at the tourist information at the port. Most of the signs
are in English, but the many small temples and sites around
the top of the mountain can be a bit confusing. |
 If
you long for the sea, Tsutsugaura Park 
on the gbacksideh (=east) of the island offers a beach and
campsites. It can be reached by rental bike or bus from the
port. If you continue cycling along the coast, you will also
find some smaller beaches.
Last but not least, if you happen to be in Japan in July,
you should not miss the Kangensai Festival  ,
where beautifully decorated fishing boats gather in Miyajima
and carry the shrine deity around to some smaller shrines
on the island. In the final part of the ceremony, which takes
place shortly before midnight, the deity is brought back to
the main shrine. |
Accommodation:
You will find all choices on the HP of Miyajima Hotel Union:
http://www4.ocn.ne.jp/~miyayado/english.html
Some recommendations:
Guesthouse Kikukawa is a small inn with an interesting blend
of Japanese and Western style.
Miyajima Mori no Yado is a public accommodation facility
in a quiet location on the far side of the shrine.
Ryoso Kawaguchi is beautifully renovated; and is a member
of the Japanese Inn Group.
Links:
At the moment, there are several English HP existing for
Miyajima:
http://www.netmarketweb.com/miyajima/e/index.html
http://www.miyajima.or.jp/miyakan2/index.html
http://www.hiroshima-cdas.or.jp/miyajima/index.html |
A variety of half-day cruise sets are available from Hiroshima,
but all the information is in Japanese. The best offer is
the Setouchi osanpo cruise (Walk around the Seto Inland Sea
Cruise) that is offered on weekends from September to November.
A very simple way to cruise the Seto Inland Sea is the regular
ferry (10 boats per day) from Hiroshima to Matsuyama on Shikoku.
On the comfortable 3 hour ride, you can enjoy the landscape
of islands and sea at its best, sitting outside and enjoying
the breeze. If you donft have much time, the high-speed boat
(running every hour) will take you there in 75min., for more
than double the price.
Links:
Setonaikai Kisen, the company that runs cruises, ferries and
high-speed boats around Hiroshima:
http://www.setonaikaikisen.co.jp/
(Jap.)
Schedule for Ferry Hiroshima-Matsuyama
http://www.setonaikaikisen.co.jp/jikoku/cruisef.htm
(Jap.)
Schedule for High-speed boat Hiroshima-Matsuyama
http://www.setonaikaikisen.co.jp/jikoku/superjet.htm
(Jap.) |
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