The Shopping Underground: Depachika in Hiroshima
Jan 28, 2019 By Matt Mangham
One of the best reasons to visit a department store here is to ride the elevator down to the basement, where a food lover’s wonderland lies waiting. ‘Depachika’ combines the first two syllables of "department store" with the Japanese word for "basement." Though they’ve evolved over the decades, depachika have...[ Click to read more ]
Books and Coffee in Hiroshima
Dec 28, 2018 By Matt Mangham
We’ve already talked about where to track down Hiroshima’s best hot coffee in the depths of January, but once you’re in the cafe, you’ll need something to read, surely. You can swipe through Instagramm, sure, but for now we’re shooting for urbane sophistication, and that calls for print. Unfortunately, Hiroshima...[ Click to read more ]
Food of Hiroshima
Dec 03, 2018 By Bert Wishart
Most cities in Japan can boast exquisite and marvelous food, and many of them are rightly vaunted for it. Hiroshima, for all its international fame, is not one of them, and this is somewhat unfair in our opinion. Hiroshima cuisine is diverse and exciting and, most importantly, it is delicious....[ Click to read more ]
Onsen In and Around Hiroshima
Nov 27, 2018 By Matt Mangham
Hot springs (or onsen) are a great idea any time of year, but there’s something about being outside and up to your chin in hot water that just really appeals in the depths of winter. Fortunately, you don’t need to book a room at one of the famous Kyushu hot...[ Click to read more ]
Buying a Christmas Tree in Hiroshima 2019
Nov 19, 2018 By Admin
If you are in the market for a Christmas Tree to liven up your holiday season you with trim and presents, you are in luck. Stocks are very limited so, don't delay! The trees are a bit shorter than you might get used to but they have very nice shapes and I am...[ Click to read more ]
Hiroshima’s Ebisuko Festival 2018
Oct 29, 2018 By Matt Mangham
Across Japan, Ebisu is one of Shinto’s most popular deities. Deaf and lame, and always laughing (hence the Japanese term ‘ebisugao’ for a smiling face) Ebisu is the god of fishermen and good fortune. The old tenth lunar month was called ‘kannazuki,’ or the month without gods because the entire...[ Click to read more ]
Firewalking at Miyajima 2018
By Matt Mangham
Japan has a slew of fire rituals, the most famous of which being Kyoto’s famous Daimonji Festival. These festivals, leveraging ancient notions of purification and renewal, continue to draw people even in the modern world. In Hiroshima, November offers two chances for visitors to experience ‘Hiwatari,’ or firewalking. The first...[ Click to read more ]
Hiroshima Grand Inoko Festival
By Matt Mangham
Inoko Festivals are a familiar feature of autumn across western Japan. Hiroshima has been running its own Grand Inoko festival since 1990, although there was a 17-year hiatus prior to 2013. This means the 2023 festival marks the 10th anniversary and so should be extra special. What Are Inoko Festivals?...[ Click to read more ]
Saijo Sake Festival in Higashi Hiroshima
Sep 27, 2018 By Matt Mangham
In early October of every year, Hiroshima Prefecture’s Saijo town (part of Higashi-Hiroshima) lets its hair down for a massive, two-day block party. One of Japan’s three premier sake-brewing locales, Saijo is proud of its history. About thirty kilometers east of Hiroshima City, the town’s brewing industry claims roots reaching...[ Click to read more ]
Takehara Shokei-no-michi Candle Festival near Hiroshima
Sep 26, 2018 By Matt Mangham
If you missed the Onomichi Lantern Festival on the 13th, or you were blown away by it and wanted more, the Takehara Shokei-no-michi Candle Festival may be just what you’re seeking. These autumn lantern and candle festivals are increasingly popular around western Japan since they’re such an excellent way to...[ Click to read more ]
