Summer Days Out in Hiroshima

Apr 30, 2024

Summer Days Out in Hiroshima

Surrounded by sea, mountains and pretty waterways, Hiroshima is something of an ideal location to spend away the summer months. If you find yourself with a spare day or two in the prefecture and don’t want to travel too far out, there are plenty of great places to escape to. From coastal relaxation to thrill-filled outdoor sporting activities, here are a few suggestions.

Sandankyo Gorge

For a memorable experience of some of the most stunning scenery this part of Japan has to offer, you can’t beat Sandankyo Gorge in the northwestern part of the prefecture. A 16 km stretch along the Shibaki River, it’s a perfect excursion on a warm day where you’ll see sharp cliff walls, elevated walkways, hanging bridges and cascading crystal-clear waters. Highlights include the spectacular Nidan Falls and Kurobuchi, a pond of emerald green water where you will find an excellent family-run restaurant. You can choose between hiking the paths, taking a ferry journey along the gorge or even engaging in outdoor sports such as kayaking or SUP.

Website: https://cs-akiota.or.jp/sandankyo/

Sera Kogen Farm

This flower farm in highlands in the center of the prefecture makes for a truly enchanting day out. It’s now 45 years old and is well-known for its many flower festivals including cherry blossom and tulip fests in the spring, a big sunflower festival in the summer and a dahlia festival in autumn. There’s also an annual radish festival celebrating daikons and other vegetables. The farm has several fields and other flowers you can marvel at including roses, wisterias and hydrangeas. It’s also worth visiting the onsite café where you can buy a mouthwatering Sera Burger made from local ingredients. Entry is 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children.

Website: https://sera.ne.jp/en/

Mount Haigamine Observatory

Looking to round off a nice summer day with some stunning panoramic views of the city? Mount Haigamine, nestled within the Chugoku mountain range, may not be as famous as Miyajima or Mount Misen in terms of local scenic splendour, but the sights from the top of the observatory at the 700 m peak are something to behold. They are best sampled at dusk, so they can be enjoyed at the end of a brisk mountain hike, although daytime viewing is a wonder in itself. The walk to the summit takes around 90 minutes, with the reward at the end being a 360-degree landscape of Kure City and the islands surrounding Hiroshima Bay.

Address: Agamachi, Kure, Hiroshima 737-0922

Miroku no Sato Theme Park

For family fun if you have kids over the school holidays, this amusement park in the hills of Fukuyama city is a great bet. The park has over 20 attractions including a ferris wheel and roller coaster. There’s also a dinosaur park equipped with a scary 13 m-long T-rex! An adult ticket that allows access to all rides costs 3,300 yen.

Address: 638-1 Fujiecho, Fukuyama, Hiroshima 720-0543

Tsutsumigaura Seaside Park

One of a number of beaches worth visiting in Hiroshima prefecture is none other than Tsutsumigaura Seaside Park that lines the coastline on Miyajima Island. It’s a nature park and beach on the island’s east side where you can swim, ride in a boat or fish while enjoying a stunning mountain backdrop. The beach stretches out over a few hundred meters and next to it is a campsite and tennis courts if you fancy additional activities or a multi-day stay.

Address: 1195 Miyajimacho, Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima 739-0588

Tulipcream, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons