Island Hopping In Hiroshima | 4-day trip

Island Hopping In Hiroshima | 4-day trip

Hiroshima isn’t just the Peace Memorial Park. It’s actually a huge area, 
covering a number of different islands and towns – with their own distinct character. On this trip, I’ll be visiting a select few 
areas to get just a taste of that character. That means visiting Takehara to get hands 
on with the local culture and cuisine, visiting Okunoshima to say hi to the 
rabbits on an island with a dark history. Taking a bike ride around scenic Etajima, and exploring the sake breweries of Saijo. So join me as I Island hop around Hiroshima. I’ve chosen to fly in from Tokyo, as it takes 
just under 90 minutes to get to Hiroshima Airport, the largest airport in the Chugoku region. It’s also connected to various 
airports in Japan and abroad, and is conveniently located 
for my further travels. The airport is connected to 
Hiroshima’s different areas by bus, or you can get a rental car. So let’s take the bus to Takehara! Takehara is a beautiful spot 
sometimes called little Kyoto, and due to its history with 
salt and sake production, it became a rich town full of ornate 
houses that are still here today. Lunch is at Ippuku, which 
should be somewhere closeby. We have a bunch of exciting 
things planned for today, including bamboo crafts nearby, and exploring the old town 
and my fancy accommodation. But first, let’s eat! This is Kawara Soba which is tea infused 
soba noodles served on a roof tile. But here they even make it into a demon face! Am I gonna be able to eat all of this? The name Takehara means “bamboo plain,” but despite its name, bamboo crafts 
are relatively new to the area, with just 40 years of history behind them. Today I’m getting a taste of that 
craft at Machinami Take Kobo. Take these two parts and divide them. This one goes on top and the other one from below It’s already under pressure here, so 
let’s go from the other side next. Then use your right hand, like 
this. Just like that, yes! We got there in the end – my basket! It’s nice to have something that I have made. The town’s nickname of Little Kyoto comes from the area’s role as an 
estate of Kyoto’s Kamogawa Shrine, but it really made a name for itself 
a bit later on, in the Edo Period, through its salt production. It was through salt that many of its residents 
gained enough wealth for more ornate homes, many of which still stand to this day. This temple – as you can see – has the best view of Takehara city. It’s amazing to think how much 
the city might have changed in the centuries it has been here. Tonight, I’ve chosen to 
experience a modern version of those salt merchants’ life of 
luxury by staying at the Nipponia, which has renovated a number of buildings in the area into accommodations full of character. Oh my god I’m so glad I chose this place This is so cool! This is my dinner for the 
evening which is local food accompanied by a flight of local sake. Kampai! You can really taste the rice in this sake. Mm that sauce goes really well with that fish! I want more of this. Ok Bath time for me See you tomorrow! Day 2 Today, I’m heading to a nearby town 
to take the ferry to Okunoshima, fondly known as Rabbit Island! After saying hello to the rabbits, I’ll explore 
the island’s historical sites and grab lunch. Then, I’m heading over to Hiroshima city, which I’ll use as my base for the rest of my stay. After a short train ride I’m 
taking the ferry to the island. It’s a bit misty today, but let’s 
see if we can spot any rabbits. They were waiting for me as 
soon as I got off the boat! But so was a peek into the island’s past. Behind all this fluffy cuteness is a dark history. Because the island was in fact used as a base for manufacturing chemical weapons during WWII, and was erased from maps to keep its secret. It wasn’t until 1988 that 
the Poison Gas Museum opened, with the aim to inform people of the 
very real tragedies it can cause, so that history may not repeat itself, so let’s take a look. I’m at the only restaurant on the Island 
for a local speciality of fried oysters. Itadakimasu! Got a bit hot to walk up there but it was 
worth it for this spot of tranquility. As well as the poison gas site, the Island also has former army 
batteries or fortresses to explore to. Today I’m back on the ferry again, but this time to Etajima, where I’ll explore the island by bike, stopping for lunch and soaking in the views before returning back to Hiroshima for the night. Known for its mild climate 
and natural island scenery, Etajima is a part of one of 
Japan’s first ever National Parks, making it a wonderful place to explore. You can do a lot of outdoor activities on Etajima, like canoeing and hiking, but I’ve chosen to explore by bike to make the most of its sea and hillside views. Yesterday was a little gloomy so I’m so glad we got such beautiful weather for cycling today. The island was once the home 
of Japan’s Naval Academy, and there are a number of artefacts relating 
to this history dotted across the island. But Etajima is actually 
larger than you might expect, covering around 100 square kilometers, so to find them all you would need 
a bit of a longer cycling route than the one I’m doing today. Etajima is the kind of place 
that makes you want to slow down, and take it all in, so that’s 
exactly what I’m going to do Etajima is often called ‘Japan’s Mediterranean’ thanks to its mild climate, calm blue seas, and scenic coastal views so next up is lunch at a restaurant with 
some very Mediterranean ingredients. Here at Olive & Lime they grow and 
handpick their very own olives, and limes so I have a massive sallad 
here with homemade olive oil, a risotto, and an olive and 
lime drink. I’m so excited! I’m pretty tired from this hot day of 
cycling – So I’ll see you guys tomorrow! Day four. Day 4 is all about sake! We’re heading to the small town of Saijo 
to explore the historic sake district, with its breweries and creative sake 
cuisine in both hotpot and chocolates. This is one of France-ya specialites – bishu nabe, which is a hot pot created by sake brewers – and has sake in the stew itself. It’s said to have a relatively simple flavor so 
as not to interfere with the tasting of sake. So I’ve ordered a sake 
cocktail to test that theory. That does have quite a simple flavour – It’s just like the salt and pepper and sake, it goes really well with that cocktail. Thanks to its climate and natural resources, Saijo was the perfect spot for making sake. This, combined with its prime 
location along a popular trade route, meant that the town was 
able to grow in popularity, becoming one of Japan’s 
leading sake production sites. Today, there are seven breweries all 
within walking distance of the station, filling the streets with the sweet smell of sake. Kamotsuru Brewery, the first to open in the 1800s, now welcomes visitors to 
explore not only its own history but also the broader history 
of sake brewing in Saijo. And of course, you can sample their 
sake and buy some to take home, too. This is the Daiginjo Tokusei Gold – which is called that because it 
has a piece of gold leaf in it which is actually shaped like a cherry blossom – it’s so cute! Kampai! Ok that is very smooth, it’s very aromatic, like a bit floral and very easy to drink. Just like the bishu nabe, there are lots of other ways to enjoy Saijo’s 
sake culture other than just drinking it. At Mike Cacao, you can buy desserts and chocolates made with sake from the 
local area’s seven breweries. Their specialty is their 
sake-filled chocolate truffles! Yeah the sake is actually not too strong. I’m finishing where I started, at Hiroshima Airport, to rest in the 
lounge before my next destination. I’m glad I chose the airport, because 
relaxing a bit is just what I needed! In these few days I’ve learnt more about 
Hiroshima than I realised was possible, and I hope it inspires you to explore the prefecture further, just like it has for me! If you want to learn a bit more 
about the details of the trip, head to the article on screen to 
save the information for later, and happy travels!

Read more about Hiroshima: https://www.japan-guide.com/ad/hiroshima-islands/

In this video, we explore a few standout spots in and around Hiroshima – from local culture and cuisine in Takehara, to meeting rabbits on Okunoshima, biking through scenic Etajima, and diving into Saijo’s sake culture.

This video was made in collaboration with Hiroshima International Airport.

*Video Credits*
Host: Cassandra Lord
Videographer: Thomas Roennlund
Produced by: Stefan Schauwecker
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*Chapters*
0:00 Intro
0:57 Hiroshima Airport
1:25 Takehara
1:47 Ippuku
2:44 Machinami Takekobo Bamboo Craft
4:26 NIPPONIA HOTEL TAKEHARA SALTWORKS TOWN
6:06 Day 2 Itinerary
6:52 Okunoshima
7:55 Okunoshima Island Poison Gas Museum
9:40 Hiroshima Station
9:52 Day 3 Itinerary
10:31 Etajima Mitaka Port
11:18 Uminos
11:46 Olive & Lime
12:54 Day 4 Itinerary
13:12 Saijo Station
13:25 France-ya
14:27 Kamotsuru Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd. Brewery Shop
15:34 Mike cacao
16:16 Hiroshima Airport
16:26 Outro