Hiroshima | Chugoku | Destinations | Travel Japan - Japan National Tourism Organization (Official Site) (2024)

Miyajima Woodwork

The island of Miyajima is home to a woodworking tradition that produces turned, hand-carved, ornamental designs. Here you will find a quintessential Japanese tool, a rice scoop, which is popular as a lucky charm that "scoops up fortune." (Photo: Courtesy of Hiroshima Prefecture)

Momiji Manju

Made by wrapping sweet bean jam in a dough of castella sponge cake and baking it in a maple leaf-shaped mold. Momiji manju taste of wheat and honey, while the bean jam has a smooth, mellow sweetness.

Hiroshima Oysters

Hiroshima serves up some of Japan's biggest oysters, rich and briny and served raw or grilled. A true local specialty is a set meal of rice, miso soup and deep-fried oysters served with tartar sauce.

Tsukemen

This deconstructed ramen comes with the noodles and various toppings in a bowl or plate, and the soup in a separate vessel. You dip the noodles and toppings into the piping hot soup before eating.

Hiroshima Okonomiyaki

Unlike its Osaka cousin, Hiroshima's take on the savory pancake of sliced cabbage, flour, egg and dashi layers its ingredients rather than mixing them together. It is served on a bed of griddle-cooked noodles. A true Hiroshima comfort food.

Kumano Brushes

Kumano is the brush capital of Japan, producing 80 percent of the country's fude. This traditional technique once reserved for making painting and calligraphy brushes now includes luxury makeup brushes.

f*ckuyama Koto

The f*ckuyama koto is the only Japanese instrument designated as a traditional craftwork. These 13-stringed musical instruments are aural and visual works of art, both inside and out.

Spring

Spring brings the cherry blossoms as well as hundreds of thousands of tulips and roses to Hiroshima. This is also the time for the Spring Gourmet Festival, and for the young rabbits on the island of Okunoushima—also known as Rabbit Island—to emerge from their burrows.

Summer

Summer festival time is here, including the Mihara Yassa Festival, Obon dancing, and others. The annual memorial event at the Peace Park occurs August 6, starting in the morning and ending with a river filled with glowing paper lanterns. (Photo: Courtesy of Hiroshima Prefecture)

Autumn

The leaves change, and in particular the gorges of Sandankyo and Taishakukyo are known for their fiery autumn colors. Get there before the areas close for the winter season.

Winter

New Year's celebrations enliven the temples and shrines, and thousands take the ferry to Miyajima to visit Itsukushima Shrine. Hiroshima Dreamination—a decorative illumination event set up along Peace Boulevard—lights up the city. People head for ski slopes and onsen. (Photo: Courtesy of Hiroshima Prefecture)