- Attractions by Region -
Itsukushima Shrine, Atomic Bomb Dome, and the Shimanami Kaido—three essentials for a perfect Hiroshima trip.
Itsukushima Shrine
A World Heritage sanctuary famed for its “floating” great torii and stage over the sea—most dramatic at high tide.
Atomic Bomb Dome
A UNESCO World Heritage Site that bears witness to 8:15 a.m. in Hiroshima—visit with the adjacent Peace Memorial Museum.
Shimanami Kaido
An iconic cycling route linking islands across the Seto Inland Sea with stunning bridge views and coastal scenery.
World Heritage shrine with a “floating” great torii and sea-stage
Tides paint a “corridor on the sea”
At high tide the shrine corridors seem to float on a mirror-calm Seto Inland Sea; at low tide you can walk to the vermilion pillars beneath the torii—two faces of one sacred place.
Virgin forests cloak Mt. Misen behind the compound, and light, tide, and seasons transform the scenery hour by hour.
◆History: Founded in 593; in 1168 Taira no Kiyomori rebuilt it in shinden-zukuri style, creating the offshore complex.
◆Highlights: Night illumination cruises pass in front of the 16-m-tall torii for unforgettable views.
◆Trivia: The main pillars use natural camphor trunks whose oils help them endure waves and brine for over 140 years.
◆Access: 10-min ferry from JR Miyajimaguchi, then 10-min walk from the pier.
UNESCO symbol of peace that records the moment of the blast
Rubble speaking of “8:15 a.m.”
Just 160 m from the hypocenter, the steel frame of the former Industrial Promotion Hall survived, silently telling a story of destruction and rebirth.
At night the reflection on the river doubles the solemn view and invites contemplation of peace.
◆History: Inscribed as World Heritage in 1996; preservation policy is “Don’t destroy, don’t repair, don’t let collapse.”
◆Highlights: On August 6 ceremonies, thousands of paper cranes spread across the plaza.
◆Trivia: Heat magnetized some bricks; compasses can deviate slightly nearby.
◆Access: Right by Hiroshima Electric Railway “Genbaku-Dome-mae” stop.
Artifacts and testimonies toward a world free of nuclear weapons
Objects that hold memory
Over 20,000 items—from a charred lunchbox to twisted girders—carry the stories of individuals through personal belongings and testimony.
Immersive 360° visuals and holographic interviews guide visitors back to August 1945 with cutting-edge exhibits.
◆History: Opened in 1955; Kenzo Tange’s piloti design symbolizes “openness to the sky.”
◆Highlights: A press machine that compresses paper cranes into commemorative medals is popular.
◆Trivia: Gallery lighting averages 45 lx to balance conservation with visibility.
◆Access: 5-min walk from “Genbaku-Dome-mae” streetcar stop.
Temple of views and literature above Onomichi’s cat-lined slopes
“Red Hall” perched on giant bedrock
From the vermilion main hall stage, the Onomichi Channel and island-dotted sea unfold like a painted scroll—especially magical at dusk.
“Path of Literature” stones dot the hillside, while friendly cats seem to guide visitors up the steps.
◆History: Said to be founded by Kobo Daishi in 806; dramatic integration with massive boulders.
◆Highlights: Nighttime cherry-blossom lighting in early April creates “floating boats of petals.”
◆Trivia: Shine a phone light at “Tama-no-iwa” to project a cat-shaped shadow—local photo trick.
◆Access: Ropeway from JR Onomichi Station to the summit, then 5-min walk down to the precincts.
A car-free island where ~900 wild rabbits hop up to greet you
Fluff takes over a peaceful isle
Verdant ruins of former wartime factories now host around 900 rabbits; step off the ferry and be surrounded by twitching ears and wriggling noses.
Rent a bike to circle the island—rabbits bounding against a sea backdrop make for joyous, gentle encounters.
◆History: Poison gas production (1929–45); rabbits reportedly released around 1971 and multiplied.
◆Highlights: Photogenic contrast of brick power-plant ruins with cuddly residents.
◆Trivia: Feeding is limited to pellets; bread is prohibited to protect rabbit health.
◆Access: 15-min ferry from Tadanoumi Port (5-min walk from JR Tadanoumi Station).
1/10 “Battleship Yamato” and naval engineering in Kure
“Steel romance” in a giant model
A 26-m 1/10 Yamato model greets visitors alongside authentic Zero fighters and torpedoes, showcasing shipbuilding prowess.
From the terrace, active JMSDF vessels and submarines bring the maritime panorama to life.
◆History: Opened 2005 on the former Kure Naval Arsenal site.
◆Highlights: 4K audiovisuals recreate the Kure air raids with striking immersion.
◆Trivia: Shop’s propeller-shaped bottle openers reuse real screw metal alloy.
◆Access: 5-min walk from JR Kure Station via covered walkway.
Ancient tide-waiting port with lantern tower and stone lanes
“Where time waits for the tide”
Celebrated since Manyo poetry, Tomonoura’s Edo-era lanterns and port office survive in a living historic seascape.
The alleys smell of tai-miso and resonate with jazz from old houses turned cafés—a charming shuffle of eras.
◆History: Grew as a tide-waiting port since Taira no Kiyomori’s maritime projects.
◆Highlights: Sunset from Abuto Kannon cape is lauded as one of the Seto Inland Sea’s finest.
◆Trivia: Hayao Miyazaki sketched ideas for “Ponyo” on these slopes—still a pilgrimage site for fans.
◆Access: 30-min Tomotetsu bus from JR Fukuyama Station; get off at “Tomonoura.”
Ride 70 km over sea bridges through island-studded vistas
Bridges and islands on the “blue line”
A dedicated cycling route links Onomichi and Imabari over dramatic sea bridges—soak up Seto Inland Sea views from both sides as you ride.
One-way rentals between islands make casual “one-island one-bridge” rides easy for beginners.
◆History: Opened 1999; dubbed “Cyclists’ Sanctuary” in 2014.
◆Highlights: Clap under Tatara Bridge’s center to hear the “crying dragon” echo.
◆Trivia: Blue-line numbers mark distance to the next rest stop—handy for fueling plans.
◆Access: 5-min ferry from JR Onomichi Station to Mukaishima; start from there.
Daimyo strolling garden that miniaturizes Japan’s landscapes
“One step, one scene” in a condensed archipelago
Follow the pond-circuit path through mini islands, ravines, and fields—5.8 ha that distill the spirit of Japan’s scenery.
Plum and cherry in spring, golden ginkgo in autumn—seasonal drama abounds.
◆History: Built in 1620 by Asano Nagaakira; rebuilt by citizens after A-bomb damage in 1951.
◆Highlights: Tea service at Seifukan with matcha and seasonal sweets overlooking the garden.
◆Trivia: At noon the arched bridge casts a perfect circle “full moon” on the pond.
◆Access: 3-min walk from “Shukkeien-mae” streetcar stop.
Contemporary art and zazen across a 1-million-tsubo woodland
Paper-tube tea house dissolving into bamboo
Tadao Ando’s white “KOHTEI,” built with paper tubes and plaster, resonates with droplets in the dark to attune your senses.
Tea huts, water chimes, and paths are scattered across vast woods—linger all day in restorative quiet.
◆History: A 1965 Zen temple reborn as an art complex in 2016.
◆Highlights: Post-zazen talks by monks—equal parts laughter and insight.
◆Trivia: Vegan “Shinshoji udon” delivers surprising depth with just kombu and shiitake broth.
◆Access: 30-min free shuttle from JR Fukuyama Station; pair with Tomonoura sightseeing.
Moat-mirrored keep of “Carp Castle,” rebuilt after the war
Time-lag skyline: castle vs. skyscrapers
The reconstructed five-story keep stands against modern high-rises, capturing early-modern and contemporary Hiroshima in one frame.
The top deck offers 360° views to the Chugoku Mountains; on night openings, stay for the illuminations.
◆History: Built by Mori Terumoto in 1599; a naval power center for Seto Inland Sea control.
◆Highlights: Heat shadows on stones hint at blast winds—tangible wartime traces.
◆Trivia: Café serves a “Carp Castle latte” with keep silhouette in cocoa powder.
◆Access: ~15-min walk from “Shukkeien-mae” stop; moat boat cruises also operate seasonally.
Rotary engines & a live look at the headquarters assembly line
Philosophy of rotation
Explore the 13B rotary engine that squeezed 300 hp from 1.3 L and see generations of RX-7 lined up—pure rotary passion.
A glass corridor overlooks real assembly lines where robots and craftspeople move in sync.
◆History: Founded as a cork company in 1931; launched the world’s first mass-produced rotary car in 1967.
◆Highlights: The Le Mans-winning 787B roars to life in daily demos—four-rotor thunder indoors.
◆Trivia: “Rotary cookies” shaped like housings are a gift-shop favorite.
◆Access: 5-min walk from JR Mukainada Station; advance reservation required; free entry.
Rooftop deck overlooking the A-Bomb Dome with origami crane art
Peace deck where cranes “fall” through light
The wood-lined “Hiroshima no Oka” deck offers 360° breezy views with the Dome just below.
Drop an origami crane into the glass chute to create a colorful 12-floor art column together with other visitors.
◆History: Renovated from a former office building; opened 2016 to blend learning and sightseeing.
◆Highlights: “Spiral Slider” winds down 70 m for a joyful exit.
◆Trivia: Monthly “Silent Night” stargazing evenings dim lights for the Milky Way.
◆Access: 1-min walk from “Genbaku-Dome-mae” stop.
Mossy quiet with triple waterfalls and 1,000 jizo statues
Cascade-chanted mountain sanctuary
Mist from three tiers of falls softens halls and statues blanketed in moss—an intimate valley of serenity.
Autumn foliage glows against the white of falls; a lesser-known but sublime koyo spot.
◆History: Attributed to Kobo Daishi (809); principal image moved from Kurama after the war.
◆Highlights: Wooden Amida triad revealed only once a year—Muromachi sculpture treasure.
◆Trivia: Temple café’s “hot-spring tofu” simmers in pristine spring water for extra sweetness.
◆Access: 15-min walk from JR Mitaki Station; trail is steep—wear grippy shoes.
Emerald pools, tiered falls, and a 16 km primeval ravine
Water-and-rock symphony
Hike 16 km through ancient forest past Kurobuchi pool and twin/triple falls; kayaks and ferries reveal vistas from the water.
Fresh green and autumn crimson pop under crystal air in this “Forest Bathing 100” site.
◆History: Paths opened in Taisho era; Special Place of Scenic Beauty since 1934.
◆Highlights: Rowboats on Kurobuchi glide over emerald reflections—360° green immersion.
◆Trivia: Night tours sometimes pair fireflies with lit waterfalls—dubbed “natural lasers.”
◆Access: 75-min highway bus from Hiroshima Bus Center to “Sandankyo” terminal.
Board retired submarine “Akishio” and learn minesweeping history
Steel whale with 30 years beneath the waves
A 76-m, 2,250-t sub is displayed ashore; walk her passages and cockpit without a helmet.
Minesweeping exhibits spotlight unsung missions with real mines and unmanned boats.
◆History: Opened 2007; only JMSDF museum with a permanently open sub interior.
◆Highlights: View active destroyers in Kure Port from the sail hatch—“time-bridging” photo spot.
◆Trivia: Black “submarine curry” uses squid ink—tastes of 300-m depth darkness.
◆Access: 10-min walk from JR Kure Station; skywalk connects to Yamato Museum.
Seto archipelago panoramas and a flame said to have burned 1,200 years
Sky path over a “sea of islands”
Ascend to 430 m for sweeping views of sapphire waters dotted with green isles, then walk to Reikado Hall to see the eternal flame of Kobo Daishi.
◆History: Mt. Misen is Miyajima’s sacred peak founded by Kobo Daishi in 806.
◆Highlights: From the summit deck you can see as far as Shikoku; sunrise often comes with a sea of clouds and the torii below.
◆Trivia: Ropeway pylons are wrapped with solar-powered deterrents as monkey protection.
◆Access: 20-min walk from Miyajima pier to Momijidani Station; 2 ropeway sections to Shishiiwa Station.
150,000 m² of seasonal flower fields and a hilltop swing
Rainbow on rolling hills
8 million tulips in spring, lavender in summer, and dahlias/cosmos in fall paint undulating color bands across the farm.
The hilltop sky swing frames a carpet of blooms for playful photos.
◆History: Opened as an orchard in 1970; pivoted to flower tourism in 1994.
◆Highlights: A sunflower maze of ~120,000 stalks each July.
◆Trivia: Edible petals top soft-serve; tulips have a crisp bite!
◆Access: 15-min drive from Sera IC; seasonal buses from Fukuyama on holidays.
Weekend kagura performances in a hot-spring theme village
Demons dance through steam
Edo-style wooden inns line a recreated street; seven troupes perform weekly in the “Kagura Dome,” thrilling crowds with fire-breathing serpents.
After the show, soak in hot springs and dine by a hearth on wild-boar miso stew—festival vibes into the night.
◆History: Opened 1996 by locals to preserve/perform regional kagura traditions.
◆Highlights: The eight-bodied Orochi special effects raise the temperature—literally!
◆Trivia: Mask-making workshops finish in ~5 hours; actors may wear your mask on stage that night.
◆Access: 10-min drive from Takata IC; direct bus from Hiroshima Bus Center on weekends/holidays.
Renovated sea-warehouse with cyclist-friendly hotel & market
Harbor hotel for bicycles
A 70-year-old warehouse reborn: bring your bike into the room, dine on local produce, and browse a pro shop under exposed trusses.
After a tune-up, sip lemon beer on the terrace while ferries and sunsets shape the skyline.
◆History: Opened 2014 as a global hub for Shimanami riders.
◆Highlights: 100-m arcade of preserved steel trusses—industrial chic.
◆Trivia: Breakfast “rinko-bag panini” packs perfectly for rides.
◆Access: 5-min walk from JR Onomichi Station; ferry pier out front for Shimanami access.
45-minute bay tour past destroyers, subs, and shipyards
“Moving naval museum” on the water
The cruise threads dockyards and piers so close you can study silhouettes and deck fittings.
Guides cover ship histories and current missions for a living timeline of Kure Port.
◆History: Tours began in 2008 using the former naval arsenal bay.
◆Highlights: Passing JS Izumo broadside hushes the whole boat.
◆Trivia: Rain days cancel deck wash—great for crisp hull photos.
◆Access: 5-min walk from JR Kure Station; boats depart near YouMe Town Kure (Portopia).
Red-brick chimneys & white-walled kura in a top sake district
“Town of sake” built on spring water
Eight breweries cluster along 800 m of stone paving across chimneys and namako walls; the air is sweet with fermenting moromi.
Tasting flights reveal each toji’s character across aroma, palate, and finish.
◆History: Nada brewers migrated around 1890; cool climate suited low-temp fermentation.
◆Highlights: Sake festival days draw 100,000; limited daiginjo bottles sell out in hours.
◆Trivia: At Sake-no-Michi Park a faucet pours brewing water—bring a bottle!
◆Access: 5-min walk from JR Saijo Station; tasting tickets at the tourist office.
Uninhabited island of five-colored rocks and seaside baths
Natural geo-palette by the sea
Wave-cut basalt reveals red, blue, yellow, white, and black strata that shift with the tides.
Edo-style bathhouse offers steam saunas and cave baths with island views (mixed open-air sessions available).
◆History: A sacred island for Benzaiten—guardian of safe voyages.
◆Highlights: At low tide a hidden beach appears near Ryujin Bridge.
◆Trivia: No vending machines on the island—stock up at Tomonoura pier.
◆Access: 5-min ferry from Tomonoura; pedestrians only—no cars on the island.
Karst gorge with limestone caves and Japan’s largest natural bridge
Calcareous corridors with stone arches
Over 18 km of canyon scenery studded with karst pillars and “Onbashi,” a 90-m natural stone bridge, the longest in Japan.
Pleasure boats on Shinryu Lake mirror autumn colors into perfect symmetry.
◆History: Formed by dissolution of limestone; part of a national park since 1923.
◆Highlights: Hakuundo cave’s stalactites glow coral under lighting.
◆Trivia: Brighter foliage follows bigger day-night temperature swings—watch the forecast.
◆Access: 10-min drive from Tojo IC; free parking at boat pier.
Touch and ride classic cars & vintage clocks—hands-on retro
“Ride it, turn it” museum
Get hands-on with a Ford Model T, sit in a Douglas DC-3 cockpit, and rev retro bikes—experience, don’t just look.
Japanese wadokei displays show seasonal dials—learn timekeeping the old way.
◆History: Since 1968 with a “keep them running” philosophy—regular road parades.
◆Highlights: Monthly 30-car vintage parade downtown.
◆Trivia: Tickets double as cardboard craft—fold into a mini Model T.
◆Access: 10-min taxi from JR Fukuyama; 15-min drive from Fukuyama-Higashi IC.
“Little Kyoto of Aki” with lattice facades and sake-merchant houses
Lattices in a patchwork of Edo townscapes
500 m of salt and sake merchants remain with deep lattices and black plaster—timeless Japanese chic.
From Saikokuji’s hilltop, layered tile roofs glow in the setting sun—photographers’ favorite angle.
◆History: Prosperous since 1690 salt fields; Important Preservation District since 1982.
◆Highlights: “Massan” drama locations at Taketsuru Sake Brewery; sampler flights available.
◆Trivia: “Inuyarai” dog-guard fences reuse old ship timbers with unique grains.
◆Access: 15-min walk from JR Takehara; free rental bikes at station.
Former tide-waiting port famed for Edo geisha culture
Town that waited for wind and tide
Prosperous since the 1700s with kitamae-bune trade, streets blend merchant houses with teahouse architecture.
Gas lamps on tall stone lanterns glow on pavements as waves echo like shamisen at night.
◆History: Flourished as a port of call; red-light heritage visible in lattice patterns.
◆Highlights: Morning light through Yakko-ya’s lattices—“Edo shadow play.”
◆Trivia: “Tide bell” once signaled ebb and flow—now chimed on events.
◆Access: 90-min drive via Akinada Bridge; weekend buses from Hiroshima Bus Center.
Red-brick naval academy & grand auditorium—traditions alive
Walking the “cathedral” of the naval academy
Meiji-era red-brick halls and a cypress-stage auditorium are preserved; see cadets training in etiquette and discipline.
◆History: Successor to the Imperial Japanese Naval Academy; re-established in 1956 for JMSDF officer candidates.
◆Highlights: 100-m straight corridor dubbed the “Showa red carpet.”
◆Trivia: Gift-shop castella bears a salute stamp—best-seller souvenir.
◆Access: 30-min ferry from Hiroshima Port to Koyo; 8-min walk to reception (ID and reservations may be required).
Massive tropical dome and rose garden with winter illuminations
“Forest of glass” for all-season blooms
A tropical greenhouse neighbors one of Japan’s largest rose gardens (550 varieties), letting you hop climates in a stroll.
Winter illuminations turn plant silhouettes into a “nocturnal botany” spectacle.
◆History: Opened 1976 as a symbol of green rebirth after the war.
◆Highlights: Rare Aristolochia salvadorensis flowers for ~2 weeks each summer.
◆Trivia: Geothermal heat pumps cut electricity use by ~40% annually.
◆Access: Bus 10-min from “Hiroshima Hiroiki Koen-mae” to “Shokubutsu Koen.”
2nd weekend of August—10,000 dancers sweep through the city
Drums drive a summer dance flood
150 dance groups parade ~3 km to the chant “Yassa, Yassa,” filling summer nights with color and lantern light.
8,000 fireworks arc over the Seto Inland Sea in the finale—heat and joy in equal measure.
◆History: Said to date to 1582, celebrating Kobayakawa Takakage’s Mihara Castle construction.
◆Highlights: Join-in zones welcome travelers—jump into a group!
◆Trivia: Post-dance “Yassa ramen” is famed for sweat-triggering spice.
◆Access: Around JR Mihara Station; 20-min drive from Mihara-Kui IC.
Retro Shōwa townscape + thrill rides at a family park
Time travel to the 1960s
The “A Street from the Past” recreates 1960s Japan with candy shops and round mailboxes as Showa tunes play.
Next door, wooden coasters and looping rides amp up the adrenaline.
◆History: Opened 1989; a local owner built the retro town to preserve hometown memories.
◆Highlights: 1.2-million-bulb winter illuminations—“Lights of Third Street.”
◆Trivia: Vintage mailboxes still work—send a retro postcard from the park.
◆Access: 30-min drive from Fukuyama-Higashi IC; free shuttle from JR Fukuyama Station.
Impressionists & modern Japanese Western-style paintings
White rotunda smiling with Monet blue
Soft daylight from the domed ceiling bathes works by Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso in gentle color.
A pond with waterlilies echoes Monet’s series across seasons.
◆History: Opened 1978 by Mitsubishi Foundation under the theme “Love and Tranquility.”
◆Highlights: Friday night talks share playful “backstories of paintings.”
◆Trivia: Café’s “Monet Blue” soft-serve uses butterfly pea for a sky-blue hue.
◆Access: 5-min walk from “Kamiyacho-higashi” stop; pair with Shukkeien strolls.
Three-tier drop of 126 m—Hiroshima’s grandest waterfall
Mountain organ of water
Water veils down granite walls in three steps; rainbows arc across the basin on clear days.
New green, red leaves, and winter ice each transform the falls; icicles chime like crystal pipes.
◆History: Praised in Edo-period “Geihan Tsushi.”
◆Highlights: Best full-view shots from the wooden bridge near the lookout.
◆Trivia: Mist tests at ~1,500 negative ions/cc—“strongest in the prefecture,” locals boast.
◆Access: 40-min drive from Miyoshi IC; 10-min trail from parking to the falls.
Beech forests and myth—Izamani’s resting place, legends say
Beech sanctum “plowing clouds”
1,200-m ridges tunnel under tall beech; mossy logs whisper myths of Japan’s origins.
◆History: Linked in chronicles to the resting place of Izanami-no-Mikoto.
◆Highlights: May’s fresh green and October’s gold—“curtains in the sky.”
◆Trivia: A sign jokes that phone bars switch from 5G to “Myth-G” near the summit tower.
◆Access: 40-min drive from Shobara IC to trailhead at Kenmin-no-Mori; ~90-min hike one way.
Marble hillside garden meets vividly colored temple complex
“Setouchi Sicily” in white marble
5,000 tons of marble form a dazzling hillscape behind the main hall; blue parasols add a Mediterranean vibe.
Polychrome gates and a five-story pagoda echo Kyoto and Nikko—photogenic at every turn.
◆History: Built in 1940 by businessman Kosanji as a temple for his mother.
◆Highlights: 15-m golden ceiling in the cave temple echoes with a ship-hull curve.
◆Trivia: Lemon-monaka ice melts into marble-like swirls—a local treat.
◆Access: 10-min drive from Shimanami Ikuchijima IC; 15-min walk from Setoda Port.
Only public seawall in Japan to walk beside moored submarines
“Stealth street” of black silhouettes
View JMSDF submarines just ~30 m away; on some days crews wave from the deck.
Sunset reflections stretch from conning towers across the bay—iron in orange glow.
◆History: Former Imperial Navy training base; still a home port for subs today.
◆Highlights: Best shot is the “stern-in-a-row” lineup on weekends.
◆Trivia: Nearby bakery sells a 40-cm “submarine dog” with a periscope pickle.
◆Access: 10-min bus from JR Kure to “Showa Futo”; no nighttime access.
Free-range alpacas and deer at a 700-m-high petting ranch
“Fluff therapy” on a sky ranch
Alpacas, capybaras, and red kangaroos roam open areas; hand-feed and cuddle ethically under staff guidance.
Campgrounds enjoy frequent Milky Way nights with star indices above 90—stargaze from your sleeping bag.
◆History: Opened 2008; named from German “Tiergarten” as part of rural revitalization.
◆Highlights: Rainy-day alpaca greetings in slickers—locals call them “Rain-pacas.”
◆Trivia: Café’s Alpaca Latte piles 5 cm of marshmallow “fleece.”
◆Access: 40-min drive from Tojo IC; direct buses from Fukuyama run seasonally.
3,000 cherry trees and a full skate/BMX park on the hills
Hills dyed in “cherry-pink clouds”
Early April tunnels of Somei-Yoshino frame panoramas of the Seno River and town below.
Skate bowls and BMX courses make this a rare blend of hanami and action sports.
◆History: Opened 1990; locals planted sakura for a decade in a “Kaita Yoshino Plan.”
◆Highlights: Night illuminations mix LEDs with lanterns like stars in petal clouds.
◆Trivia: “Sakura-powder takoyaki” uses salted cherry leaves—addictive.
◆Access: 15-min bus from JR Kaitaichi to “Kaita Park.”
Golden Week city festival drawing ~1.65 million to Peace Boulevard
May winds move a parade of petals
150 troupes march with floats along Peace Boulevard as 1 million petunias color the sidewalks.
Fireworks and laser shows bounce off glass towers to create a “canyon of light.”
◆History: Begun in 1977 to pray for peace through flowers; now one of Japan’s largest urban festivals.
◆Highlights: 30 stages run dance acts at once—joyful chaos by design.
◆Trivia: Flower stalls give away leftover seedlings after closing—“take peace home.”
◆Access: Right by “Fukuro-machi” streetcar stop; extra tram services operate.
China region’s only national park—flowers by day, illuminations by night
“Big bang” of flowers and light over hills
1.5 million baby blue eyes in spring, 100,000 sunflowers in summer, and flaming red kochia in fall across 340 ha.
Winter pairs 700,000 LEDs with fireworks under starry skies.
◆History: Opened 1995 to revive satoyama scenery on a grand scale.
◆Highlights: 55-m cushion dome—giant trampoline fun for all ages.
◆Trivia: 80% of rental bikes are e-assist—conquer those hills with a smile.
◆Access: 5-min drive from Shobara IC; buses connect via Miyoshi Winery on some routes.