Let's visit Kosanji Temple, which is like Ryugu Castle! 5 Emotional Scenic Spots in Hiroshima

• Table of Contents
• ①Fuchu City Townscape with white walls on top and bottom
• ②Onomichi City Kosanji Museum Future Heart Hill
• ③Jinseki Kogen Town Toyotamatsu Paper Plane Tower
• ④Otake City Otake Factory night view
• ⑤Shobara City Taishaku Gorge

①Fuchu City Townscape with white walls on top and bottom

It's like a scene from a movie. A townscape immersed in historical romance

Shigemachi is a post town that connects the Sanin and Sanyo regions and flourished as a territory under the direct control of the Shogunate (Tenryo). Even today, if you walk around the shopping district, you can still see the historical atmosphere of white walls, sea cucumber walls, and lattice windows. There are many retro and quaint buildings, including the Upper and Lower Christian Church, which was built during the Meiji period as a storehouse for the former zaibatsu Kadokura family. One of the few remaining wooden playhouses in Japan, Okina-za is a space that will make you feel as if you have traveled back in time to the Taisho era, with a revolving stage illuminated by lights, a flower path, and an abyss. The townscape, where you can feel the historical romance everywhere, becomes a picture no matter where you look.

``Stay in Machiya Tenryo Shige,'' a 150-year-old renovated townhouse. You can enjoy the architectural beauty of the Meiji era, such as the beautifully crafted transoms and shoji windows.

``Okinaza'', the temple's tower gate, and the back alleys can only be seen on a guided tour. You can also wear and rent kimonos in the “top and bottom style” and walk around town.

②Onomichi City Kosanji Museum Future Heart Hill

A world of blinding white. Popular photogenic spot

The gorgeous Kosanji Temple and Kosanji Museum is known as the "Nikko Toshogu Shrine of the West." As you walk along the promenade behind the main hall, a fantastic white world spreads out before you. The 5,000 square meter garden is made of marble from Carrara, Italy, and was created by Kazuto Kuetani, a world-renowned sculptor. The towering white monuments of various sizes are reminiscent of the Greek island of Santorini. The world surrounded by white as far as the eye can see gives off a solemn atmosphere.

Kosanji Temple is as vivid as Ryugu Castle. In addition to the 15 temples and pagodas that have been designated as nationally registered tangible cultural properties, you can also see valuable museum artifacts.

The cafe on Miraishin no Oka was also designed by sculptor Kuetani. The view from inside the store, surrounded by white marble, makes you feel like you're in the Mediterranean Sea.

The Hill of Hope

553-2 Setoda, Setoda-cho, Onomichi-shi, Hiroshima 722-2411

③Jinseki Kogen Town Toyotamatsu Paper Plane Tower

A paper plane stands out against the blue sky. A sense of freedom as you fly into the spectacular scenery

Toyomatsu Paper Plane Tower stands alone at the summit of Mt. Yonemi in Shimotoyomatsu, Jinseki Kogen Town, at an altitude of 663 meters. As the name suggests, this is a rare facility in the world where you can play by flying paper airplanes. You can freely make paper planes in the work space on the first floor lined with wooden desks and chairs, and the instructors will teach you various ways to fold them. When you climb up to the tower observation deck, you'll be greeted with a 360-degree panoramic view of Mt. Daisen, Mt. Dogo, and the Mt. Hiba mountain range. The exhilarating feeling of releasing your own paper airplane into the wind amidst the magnificent scenery is irresistible!

The 26m tower has an elevator that takes you up to the observation deck 15m above ground. There is also a device on the observation deck that allows you to ring the “bell of love”

The raw material for eco paper is sugarcane waste. Because it decomposes and returns to the soil, you can fly the paper plane as far as you want.

④Otake City Otake Factory night view

Light flows into the sky and the sea. A beautiful night view like a shining jewel

Otake Industrial Complex is unique in that you can see the factory up close, which is rare even in Japan. This is the site where Japan's first comprehensive petrochemical factory was built, and the area is lined with large-scale chemical factories, as well as tanks, chemical plants, and pipelines. At dusk, an impressive night view of the factory illuminated by dazzling lights appears. If you climb up to Kamei Park (Kamei Castle ruins), which is also known as a famous spot for cherry blossom viewing, you can get a panoramic view of a fantastic industrial complex facing the Seto Inland Sea. The romantic night view that looks like jewels is worth seeing. It is also recommended for night drives.

The appearance of a solid, inorganic structure floating in the light and white steam rising up gives it a science fiction-like atmosphere. Ogata Port is a little-known spot where you can see the factories on the opposite bank from inside the car.

The steel tower shining in the night sky looks like the Eiffel Tower. Along the Kose River, which is the border between Hiroshima and Yamaguchi prefectures, you can enjoy the night view of Otake and Waki ​​on both sides.

⑤Shobara City Taishaku Gorge

The majesty and mystery of nature. The beauty of form created by eternity

Taishaku Gorge straddles Tojo-cho and Jinseki Kogen-cho in Shobara City. The 18km-long gorge is considered one of Japan's top 100 scenic spots, and is a popular scenic spot where you can take a stroll while admiring the scenery of each season. There are promenades where you can enjoy forest bathing and hiking, and there are plenty of activities to enjoy the great outdoors, such as pleasure boat cruising and kayaking. In particular, the area around the tunnel in front of Sakurabashi over the Taishaku River has been attracting attention in recent years. The contrast between the dark tunnel and the light, and the red bridge standing out among the bright greenery and autumn leaves, has become a hot topic as a spot where you can take pictures with an atmosphere!

``Obashi'' is a natural bridge that was created by the erosion of limestone by mountain water over many years, and is 90m long, 18m wide, and 40m high from the riverbed. Also famous as a natural power spot

Hakuundo is a limestone cave that represents Taishaku Gorge. The depth is about 200 meters, and stalactites, stalagmites, and stone pillars are preserved in their natural state. The temperature inside the cave is always around 11℃, cool in summer and warm in winter.

Taishakukyo Gorge

〒729-5244 Taishakumido, Tojo-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture

A quasi-national park that spreads around the Taishakukyo Gorge, a scenic spot. A limestone gorge with a total length of about 18km, it is o...