Moopon

Within Japan’s tropical paradise of Okinawa, visitors can enjoy water sports,
nature and wildlife that can only be observed here.
Within the Yaeyama Islands of Okinawa is the 90% jungle/mangrove island of Iriomote.
And here, visitors may be able to see the endangered species of the Iriomote Yamaneko,
a type of “wild cat” which resides only on this island.

It is thought only 100 Yamaneko remain on the island. As such,
the Yamaneko Museum or Iriomote Wildlife Conservation Center is both a wildlife/eco museum as well as a refugee center for Iriomote
Yamaneko that have been rescued after being injured in a traffic accident. 

Visitors to the museum are able to learn about the ecology of the animals found on the island,including the Iriomote Yamaneko.
Explanations are provided in English throughout the museum.
As far as the rescued Iriomote Yamaneko, they can only be viewed via a live video feed.

Shuri Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, in Okinawa served an important role in Okinawa’s history.
Though presently a district of Naha, Shuri was the former capital of the Ryukyu Kingdom.  
Until Okinawa became a Japanese Prefecture in 1879, Shuri Castle was both the administrative center
as well as residence for the Ryukyu kings for several centuries.

The castle was originally constructed in the late 1300s.  
Destroyed many times through war and fires, the current buildings are a result of the reconstruction efforts from 1992.
To approach the castle, located on the top of hill, visitors need to pass through many gates, including the well known Shureimon Gate.

The castle’s main hall, the Seiden was the former venue for many governmental events. A landmark of Okinawa, the Seiden’s flamboyant decoration,
architecture and vermillion color shows the difference in castle style between Okinawa and mainland Japan. 

Visitors will find the Una Plaza in front of the Seiden.
Here many ceremonies were held. The Una Plaza is enclosed by the Hokuden (North Hall), Nanden (South Hall) and the Hoshinmon (Hoshin Gate).
The Hokuden and Nanden were administrative buildings which were also used as venues to welcome visitors from China and mainland Japan.

Visitors are welcomed to view the interior of these historic halls.
 The interiors of the Hokuden and Nanden are like modern museums with informative displays about Ryukyu Kingdom as well as
the Okinawa’s history with the Japanese mainland and China. Visitors can also view local historic artifact as well as cultural replicas received during foreign trade.

The Seiden has been reconstructed in its original style.
The richness and fine furnishing the Ryukyu kings were accustomed to are displayed in the Seiden.
Visitors can even view a replica of the king's throne and crown are among the exhibits.

Facility Information:
Hours: 8:30 to 19:00 (until 18:00 from December to March, until 20:00 from July to September) 
**Last Entry is 30 minutes before closing time.
Closed: First Wednesday and Thursday of July
Admission: 820 yen
Level of English: Good

Shikinaen, located in Okinawa, was the second residence of the Ryukyu kings.
It was constructed in the 18th century.
The building were relatively simple, wooden palace buildings incorporating the Chinese red tile roofs
with a spacious Japanese garden and its a central pond.
The garden is meant to be viewed as visitors stroll around.
With both the Chinese and Japanese influence, visitors can appreciate Shikinaen’s truly unique Okinawa style.

Shikinaen was completely destroyed in the Battle of Okinawa of 1945.
However, a 20 year restoration plan began in 1975.
 In 2000, it was among the sited registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the title Gusuku Sites
and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

From the forest, visitors walk along a stone-paved road, made from Ryukyu limestones to the main entrance.
From here, visitors will stroll along a 300 meter circular path to view the garden.
There are many interesting parts of the garden, not limited to…
**Ikutokusen—the spring filled with clear water.
 It is designated as a national monument as it is the birthplace of the red alga
**Stone Bridge: There are two stone bridges which connect to the palace as well a small islet in the middle of the water.
**Udun Palace:  built in the 17th century, before the garden and pond, this spacious palace has 15 rooms
**Rokkaku-do: a Chinese-style hexagonal pavilion located on a nearby island

Facility Information:
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:30 from October to March) 
**Last Entry is 30 minutes before closing
Closed: Wednesdays (or following day if Wednesday is a national holiday or falls on June 23) 
Admission: 400 yen

Japan’s southern island paradise has a rich and unique history which can learned here,
at the Okinawa Prefectural Museum.  Relocated in 2007,
the museum is housed in a contemporary building in central Naha.
There are two separate museums: a history museum and an art museum.

The history museum covers a wide time span:
from before the time of the Ryukyu Kingdom to the modern times of today.
The museum includes collections of natural history, folklore, crafts and archaeology.
Due to the cast amount of Okinawa cultural information presented, visitors could spend a few hours exploring the facility.

The art museum is a bit smaller compared to the history museum.
However the collections are displayed in multiple galleries, in art forms including sculptures, paintings,
sketches and videos.
There is a focus on local artists and themes.
The art is rather modern.  And there are special exhibitions which require additional fee for viewing.

Facility information:
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays)
Last Entry is 30 minutes before closing time
Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a national holiday) as well as December 29th to 31st
Admission: 410 yen (history museum), 310 yen (art museum),
　　　　　 separate fees for special exhibitions
Level of English: Good (history museum)

Naha's Tsuboya district has been an Okinawan pottery center since the era of the Ryukyu Kingdom,
and where many pottery workshops are still located.
The Tsuboya Pottery Museum illustrates the history and the techniques of Tsuboya pottery.

Facility Information:
Hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:30)
Closed: Mondays and December 28 to January 4
Admission: 315 yen

The Mazda Motor Corporation　was founded in Hiroshima in 1920. It still keeps its corporate headquarters in the city of its birth place. Besides the headquarters, Mazda possesses a large plot of coastal land which accommodates R&D (research and development) laboratories, factories, and shipping facilities. The company museum and part of a factory are made available to visitors.

Although Mazda is not as large as Toyota, Mazda plays a large role in Hiroshima's economy, like Toyota dose to Nagoya.  Producing over a million cars a year, It is an innovative player in the Japanese auto industry. For instance, in 1991 Mazda became the first and only Japanese company to win the Le Mans Grand Prix with 787B. Mazda continues efforts to create more efficient vehicles include improving its version of rotary engines.

Reservations are required for the Mazda Museum tour and can be made by telephone or via its website, the URL is below. Reservations can be made up to a year beforehand. Tours for individual travelers are offered once a day in English and Japanese.

Visitors to the museum are first gathered at the Mazda head office building. When the tour is scheduled to begin, a Mazda tour guide leads visitors onto a bus to take them to the museum building on the close to grounds of Mazda's Hiroshima Plant.

The museum offers a　digest of Mazda's history, such as a look into the expectancy for its future developments and the technology of its automobiles. The tour then goes through an actual vehicle assembly line, where a variety of different car models being produced. Final location is a shop where Mazda goods are sold. The tour takes a total of 90 minutes.

Access Information

From the JR Hiroshima Station, board a local train to Mukainada（向洋） Station. The one-way journey takes about 5minutes with a cost of 190yen. From arrival station the Mazda Head Office can be reached in a five minute walk.

Facility Information

Tours of the Mazda Museum and Factory are held daily, except weekends and company holidays. The starting time of the English tour is at 10:00 and the Japanese tour at 13:30. The full-length of the tours is around 90 minutes. The tour is free of charge, but a reservation must be made in advance by phone or e-mail.

Mazda official site for reservation http://www.mazda.com/en/about/museum/reservations/

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park (広島平和記念公園 ), located in downtown Hiroshima, is the site of where the first atomic bomb was dropped at 8:15 am on August 6, 1945.  The park is dedicated to the victims of the atomic bomb. The park promotes peace while reiterating the horrors of nuclear war.

Within this spacious park visitors will find many structures reflecting peace.  On Peace Boulevard, behind the fountain is the Peace Memorial Museum. Here visitors can witness and learn about Hiroshima’s history and struggle after the attack.

Visitors will see an arched structure, the Memorial Cenotaph, located in the middle of the park. The names of all of the victims of the bomb are written here with the inscription “Let all the souls here rest in peace for we shall not repeat the evil." The structure was constructed on August 6, 1952, with the arch shape reflecting the souls of the victims.

The Peace Flame behind the Cenotaph has been continuously lit since 1964. With a prayer of internal peace, the flame will remain lit until all nuclear weapons have been destroyed and the world is free from the threat of a nuclear war.

Hiroshima Memorial, or commonly known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, lies at the end of park, near the streetcar street (Aioi Street). Known as the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall at the time, this is the only remaining building near the bomb’s epicenter. Though there was some controversy whether the building should be torn down or preserved, it was decided the Atomic Bomb Dome is an important part of local as well as world history. Though the Dome has been reconstructed a few times, the original architecture was always been preserved in remembrance of the victims.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is the site of the annual Peace Memorial Ceremony held on August 6. There are peace exhibits throughout the park as well as narratives from the survivors of the atomic bomb, storytelling activities for children. Near the Peace Memorial Museum, visitors can find information about experiences translated in English.

On that day, i the evening, paper lanterns illuminated by candles are floated down the river next to the park. For a nominal fee, visitors can create their own paper lantern, with their own message of peace, to be floated down the river. Once the lantern is created, the volunteers will assemble the lantern and assist visitors in floating the lantern. Please be aware, as many people wish to participate in this tradition, there is usually a long line to float the lantern. Whether involved in the creation or not, all visitors to the park can view the paper lanterns floating down the river, the candlelight illuminating the black water.
 

Located near Hiroshima Station, visitors to Hiroshima’s mini-Kyoto garden, Shukkeien (縮景園) are able to view Japan’s seasonal beauty, reflected through nature. A popular spot for tea ceremonies, cherry blossom/autumn foliage viewing, this tranquil garden is visited by locals and tourists.

The name Shukkeien is loosely translated as "shrunken-scenery garden," which is also a good description of the garden. Visitors will find mini-valleys, mini-mountains, even mini-forests within the garden's landscapes. Through carefully cultivated land and vegetation, the garden mimics a variety of natural formations and scenic views.

Shukkeien has a long history dating back to 1620, just after the completion of Hiroshima Castle. The garden displays many features of the traditional aesthetics of Japanese gardens. Around the garden's main pond there are a number of tea houses which offer visitors ideal views of the surrounding scenery.

The entire garden is connected by a recommended path which leads visitors around the pond at the center of the garden. The path passes through all of Shukkeien's various miniaturized sceneries. Following this path around the garden is the best way to enjoy Shukkeien.

Shukkeien is a 15 minute walk from Hiroshima Station. Alternatively, it is a few steps from "Shukkeien-mae" tram stop along tram line 9. From Hiroshima Station, take tram line 1, 2 or 6 to Hacchobori and transfer to tram line 9. The entire journey takes about 15 minutes and costs 160 yen.

The garden has Japanese-style café, offering green tea, sweets, and so on.

Facility Information: 
Hours: 9:00 to 18:00 (until 17:00 from October to March) 
Closed: December 29th to 31st
Admission: 260 yen

An old fashioned town located along the Seto Inland Sea in the eastern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, Onomichi (尾道) has many interesting sites and places for locals and tourists to explore. In addition to the temples, museums, parks and gardens, Onomichi is the “Honshu” mainland point for the Shimanami Kaido Bridge.  And is the major port for the small islands within the Seto Inland Sea.

Onomichi is the home to many temples. In the past, rich merchants donated money to build temples within the port town to ensure prosperity. Visitors may choose to explore Onomichi’s famous “Temple Walk” which leads visitors to 25 temples. However, as Onomichi is also famous for its steep slopes, proper footwear is recommended. 

Onomichi is the home to many respected authors, such as Fumiko Hayashi, author of “Horoki” (“Vagabond’s Song” in English) which was adapted into the anime “Wandering Days.” Artists will enjoy looking the museums such as the Hirayama Museum, famous for Artist Hirayama’s Silk Road desert landscapes paintings of Iran, Iraq and China. Many movies have been filmed here, including Yasujiro Ozu’s globally famous film “Tokyo Monogatari.” 

Cyclists love Onomichi and its access to the Shimanami Kaido Bridge, the bridge which connects Honshu to Shikoku. The Shimanami Kaido Bridge has exits and entrances for drivers and cyclists to visit the small islands lying in the Seto Inland Sea. Onomichi, being the Honshu home of the bridge, has cycle rental stores, repair stores, even bicycle storage for those who opt the island hopping via ship.

Yet, there is more to the city of Onomichi. From the old-fashioned family owned business in the covered shopping arcade near the train station, to the modern U2 cycling support facility, there is something for everyone here. Traditional Japan meets Modern Japan with family fun festivals such as the summer fireworks festival or autumn Betcha Matsuri (where local “demons” run around hitting children on the head to knock some sense into them). Beautiful cherry blossom parks in the spring, artwork and history, cycling and temple touring…all available in the small, port city of Onomichi.

Visitors to Hiroshima will find the downtown area of the city located in the center of the city, unlike other Japanese cities. In most Japanese cities, the downtown area is located near the train station. However, in Hiroshima, though the station area has shopping, dining facilities, the commercial and entertainment center, Hiroshima downtown is located in central Hiroshima.

About 10 to 15 minutes away by streetcar from Hiroshima Station, visitors can find many things to do in this area. Visitors looking to purchase electronic items are recommended to visit Tax Free havens Edion or Yamada Denki. Another popular Tax Free store is Don Quixote, located along Chuo Dori near Okonomiyaki Mura (okonomiyaki village).

Hiroshima’s soul food, okonomiyaki is a layered cabbage/pork pancake, containing soba or udon noodles. Though okonomiyaki restaurants are located throughout Hiroshima, there is a high concentration of okonomiyaki stores in the downtown area. Located behind Parco Department Store is “Okonomiyaki Mura”, a building with only okonomiyaki shops.

In addition to the departments stores, SOGO, Fukuya and Mitsukoshi located in the downtown area, visitors will find a pedestrian only, shopping arcade street “Hondori”.  The covered arcade begins near Peace Park, the mini bridge located near the middle of the park, and stretches about one and half kilometers.  Visitors will find stores such as Daiso (100 yen store), convenience store (Lawson), clothing stores and more. Chain coffee shops such as Tully’s and Starbucks are located along Hondori as well as the main branch of the Danish bakery “Anderson’s.”

Hondori is an interesting area. There are chain stores as well as small family owned shops. Visitors can wander the small streets emerging from the main Hondori street to find treasures (such as a vintage Japanese toy shop) or more chain stores (such as the convenience store 7-11). At night, once the stores close, there are street performers. As the performances are not organized, it is difficult to what visitors may encounter. However, common examples of street performers in the Hondori area include guitar/singer performers, fortune tellers, and so on.

Hiroshima most famous and favorite souvenir would have to be Momiji Manju, sweet maple-shaped cakes with various fillings.

Visitors to Hiroshima can find souvenir boxes of momiji manju at department stores, train/airport kiosks and various souvenir stores in the Hondori Shopping Street and Miyajima Island.

There are many tales concerning the origin of the maple leaf shape of these sweets. Among the most famous is that the sweets were created by an observation made by Japan’s first Prime Minister Itoh Hirobumi. Itoh Hirobumi loved Miyajima and would often visit the island and the sacred Misen Mountain. Once during a visit in fall, Hirobumi saw the delicate hands of a young girl serving him tea and exclaimed, “Your hand is like a maple leaf!”  This sparked an idea within the proprietress of an inn, who had her baker create sweets in the maple leaf shape.

In the past, each momiji manju was handmade. However with the onset of technology, they are now produced using machines. Visitors can see the machines in many of the momiji manju stores on Miyajima Island and in some stores in Hiroshima city. Also, there are momiji manju making workshops available for visitors whoh have a desire to create this nationwide favorite Japanese confectionary. One of the places which offers momiji manju making workshops on a regular basis is the Miyajima Traditional Crafts Center. This workshop is offered every day except on Mondays, when the center is closed. Though a small fee will be charged, visitors can create their own momiji manju in about an hour.

Momiji manju has a variety of different fillings.  Traditionally, the sweets were filled with red bean paste, or anko.  However, nowadays the flavors have expanded to additional Japanese flavors of smooth bean paste or koshian, lightly crushed bean paste or tsubuan, white sweet beans or shiroan, chestnuts with bean paste or kurian, green tea or matcha as well as foreign-ish flavors of cheese, chocolate and cream. Hiroshima Seto Inland Sea’s Lemon is new addition as well as various other seasonal flavors.

Though usually baked and eaten solo, the way momiji manju is partaken is expanding. Visitors may wish to try an unbaked “rare” momiji manju. Visitors may find momiji manju in Japanese parfaits in Hiroshima. On Miyajima Island, there are stores which deep-fry momiji manju. The bread like coating is quite crispy with the filling creamy. Be careful not to burn the tongue as cream or cream is quite hot once deep fried.

Whether purchasing a box as a souvenir for friends back home or sampling an individual momiji manju, this small piece of Japanese delight is a delicious symbol of Hiroshima.
 

Museum of History and Folklore(歴史民俗資料館)

The Tomonoura Museum of History and Folklore provides information about the industries of Tomonoura and historical events that took place at the town. It displays exhibits relating to the daily life of the local people, such as festival floats, models of merchant ships and artifacts of the former Tomo Castle. The museum is only somewhat interesting with little English information.

Hours: 10:00 - 17:00
Closed: Mondays (Open on Mondays for national holidays), New Year holidays
Admission: 150 yen
 

Fukuzenji Temple【福禅寺】

Fukuzenji Temple offers the arguably most famous view at Tomonoura - that of the nearby Bentenjima Island and Sensuijima Island through the veranda of the temple. As a side note, the temple also houses a statue of Maria Kannon, who is Virgin Mary made to look like the Buddhist Bodhisattva Kannon during the Edo Period, when Christianity was banned in Japan and Christians had to practice their religion in secret.

 
Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 200 yen

Ankokuji Temple(安国寺)

Ankokuji Temple was founded during the Kamakura Period (1192-1333). It houses a couple of designated national treasures and important works, such as a wooden statue of Amida Buddha and a stone statue of a sitting Jizo Bodhisattva. The temple compound spots an interesting selection of tropical plants.

Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: No closing days
Admission: 150 yen
 

Senjokaku (Senjōkaku, literally means. ""pavilion of 1000 tatami mats"") is the common name of Hōkoku Shrine. The name describes the spaciousness of the building, as Senjokaku is in fact approximately the size of one thousand tatami mats. The hall, which constructed in 1587, which is located on a small hill just beside Itsukushima Shrine.

Toyotomi Hideyoshi, is regarded as Japan's second ""great unifier."" commissioned Senjokaku for the purpose of chanting Buddhist sutras for fallen soldiers. The building has beennot yet completed. The building has been left unfinished. As Tokugawa Ieyasu took power after Toyotomi deth rather than the Toyotomi heirs.

Senjokaku is strikingly sparse, lacking proper ceilings and a front entrance. The incomplete building was dedicated to the soul of its founder, Toyotomi Hideyoshi in 1872. The building remains its present day religious function. Next to Senjokaku stands a colorful five-storied pagoda originally built in 1407, predating the shrine itself.

Senjokaku
Hours: 8:30 to 16:30
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 100 yen

Access Information:
Senjokaku is a ten minute walk from the Miyajima ferry pier. It is located on the hill just beside Itsukushima Shrine.