Moopon

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/

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.

Japan and its people are very proud of Shimanami Kaido Bridge, the world’s longest series of suspension bridges, which connects Honshu (Japan’s main island) with Shikoku. Visitors can enter or exit the bridge from either Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture on the Honshu side or from Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture on the Shikoku side. This 60 kilometer long bridge-toll road can be utilized by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Visitors can use Shimanami Kaido to visit Mukaishima, Innoshima, Ikuchijima, Omishima, Hakatajima, and Oshima islands as the bridge has exits for its users to stop along the Seto Inland Islands on their way to Honshu or Shikoku. Some areas of attractions on the islands include:
**Innoshima Suigun Castle on Innoshima Island. Though not the original castle, the recreated naval castle is modeled after the original castle from the 14th to 15th centuries. Visitors will find a museum about the Japanese navy within the castle.
**Kosanji Temple on Ikuchijima Island. Dedicated to the founder’s mother, the buildings within the temple grounds are modeled after famous Japanese historic structures. This temple has a museum as well displaying rare, high quality antique art pieces.
**Oyamazumi Jinja (Shrine) on Omishima Island.  The deity enshrined at this shrine is the protector of the sailors and soldiers. The shrine is also famous for its collection of historic armor and swords.
**Kirosan Observatory Park on Oshima Island.  Visitors can view Kurushima-kaiyo Strait Bridge, the first three consecutive suspension bridges in the world! In addition, Kurshima-kaiyo Strait, one of the three fastest currents in Japan can be seen here.

In addition to the tourist attractions, visitors can enjoy the fresh sea air, cool sea breeze as well as sunshine on this island hopping bridge.  Visitors will find beautiful beaches on the islands.  There are campgrounds as well as hot spring inns (ryokan) for those who wish to spend the night.

Visitors are recommended to try the local fruits and vegetables these islands are proud of. Citrus is especially popular in this area. The seafood, caught from the surrounding Seto Inland Sea, is delicious as well. Sea bream. Octopus, Shellfish (including short-neck clams and freshwater clams) are but a few of the popular seafood in this area.

The bridge can be accessed by car, moped, bus, and bicycle or on foot. There are ferries as well to the islands with the Shimanami Kaido Bridge in the background. Not just a bridge, toll way connecting the islands as well Honshu and Shikoku, Shimanami Kaido is new way to access, discover and experience Japan treasures. 

The Hakata Gion Yamakasa is one of the most intriguing festivals in Japan.
It is held annually in early July and climaxes with a spectacular time trial race in the early morning hours of July 15.
In the race, seven neighborhoods of Fukuoka's Hakata district compete in pushing colorful festival floats along a five kilometer long course through the city.

The festival is famous for two different types of floats: 
The larger kazariyama floats stand over ten meters tall, weighing over two tons.
In the past they were raced through the streets, but, after power lines were introduced in the Meiji Period,this became problematic, and today they only serve as decorative floats.
14 of them stand spread out across the city from July 1 to 14, including two at Hakata Station and Canal City Hakata. 

For the race, smaller sized kakiyama floats, about five meters tall weighing one ton, are used today.
There are seven of them, one for each of the neighborhoods participating in the race.
Since the floats do not have wheels and are dragged through the streets, water is sprinkled in front of the float so that frictionbetween the float and the road surface can be reduced
(and the participants can be cooled down). 

From July 10 to 14, the seven teams hold several practice runs and parades in preparation for the main race.
You will get a good English festival booklet with detailed maps and time schedules for these events which are interesting to watch.

On July 15 just after 1am, all 7 teams are ready at the starting point,
which is located in front of Kushida Shrine, the festival's host shrine. 

On July 15 at 4:59am, just before sunrise, the first team starts into the race, followed by the other teams in five minute intervals.
In spite of the early time of the day, thousands of spectators gather along the five-kilometer long course,
which includes several tight turns and long stretches along both narrow lanes and broad streets.
It takes each team about 30 minutes of intense effort to finish the course. 

There are a lot of spots to see the race along its long course, except around some of the more spectacular sections,
for example, the start area, where people show up hours in advance to keep good spots to watch the race.
Paid seating is available in the small court yard of Kushida Shrine, where each team has to push its float around a pole,
but these seats are virtually impossible to get because of the high competition. 

How to get there 
The festival is held in the Hakata district of Fukuoka.
Kushida Shrine is located a 5- minute walk from Canal City Hakata or Gion Subway Station,
or a 15-20 minute walk from Hakata Station.


 

Fukuoka's open air food stands (Yatai) are possibly the city's most famous symbol.
A yatai food stand can usually seat about seven or eight people and you will enjoy various foods that are generally simple and filling, in an outdoor setting.
There are over 150 yatai food stands scattered across Fukuoka but the best place to find them is on the southern end of Nakasu Island.
Located in the middle of the city, Nakasu Island has a long row of about 20 yatai food stands where you will feel you are just near water. 

Typical dishes enjoyed at yatai are grilled chicken skewers (yakitori), hot pot (oden) and most famously Hakata Ramen,a local noodle dish featuring relatively thin
ramen noodles in a pork bone based soup (tonkotsu).

Various alcoholic drinks are also available, and help make the yatai a great place to get in touch with the locals,although many of the "locals"
happen to be Japanese tourists visiting Fukuoka from other parts of Japan. 

Yatai are typically open from around 6pm to around 2am, except when the weather is very bad.
Many stands close one day of the week.
The closure day varies from stand to stand, but is often Sunday.
There can be waiting times for popular stands, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. 

How to get there  
Yatai are located throughout the city center, and visitors will likely come across some while walking through busy tourist areas in the evening. 
To reach the row of stalls on Nakasu Island travelers can take
the convenient 100 yen loop busfrom Hakata Station or Tenjin Station
(100 yen, departures every 5-10 minutes).
The closest subway stations are Nakasu Kawabata Station and Minami Tenjin Station, which are both about a 10 minute walk away. 


 

Canal City Hakata is a large shopping and entertainment complex,
calling itself a "city within the city".
Attractions include about 250 shops, cafes and restaurants, a theater, game center, cinemas, two hotels and a canal running through the complex. 

Visitors, who are planning on shopping, will likely be able to find something of interest in one of Canal City's many stores,
whether it be in a shop unique to Japan or a branch of an international company.
There is also a wide variety of restaurants, offering Japanese and international food, that generally have reasonably priced menus.
The fifth floor consists of the "Ramen Stadium", which has eight ramen shops with noodle dishes from across Japan, including the local specialty Hakata Ramen. 

Canal City has been designed to create a spacious and interesting atmosphere with creative and unique colors and shapes.
The artificial canal runs right through the middle of the five floored entertainment complex, creating a lot of open space.
At the center of the canal there is a fountain with water shows
every 30 minutes from 10:00 until 22:00. 

How to get there  

Canal City Hakata is a short ride by the 100 yen loop bus from Hakata Station or Tenjin Station (100 yen, departures every 5-10 minutes).
Alternatively, you can walk there in about 15 minutes from Hakata Station or in about 20 minutes from Tenjin Station.  


 

The ruins of Fukuoka Castle (福岡城跡, Fukuokajōato) are located in the middle of the city in Maizuru Park, named after the castle's alias, Maizuru Castle.

During the Edo Period (1603-1867), Fukuoka Castle used to be the largest castle on Kyushu,
but it was almost completely torn down after the Meiji Restoration as an unwanted symbol of the feudal past.
Nowadays only ruined walls and a few turrets remain, and the park attracts visitors with walking trails and a few lookout points. 

Fukuoka Castle was built in the beginning of the 17th century by Kuroda Nagamasa,
who was appointed lord of the surrounding Chikuzen feudal domain
(part of today's Fukuoka Prefecture) for his support of Tokugawa Ieyasu during the battle of Sekigahara.

The Kuroda clan ruled from the castle for more than two centuries until the abolition of the feudal system in 1870. 
The best time to visit the castle ruins is usually between late March and early April, when Maizuru Park turns into the city's most pleasant spot for cherry blossom viewing.
A number of walking paths are lined with cherry trees so that visitors can walk through a tunnel of flowers,and there are also plenty of lawned areas
for holding hanami parties under the blossoms. 

Among the few surviving or reconstructed castle buildings are some gates and guard towers, scattered across the castle grounds.
Parts of the moat system also remain, most noticeably on Maizuru Park's northern border and in form of the large lake at the center of the neighboring Ohori Park. 

How to get there  
The Fukuoka Castle Ruins can be reached in a 10-15 minute walk from Ohori Koen Subway Station.  


 

Seaside Momochi (シーサイドももち, Shīsaido Momochi) is Fukuoka's modern waterfront located on reclaimed land along Hakata Bay.
The area was originally developed as the site of the 1989 Asia Pacific Expo and was designed with attractive,
modern features such as wide, tree lined streets, futuristic buildings, public parks and no phone or electricity lines above ground. 

Seaside Momochi is home to several attractive amusements including beaches, museums and a variety of shopping and dining options.
The main attractions are centered around Fukuoka Tower and the Hawks Town entertainment complex,which are located about one kilometer apart:

Fukuoka Tower  
 Hours: 9:30 to 22:00 (until 21:00 from October to March) 
Closed: The last Monday and Tuesday of June 
Admission: 800 yen (20% off for foreigners who show passport identification)  

 Built in 1989 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Tower stands 234 meters tall and is far and away the city's highest building and Japan's tallest seaside tower.
The tower is adorned in over 8000 mirrors and sports a three-storied observation deck at 123 meters above ground with good views over the city.  

Robosquare  
 Hours: 9:30 to 18:00 
Closed: Second Wednesday of each month (except Jan, Jul, Aug, Dec), Dec 28-Jan 2 
Admission: Free
 
 Robosquare is a showroom where visitors can encounter robots and learn how they can be used in everyday life.
The facility has over 200 robots and offers hands-on experiences where both children and adults can play and interact with robots and learn about their technology and production.
Robot performances are held daily.
There is also a shop selling robot toys and souvenirs.
Robosquare is on the second floor of the TV Nishi Nippon building just next to Fukuoka Tower.
 
Fukuoka City Museum  
 Hours: 9:30 to 17:30 (until 19:30 from July to August except for Sundays and holidays) 
Admission ends 30 minutes before closing 
Closed: Mondays (or next day if Monday is a holiday), December 28 to January 4 
Admission: 200 yen (permanent exhibition)  

 This history museum displays the cultural development of the local region with an emphasis on Fukuoka's role as a gateway for trade and culture exchange between Japan and the Korean Peninsula.
The permanent exhibit is very well done with interactive exhibits and lots of English information.  

Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome  
 Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome is Japan’s first retractable roofed dome and multi-use arena.
The seaside stadium is home to the Softbank Hawks baseball team, which is the only professional baseball team on Kyushu.
The stadium hosts events and concerts in addition to games.  

Hawks Town Mall  
 Hours: Varies by store, typically 11:00 to 21:00 
Closed: No closing days  
 Hawks Town Mall is a shopping and entertainment zone just outside of Fukuoka Yafuoku Dome.
In addition to a selection of over 100 shops and restaurants, the mall features a diverse array of facilities including the Zepp Fukuoka performance hall, movie theater,
a Namco amusement center and a trick art museum. 

How to get there
The waterfront area can be reached in a 10-20 minute bus ride from Tenjin Station (230 yen one way),
in a 20-30 minute bus ride from Hakata Station (230 yen one way) or in a 15-20 minute walk from Nishijin or Tojinmachi Subway Stations. 
In addition, Seaside Momochi is a 20 minute, 1030 yen ferry ride from Uminonakamichi Seaside Park across Hakata Bay.
Ferries depart approximately every two hours (more frequent during busy seasons).