Embarking on a trip to Hiroshima? You might want to consider visiting Takehara, a city famous for its beautifully preserved historical townscape. Join us in this guide to the best things to do in Takehara!
In Takehara, Japanese temples and old shrines coexist with old houses and public buildings owned by salt and sake merchants over the course of over three centuries. It’s a walk down memory lane in Takehara. Let’s head to the best activities you can do in this charming town.
1. Stroll Its Instagrammable 350-Year-Old Street
The first thing you’d want to do the moment you set foot at Takehara is to explore its centuries-old streets. Mingle with the locals outside their homes, decorating them with flowers to welcome visitors like you.
Remember to feast your eyes on the Takehara lattice covering these houses' windows, a design featuring lattice work that looks like it’s cut from paper.
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2. Play with the Rabbits
Avid Japan travelers would recommend that you make your way to Ōkunoshima, an island in Takehara also known as “Rabbit Island.” Countless rabbits run wild and free here, without the fear of being eaten by predators.
3. Be Mesmerized by Stunning Views of the City From Saiho-ji Temple
Many temples in Japan are built on hilltops because they believe these are the closest ways they can get to the gods. In Takehara, there’s the magnificent Saiho-ji Temple located on the side of the hill from where you can be at a vantage point to gorgeous views of the city.
4. Enroll in a Bamboo Basket Making Workshop
Make your time in Takehara even more worthwhile by enrolling in a workshop that will teach you how to make bamboo baskets. Bamboo is dear to Hiroshima as its durability stood the harshest of occurrences when it was the only plant to have survived the radiation from the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945.
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5. Visit a Sake Brewery
Located in an area that still feels like it’s the Edo era all over again, this sake brewery offers on-site sake tasting and an opportunity to brew your own personalized version of the beverage.
You can also find merchandise like Japanese paper made of bamboo and bamboo charcoal coffee. Stop by the nearby restaurant here for some mouthwatering handmade soba noodles.
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6. Learn About Its Mercantile History
Down Honmachi Street, you’ll find a conspicuous building that dates back to the Meiji era, which came after the Edo period. That building houses the Takehara Historical Museum, where you can learn more about the city’s history as a leading mercantile hub in Japan.
7. Make a Wish at the Okakae Jizo Statue
If you believe superstitions are true, make your wish come true at the Okakae Jizo Statue. This statue is dressed in red as the Japanese believe that color wards away forces of evil.
How do you make a wish? Well, simply pick up a large stone near the statue. If the rock feels lighter to you than it appears, there’s a strong chance the gods will smile at you, and your wish will come true. But, if not, be prepared for bad luck. If you don’t want to take the risk, you can simply enjoy taking photos of the statue and the area.
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8. Check out the City’s Oldest Surviving Domiciles
Two of Takehara’s oldest surviving domiciles worth checking out are from the Yoshii and Matsusaka residences. Visiting them will give you the feeling of traveling back to the days of yesteryear. And, you won’t just enjoy their façades but you can likewise enter to see the interiors of Japanese houses from the good old days.
9. Stay at the Nipponia Hotel
Nipponia Hotel is categorized as a luxury hotel in Takehara, but it isn’t in a modern-looking building. Instead, it is housed in a traditional Japanese structure. It is actually inspired by ryokans or Japanese-style inns usually found in hot spring resorts. Inside, you can take a refreshing hinoki bath or wooden bath.
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10. Join a Workshop at a Local Salt Factory
Takehara became a salt-making center during the Edo period because the bay, thanks to the ideal changing tides of the Seto Inland Sea, was conducive to salt production.
There is a local salt factory in this city where you can learn the art and science of salt cooking, and what makes Takehara’s salt so special.
Dubbed “Little Kyoto,” Takehara is a recommended destination for travelers who wish to learn about history and a bit of Japan’s mercantile past.
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