About Takehara
Takehara flourished as a manor for Kyoto's Shimogamo Shrine during the distant Heian period. It remains a town full of atmosphere, where precious cultural heritage continues to live on.
In particular, the Takehara Townscape Preservation District preserves the streets lined with mansions and historic temples that prospered in the late Edo period through salt production and sake brewing, conveying the original appearance of traffic. Apart from Honmachi-dori, the main street that runs north and south along Terayama, all the other streets are narrow, and each road has a different atmosphere, such as Okoji, Itaya-koji, and Nakano-koji. The high walls, latticed tenement gates, and plaster-covered walls all convey the atmosphere of the alleys of the Edo period, and you can see how people lived at that time everywhere in the town.
Also, Okunoshima, a paradise in the Seto Inland Sea where you will be greeted by wild rabbits, has been designated a national park and the entire island is a holiday village.
You can also enjoy camping and swimming in the beach, and spend a relaxing time interacting with rabbits in the beautiful nature of the Seto Inland Sea. On the other hand, Okunoshima was once used as the Geiyo Fortress and a poison gas factory, and wartime remains such as the remains of a poison gas storage facility, a power plant, and a gun battery continue to tell the story of war.
We want to continue to treasure and protect this small town that continues to tell its history to those living in the present. Enjoy a tranquil, extraordinary experience in this irreplaceable town, Takehara.
traffic guide
If you are coming to Takehara City from the Tokyo area, we recommend using a plane.
- STEP 1:
-
Haneda Airport → Hiroshima Airport
From Haneda Airport, please take JAL (Japan Airlines) or ANA (All Nippon Airways) bound for Hiroshima Airport.
*15 trains run per day / Journey time is approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes (as of May 2024)
- STEP 2:
-
Hiroshima Airport → Takehara City
From Hiroshima Airport to Takehara City, please use a shared taxi (jumbo taxi).
* 7 trains run per day / Journey time is approximately 30 minutes / 1,500 yen one way (as of May 2024)
*Rental cars are also available near Hiroshima Airport.
- Total time required:
- Approximately 2.5 hours
- Recommended points:
-
Hiroshima Airport is a small airport, but there are plenty of restaurants and souvenir shops.
Depending on your seat position, you can enjoy a bird's-eye view of the beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea before and after takeoff and landing.
If you are coming to Takehara City from Kyoto or Osaka, we recommend using the train.
- STEP 1:
-
Take the Shinkansen to JR Mihara Station
From JR Kyoto Station or JR Shin-Osaka Station, take the Shinkansen to JR Mihara Station.
*Approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka Station. Times vary depending on the type of Shinkansen (transfers may be required).
- STEP 2:
-
JR Mihara Station → Takehara City
At JR Mihara Station, transfer to the JR Kure Line bound for Hiro and get off at Takehara Station.
*Approximately 45 minutes from Mihara Station/There is approximately one train bound for Hiro every hour. please note.
- Total time required:
- Approximately 2.5 hours(Including transfer time)
- Recommended points:
-
The line runs along the coast, so you can enjoy the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea from the train window.
We also recommend using your transfer time to sightsee around Mihara City.
If you are coming to Takehara City from Hiroshima City, we recommend using a bus.
- STEP 1:
-
Hiroshima Bus Center or JR Hiroshima Station → Takehara Station
"Hiroshima Bus Center" is located on the 3rd floor of Sogo Hiroshima, just outside the Hiroshima Electric Railway (streetcar) "Kamiyacho Higashi Station". The bus stop at "JR Hiroshima Station" is platform 13 on "C platform" immediately outside the south exit.
*11-12 round trips per day / Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes from JR Hiroshima Station / 1,300 yen one way (as of May 2024)
- Total time required:
- Approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes
- Recommended points:
-
If you depart on a morning flight, you will be able to fully enjoy Takehara City for the whole day, so it is possible to take a day trip.
Four flights a day also go to JR Tadanoumi Station, the gateway to Rabbit Island (Okunoshima).
About Takehara DMO*Takehara DMO is
It is the abbreviation for "Takehara Tourism Area Development General Incorporated Association."
We are the Takehara Tourism Urban Development Organization, a DMO corporation established by Takehara City, the Takehara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Takehara Tourism Association to promote tourism in the city.
With the vision of "The Salt of Life - the essence that gives meaning and inspiration to life," we aim to be "a town that gives meaning and inspiration to the lives of both visitors and residents," and in March 2024, we were registered as a "Tourism Region Development Organization (Candidate DMO)" by the Japan Tourism Agency.
Going forward, we will continue to define "finding The Salt of Life = the highest level of customer satisfaction," and work to create opportunities for visitors (tourists) and residents (residents and business owners) to discover their own unique version of The Salt of Life (SOL).