竹原 - 広島の小京都

Takehara - Hiroshima’s Little Kyoto Takehara Hiroshima’s Little Kyoto Kanpai's rating Add to my favorite places Already visited Takehara is a city on the Seto Inland Sea, in Hiroshima prefecture in Japan. Its preserved historical district make it a pleasant walk for amateurs of ancient architecture, but also for the fans of the anime Tamayura . Takehara developed during the Edo period (1603 – 1868) thanks to its coastal location, its salt fields and sake 🍶 production. Despite a relatively small size, the town cultivated many common points with the ancient imperial capital, starting by the atmosphere of its traditional neighborhoods . Like Shijo avenue in Kyoto , Takehara’s main street, Honmachi-dori, is lined with shops and restaurants. The origins of Japanese whisky Aside the traditional aspects, the city is also known as the birthplace of Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, whose life inspired the story line of Massan , a drama series broadcasted on the NHK in 2014 – 2015. The Takehara City Museum of History and Folklore displays items related to the Nikka brand, which is now internationally acknowledged. On a side note, Takehara is also featured in Tamayura , a famous slice-of-life manga and anime revolving around the city’s high school photography club. Kyoto in a nutshell Takehara is surrounded by a bamboo forest that can remind of Kyoto’s Arashiyama . The city’s name literally means "bamboo field" and the tree is indeed largely used in the local crafts. An annual bamboo festival is even held with various parades, and the plant became the symbol of the town in 1978. The small 26,000 inhabitants provincial city is also home to several historical buildings, most of which were designated Japan’s National Treasures. Among the charming temples and shrines, the Zen Buddhist Saiho-ji temple is worth mentioning. It was built in 1560, then destroyed by fire 🔥 in 1602 and reconstructed a few years later. The main hall was renovated in 1702 and several pavilions were added over time. Its wooden gate and the view offered on the city’s roofs from the Fumeikaku platform , whose architecture reminds of the Kiyomizu-dera , is a true feast for visitors. Panoramic view on the Seto Inland Sea The exploration continues in Tadanoumi, three stations away in from Takehara’s downtown toward east. Mount Kurotaki culminating at 266 meters high is one of the nature gateway of the destination. It takes about 40 minutes walk to reach its observatory and enjoy nice 360° panoramas on the the Seto Inland Sea's strings of islands . Lastly, kawaii amateurs may embark in Tadanoumi port to sail to Okunoshima, the famous rabbit island. Thanks to its historical and artisanal heritage, Takehara reminds of Kyoto and Kanazawa , without the tourists crowds , which is an obvious advantage for those who would like to stroll leisurely in a quiet downtown. This article was written after a tour sponsored and organized by Hiroshima Prefecture Tourism Association. Kanpai has been invited and guided but keeps a total freedom of editorial content. ⬇️ Further down this page, discover our visit guide in Takehara and around. By Kanpai Updated on April 04, 2025 Takehara Review this place Have you ever visited Takehara ? Share your opinion Community's rating 3.83 /5 (6 votes) Our Pictures of Takehara Getting Ready How to go to Takehara? By train -- From Hiroshima: ~1h15 by Shinkansen Sanyo to Mihara, then transfer to a local train on the Kure Line to Takehara (¥4,000 (~US$25.47) or free with the Japan Rail Pass) ~2h by direct train on the scenic railway etSETOra (formerly Setouchi Marine View) (¥2,170 (~US$13.82) or free with the Japan Rail Pass. Only operating Friday to Monday) Or take the Kaguyahime-go bus between Hiroshima and Takehara (included in the Visit Hiroshima Tourist Pass "Wide Area") 🚄 Free travel with the JR Pass: Order Japan Rail Pass (from ~$336) Internet Access Stay connected with a Pocket Wifi in Japan Travel Insurance Get a travel insurance in case of cancellation or accident Information Where is Takehara? You must consent to the processing of your data by MapTiler (Switzerland) or GoogleMaps (USA) to display the map Accept Use Google Maps See Japan's Map On site When to visit Takehara? All year round, for one day How to say Takehara in Japanese? 竹原 Takehara Opening Times Open on average from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. How much is it? Get your Japanese Yens free of charge Learn more Related topics Japanese Temples & Shrines Japanese Arts and History Manga & Anime Japanese movies & J-drama Japan Observation Decks Traditional Japanese Architecture Official Website and Information Takehara City's Official Website (in English) What to see near Takehara? ~8km away Okunoshima 🐇 Rabbits’ island Okunoshima or Okuno-jima is a small island located in Japan’s Inland Sea, attached to Takehara city in… Kanpai's rating ~17km away Shimanami Kaido The Wonderful Ride on the Bridges of Seto Shimanami Kaido is an asphalted road itinerary connecting Honshu and Shikoku Islands in Japan. Completed in… Kanpai's rating ~28km away Onomichi The Timeless Japanese Town Onomichi is a port town on the shores of Seto Inland sea, in Hiroshima prefecture in Japan. 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