This blog shares my two‑day journey to Hiroshima, flying in from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. Since Hiroshima Airport sits some distance from the city center, we decided to explore other parts of the prefecture before heading into Hiroshima itself. Originally, the plan was to visit Onomichi on the eastern side of Hiroshima. But considering the travel time back to the city, we changed course and chose Takehara instead — and it turned out to be the perfect decision.
Takehara is an iconic little town: quiet, deeply relaxing, and steeped in history. Wandering its preserved streets felt like stepping back in time, and I found myself falling in love with its gentle charm.
Flying to Hiroshima from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport
There are several ways to travel from Tokyo to Hiroshima — by car, highway bus, shinkansen (bullet train), or airplane. We chose to fly, as it’s the fastest option. The flight from Haneda Airport takes only about 90 minutes, and the fare is quite reasonable. By contrast, the shinkansen from Tokyo Station takes around 4 hours. We were lucky with the weather on our trip — the sky was perfectly clear, and from the airplane window we could see the majestic silhouette of Mt. Fuji and Japan’s Southern Alps. It was absolutely breathtaking. If you happen to travel on a day like this, the JAL cabin crew will often announce that the view of Mt. Fuji is especially beautiful, so be sure not to miss it.
Heading to the coastal town – Takehara
If you rent a car from Hiroshima Airport, it’s the easiest way to reach Takehara City. For this trip, however, we decided not to drive — we simply wanted to relax and enjoy the journey. The good news is that there’s a convenient limousine bus service from the airport to Takehara. The bus is relatively small, so it’s a good idea to reserve your seat by phone in advance. The ride was smooth and comfortable, and it took only about 20 minutes to reach Takehara Station. You can find the limousine bus detail in the official Hiroshima Airport Public Transportation Timetables, which include the limousine bus service details.
Taketsuru Shuzo in Takehara
If you’re familiar with Nikka Whisky, you may already know its connection to Takehara — it’s the hometown of Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka and often called the father of Japanese whisky. His family’s sake brewery, Taketsuru Shuzō (竹鶴酒造), still stands here, carrying on a tradition that dates back to 1733. The history of Masataka Taketsuru can be identified in Nikka Whisky’s website.
We had the pleasure of tasting nihonshu (日本酒 / Japanese sake) inside their beautifully preserved historic building. The sake itself was exquisite — smooth, layered, and full of character — but it was the atmosphere that made it unforgettable. The dark wooden beams, polished with age, seemed to infuse each sip with a quiet depth. I couldn’t resist buying a few bottles as gifts for my relatives. Thankfully, the brewery offers nationwide delivery, so we didn’t have to carry them for the rest of our trip.
Historical walk in Takehara
Takehara is a serene coastal town along the Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海). The town flourished during the Edo period, propelled by a thriving salt-making industry. Vast salt fields were bringing prosperity to the merchants who lived here. Thanks to this rich history, many grand merchant houses still stand today, beautifully preserved in their original form. Though the town itself is small, its charming walking paths—lined with elegant, centuries-old buildings—offer an atmosphere that feels worlds away from everyday life. The preserved town area is located 12 walk minutes distance from the Takehara station.
The Takehara City Museum of History and Folklore (竹原市歴史民俗資料館) offers a fascinating glimpse into the town’s past, with photographs and authentic tools once used by local salt makers. The museum is housed in a charming light-blue Western-style building, originally constructed in 1929 as the Takehara Shoin Library. Its blend of history, architecture, and cultural exhibits makes it well worth a visit during your time in Takehara. You can find more detailed information on Takehara Kanko Navi.
Amazing Sushi lunch
Since we hadn’t planned ahead for lunch, we wandered through the streets of Takehara to see what was available. The town is famous for Gyohan (魚飯/ Rice with fish) — one of its cherished kyōdo-ryōri (郷土料理 / traditional local dishes) according to Takehara Navi. This legacy dish, once served by wealthy salt merchants to welcome guests, is made with grilled white fish — often snapper from the nearby Seto Inland Sea — placed over seasoned rice and enjoyed in two ways: first with local toppings, and then as ochazuke (お茶漬け/ rice with tea), with dashi broth poured over. It sounded delicious, but since we hadn’t made a reservation, we decided to try something else.
That “something else” turned out to be a wonderful choice — we enjoyed beautifully prepared sushi at Kihachi, just a two-minute walk from Takehara Station. The fish was incredibly fresh, caught right across the water in the Seto Inland Sea (瀬戸内海).
Heading to Hiroshima station from Takehara
There are several ways to travel from Takehara to Hiroshima Station, but we chose the JR Kure Line (呉線). It’s probably the slowest option, yet it offers something no express train can — a continuous view of the shimmering Seto Inland Sea. The journey took about two hours, and every minute felt worthwhile. From our seats, we could read books in comfort while glancing up to see oyster farms stretching across the water. It was a slow ride in the best possible way — unhurried, scenic, and deeply relaxing.
