Takehara: Hiroshima’s ‘Little Kyoto’ Townscape, Sake Breweries and the Bamboo Lantern Festival

Quick answer: Takehara’s preserved merchant quarter is a quiet, beautifully kept street of old wooden houses, about 70 minutes from Hiroshima by the Kaguya-hime express bus. Walk the townscape, climb to Saihoji Fumeikaku for the view over the rooftops, and taste local sake at Fujii Shuzo (free entry). It pairs perfectly with Rabbit Island (Okunoshima), 15 minutes from nearby Tadanoumi.

Takehara grew rich in the Edo period from salt-making, and its merchants built a street of fine houses that still stands. It’s sometimes called the “Little Kyoto of Aki” (Aki being the old name for western Hiroshima). I’ve walked the old townscape myself, and it’s a peaceful place that many visitors to Hiroshima never hear about.

Getting there

• Express bus “Kaguya-hime”: from Hiroshima Bus Center or the south exit of Hiroshima Station, about once an hour, about 70 minutes to Takehara. The easiest option.
• Train: the JR Kure Line along the coast takes about 110 minutes from Hiroshima — slow, but scenic.

The preservation district is a short walk from Takehara Station.

The townscape

Takehara’s old quarter was designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1982. The houses have lattice windows, tiled roofs and white plaster walls. It’s best explored slowly, in the morning or late afternoon.

Highlights:

• Saihoji Fumeikaku — a temple hall built in 1758 on a hillside platform, modelled on Kyoto’s Kiyomizu-dera. Climb the steps for the classic view over the old roofs.
• Matsuzaka House — an old merchant’s house you can go inside (a few hundred yen).
• Takehara City History & Folk Museum — a 1930 Western-style former library, telling the story of the town’s salt and sake (¥200; closed Tuesdays).

Sake in Takehara

Takehara also has a long brewing history.

• Taketsuru Shuzo — founded in 1733, the family home of Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky (and the inspiration for the NHK drama Massan). The shop closes at weekends and holidays.
• Fujii Shuzo — its exchange hall offers free entry and tastings of several sakes (11:00–16:00, closed Mondays).

If you can’t drive after tasting, take the bus.

Shokei no Michi: the bamboo lantern festival

On one weekend each autumn, the old streets are lit with about 5,000 bamboo lanterns. In 2026 it’s on 31 October and 1 November, 17:00–21:00. It’s busy but magical — if your dates match, plan your visit around it.

Combine with Rabbit Island

Takehara is right next to Tadanoumi, where ferries leave for Okunoshima (Rabbit Island) — about 15 minutes by boat. Spend the morning on the island and the afternoon in Takehara’s old town, or the other way round. See Rabbit Island.

How long to spend

Two to three hours for the townscape and a brewery. Add Okunoshima for a full day. Many places close one day a week and at New Year, so check before you go.

FAQ

Is Takehara worth a day trip from Hiroshima?
Yes, especially combined with Rabbit Island.

Is it crowded?
Usually quiet, except during the lantern festival.

Can I get there with a JR Pass?
Yes, on the JR Kure Line, but the express bus is faster and isn’t covered.

Kaz

Tokushima local with family roots in Hiroshima

I live in Tokushima and my family is from Hiroshima, where I also used to live. I still go back several times a year. The guides here come from places I have actually been. Where I haven't tried something myself, I say so.