Hiroshima Prefecture is not the first place that comes to mind when thinking of hiking in Japan; however, it boasts some truly beautiful nature hikes and walking trails which can be enjoyed by beginners and experts alike. Below, you will find a list of what we consider to be the best hiking and walking trails in the prefecture, along with some additional details about where to find them and how to access them.
Mount Misen
One of the top sightseeing locations in Hiroshima is the scenic island of Miyajima. Apart of being the home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Itsukushima Shrine, it also possesses the breathtaking Mount Misen. This mountain stands at around 535 meters above sea level and offers a great variety of hikes up to its summit.
There are three main hiking trails on the mountain: Momijidani, Daisho-in, and Omoto. Each of these trails have different steepness, length, and sightseeing opportunities. The shortest of them is the Momijidani one, which starts inside Momijidani Park and is the fastest route to the summit, taking approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
The Daisho-in trail is regarded as the most scenic one of the three, and starts at the left of the main gate of Daisho-in Temple. While this trail has outstanding views, it also involves a great amount of stone steps and takes about 90 to 120 minutes to complete.
The last hiking trail, Omoto, begins at Omoto Shrine located near the public aquarium. This trail cuts through the dense forests of the mountain and is perhaps the most peaceful and less traveled of the three. This is also the longest one, taking approximately 120 minutes or more to complete.
You can read more detailed information about the mountain and its hiking trails on our "Exploring Mount Misen & Miyajima Ropeway" page.
If you want to reach the summit of Miyajima but are not interested in doing a 60-minute or more hike, we actually offer a tour on the island which involves a ropeway ride up Mount Misen and a shorter 30-minute hike to the top. Additionally, this guided tour includes stops by all the best sightseeing locations on the island. You can learn more about it by clicking on the tour card below:
Sandankyo Gorge
Sandankyo Gorge is the best spot in Hiroshima for fans of nature and hiking. This gorge is about 16 kilometers long and is located on the northern part of the prefecture. It is made up of different hiking trails for beginners and experts alike. The sights within the gorge are extraordinary, with standout locations such as Kurobuchi Pool and the Nidandaki and Sandandaki Falls.
You can get to Sandankyo Gorge using public transportation but need to be careful about the timing since there are very few buses available throughout the day. It takes approximately 80 minutes to get to the gorge from the city of Hiroshima so we recommend heading to it early in the morning.
We also advice visiting the gorge between April and November, as the restrooms, restaurants, and ferry services are closed during the winter. Additionally, many of the most popular areas and walking courses in Sandakyo Gorge are currently inaccessible due to road collapses and falling rocks. It is still possible to visit the gorge and enjoy its stunning landscapes, but visitors should know that their experience will be somewhat limited.
Mount Mitaki
On the outskirts of the city of Hiroshima lies one of its hidden gems, Mitaki-dera temple. This magnificent Buddhist temple is located at the base of a mountain called Mount Sokayama but colloquially known as Mount Mitaki. This mountain is about 356 meters tall and can taker around 1 hour to hike all the way to the top. Starting from the temple, there are different paths to the summit, all leading to a spectacular panoramic view of the city.
We highly recommend this hike for travelers who don't have a lot of time to spend in Hiroshima but would still like to explore some nature and so some physical activity. You can easily reach the mountain both by train and bus. The trains run more often but require an additional 15 steep walk to the temple. The bus runs once per hour from Hiroshima Station but will drop you off closer to the temple.
Due to the beautiful temple at its base, Mount Mitaki is still worth visiting even if you cannot complete the full hike. We offer a 1-day tour which includes a stop by this temple along with popular locations within the city such as the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Museum.
Futabanosato Walking Trail
The easiest trail to access in Hiroshima is the Futabanosato walking trail which is located right above Hiroshima Station. This trail is about 10 kilometers long and includes stops at 16 historic temples and shrines. The Hiroshima Toshogu Shrine (pictured above) is one of the most iconic locations in this trail, along with the Peace Pagoda located at the top of a hill which overlooks the city of Hiroshima.
The typical starting point of the walking trails is Fudo-in Temple which lies in front of Fudoin-Mae Station. You can get a map fort the trail at the Tourist Information Center in Hiroshima Station and then head out to the starting point by bus or using a combination of the JR trains and Astramline.
Rabbit Island
Within Hiroshima Prefecture one can also find the unique Rabbit Island, a place in which wild rabbits roam free and visitors can interact with and feed them. This island is also part of the Setonaikai National Park and thus a place of immense natural beauty. Most people visit Rabbit Island to enjoy the adorable creatures which inhabit it, but one can also find good walking and hiking options there.
As the island is fairly small, only 4 kilometers in circumference, it is possible to enjoy a stroll around it in less than 1 hour. There are also two short hikes, one to the lighthouse and one to the top observatory, which offer some truly fantastic views. The hikes are fairly easy to complete and take only about 20 minutes to ascend. Both on the hikes and the stroll around the island you will also encounter historical ruins related to the dark past of the island as a military base and poison gas manufacturing facility.
We highly recommend booking a tour to the island as transportation to it can sometimes be difficult to navigate. Our tour to Rabbit Island below includes an additional stop by the Takehara Townscape Conservation Area and also gives plenty of time to complete the hikes and stroll mentioned above!
