Walking guide for the "Walking Town” Saka-Cho, Hiroshima Prefecture.
With the ocean and mountains so close together, Saka-Cho offers the best of both worlds even on just a day trip. As the catchphrase of the town says, "Your own playground is right under your nose", a wide variety of activities can be enjoyed throughout the town. Among them, walking and strolling are the easiest. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of its establishment as a town in 2010, Saka-Cho declared itself a "town of leisurely healthy walking" to promote a healthy and strong mind, and body, through walking. Every year in March, the town holds the "Saka-Cho Healthy and Leisurely Walking" event. The course is designed so that participants can fully enjoy the lush nature, the scent of the sea, and the beautiful scenery of Hiroshima Bay with its shadows of islands. This popular event attracts more than 1,000 participants from within and outside of the town each time.
In such a walking town, a variety of walking routes have been developed for beginners as well as the physically fit, and anyone can easily enjoy walking around the Saka-Cho at any time. In addition to a map of the model route, a route map with information such as restroom locations, elevation differences, estimated time required, and nearby stores is available in PDF format on the town's website. The "Mt. Mori Route'' is recommended for first-time visitors to Saka-Cho, as it is a 2.5-km, 1.5-hour route that starts at JR Saka-Cho Station and takes you to Kirari Saka Nagisa Park, Heiseigahama Beach, the observation rest area at the top of Mt. Mori, and Yokohama Park.
The best part of walking around Saka-Cho is to enjoy the rich nature that surrounds you without rushing ahead, letting time pass by at a leisurely pace. There are spots scattered throughout the town that make you want to stop and stay. From the top of Mt. Mori, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the beautiful islands of the Seto Inland Sea, which is widely known both in Japan and abroad. The view is so spectacular that you will lose track of time while taking pictures with your camera or smartphone. Yokohama Park, located down the mountain, is another spot where you can take a leisurely stroll. The beautiful natural scenery, which varies from season to season, including plum blossoms in early spring, cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in early summer, and autumn leaves in fall, will soothe your body and soul.
The rich nature of Saka-Cho that you can experience while walking and exploring the town. There is a special souvenir that allows you to fully enjoy the bounty of nature. It is called the "Aki no Kuni Satoyama no Shizuku", which is Saka-Cho's specialty honey that won the top prize in the Honey of the Year competition for two consecutive years. The honey is made from the honey collected by Japanese honeybees in Satoyama, Saka-Cho, and is additive-free, unadjusted, and unheated, and is the very essence of Saka-Cho’s nature. It is highly valued by food experts for its smooth, soft texture and mild, rich, deep flavor.
