[Summer Hiroshima Travel Guide] Summer Scenery in Hiroshima’s Setouchi Islands and Port Towns

Tomonoura is a port town that was even celebrated in the Man’yoshu poetry anthology. It is part of Japan’s first designated national park, and offers peaceful scenery with Sensuijima and Bentenjima islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea.
Sights such as the Joyato Lighthouse and Taichoro Reception Hall are clustered within walking distance, while other spots let you experience the area’s deep history, including places connected to Sakamoto Ryoma and the Ota Residence, an Important Cultural Property of Japan.
It is also enjoyable to stroll while gazing at the sea glittering in the summer sun, tracing the atmosphere of the town’s past as a thriving “port for waiting out the tides.”

Senkoji Park stretches from the mid-slope to the summit of Mt. Senkoji and offers sweeping views of Onomichi’s townscape. From the car window, you can take in the streets of Onomichi City, which have been recognized as a Japan Heritage site.
The park is easy to reach by ropeway, and in summer you can enjoy a relaxed walk together with the Path of Literature and the art museum while feeling the breeze crossing the Onomichi Channel.

This port town on Osaki Shimojima Island in the Seto Inland Sea has also been recognized as a Japan Heritage site. In summer, it feels pleasant to walk its narrow lanes while feeling the sea breeze and visit the old townscape and renovated cafés.
Take a leisurely historical stroll around spots such as the harbor with its stone-built tall lantern and the Hill Overlooking Historic Areas, a hilltop park with panoramic views of the Setouchi islands.

Located at the midpoint of the Shimanami Kaido Cycling Road, this seaside spot offers sweeping views of the Seto Inland Sea. Setoda Sunset Beach extends for 800 meters and has been selected among Japan’s 88 Best Bathing Beaches.
In summer, you can spend time gazing at the sea from the white sandy beach, try SUP or sea kayaking, or use it as a convenient rest stop during a cycling trip.

Located on Innoshima Island, roughly in the center of the Seto Inland Sea, this park spreads across the area around 207-meter Mt. Tengu and offers views of the Seto Inland Sea. The observation deck at the summit is a scenic lookout where you can see the distant mountains of Shikoku and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea.
In summer, take a walk through the tree-lined park and leisurely enjoy the sea breeze and evening views.

This small island, about 4 kilometers in circumference, is also known as “Rabbit Island” for its wild rabbits. The island is home to Kyukamura Okunoshima, where visitors can stay overnight as well as enjoy day-use bathing, a campground, cycling, fishing, and other activities, making it a good place to spend a relaxed full day.
In summer, you can stroll around the island, interact with the rabbits, and enjoy the calm pace of time found by the sea.

Spanning Shobara City and Jinsekikogen Town in Hiroshima Prefecture, this gorge is one of the Chugoku region’s leading scenic spots and has been selected as one of Japan’s 100 Scenic Views. At Lake Shinryu, formed by the Taishakugawa Dam, you can enjoy sightseeing boats and canoeing experiences. From the lake’s surface, take in the varied beauty of the gorge up close, including cliffs and unusual rock formations rising on both banks.
In summer, you can explore the waterside and enjoy the refreshing natural scenery unique to a gorge.

Designated a Special Place of Scenic Beauty by the Japanese government, this gorge is known as one of western Japan’s foremost remote scenic areas. Inside the gorge, where the scenery evokes a traditional ink landscape painting, hand-rowed ferry boats operate, offering views from the water.
In summer, you can walk along the gorge and experience refreshing nature surrounded by the sound of water and shade from the trees, as well as activities such as kayaking and SUP.

Located in Sera Town, Hiroshima Prefecture, this sightseeing farm offers seasonal flower scenery throughout the year. Sera Kogen Farm also welcomes about 300,000 visitors annually and is known as a base for sharing the appeal of the region.
Flower events are held throughout the year, and in summer the Sunflower Festival takes place. The sight of sunflowers blooming across the fields is impressive. Dining facilities and souvenir shops are also available, making it a pleasant place to relax together with the highland scenery.

This approximately 60-kilometer sea route connects Honshu and Shikoku, linking islands in the Seto Inland Sea with a series of bridges and scenic views. Except for Shin-Onomichi Bridge, each bridge has lanes for mopeds as well as dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths, making it possible to cycle while taking in the scenery of the Seto Inland Sea islands.
In summer, ride from island to island while feeling the sea breeze and enjoy the calm scenery and island pace unique to Setouchi.

This strait area between Kegoya-cho in Kure City and Kurahashi Island features town scenery typical of Setouchi. It is also known for the legend that Taira no Kiyomori opened the passage more than 800 years ago, and many boats still come and go today.
The old seaside townscape is dotted with cafés, bakeries, guesthouses, and other places using traditional homes. In summer, you can enjoy the relaxed pace of a port town while taking in the vermilion bridge and seaside scenery.

In areas surrounded by the calm waters and islands of the Seto Inland Sea, water activities such as kayaking and SUP are summer staples.
They bring you closer to the outlines of the islands, the color of the sea, and the pleasant breeze. Since the waters of Setouchi are relatively calm, even beginners can give them a try while enjoying the summer scenery.

In the Shimanami Kaido area, cycling is popular for the close-up views of the sea as you ride.
The route connects views of the Seto Inland Sea’s many islands from the bridges with scenery that changes from island to island, and it is easy to choose how to enjoy it based on the distance you ride. Moving with the breeze through open scenery surrounded by blue sky and sea is one way to spend summer in Hiroshima.

In mountain streams and clear rivers in the hills, kayaking and river play are especially appealing.
Watersides surrounded by trees soften the air even in the strong sun, and simply spending time in nature brings a refreshing coolness. River scenery, with a different character from Setouchi’s seascapes, is another part of summer in Hiroshima.

Known as a popular Onomichi ramen shop, this Chinese restaurant is lively with local customers and travelers. Its deeply flavored soup is made with Onomichi’s delicious spring water, along with pork bones, chicken bones, vegetables, kelp, and more.
In summer, it is easy to stop by while exploring Onomichi’s shopping streets, which are busy with tourists. After working up a sweat, a rich bowl of Onomichi ramen adds to the satisfaction of the trip.

This Italian café with a retro atmosphere blends into the streetscape of Tomonoura.
You can enjoy carefully prepared Italian dishes such as pizza and pasta. The café also has a good selection of after-meal sweets and drinks, so it works well as a rest stop while exploring Tomonoura. You can also take out pizza and drinks and enjoy them while admiring the scenery of Tomonoura.

This roadside station is an easy stop during sightseeing or a drive in Sera Town. It has a wide range of dining options, with set meals, rice bowls, ramen, udon, curry, pizza, hot snacks, and more.
It is a convenient place to take a break while sightseeing around Sera Kogen or driving through the highlands, and in summer you can cool down with soft-serve ice cream.

Located inside ONOMICHI U2, a multi-use complex in Onomichi, this lifestyle hotel is also popular with cyclists. As the name suggests, the hotel was designed to be cyclist-friendly, and its front desk, where guests can check in while still holding their bicycles, was the first of its kind in Japan.
It is an easy place to stay as a base for Shimanami Kaido cycling or exploring Onomichi, and you can spend time relaxing while feeling the seaside atmosphere.

This hot spring inn stands along the coast of Tomonoura, where an Edo-period townscape remains. In 2024, the entire property, including guest rooms, the lobby, and dining areas, was renovated and reborn as a retro-modern space.
One of the most popular bathing areas is the open-air bath, where you can feel as if you are connected to the sea right in front of you. After exploring Tomonoura, you can bathe while looking out over the Seto Inland Sea and also enjoy kaiseki cuisine featuring seafood from Setouchi, such as sea bream.

Directly connected to the Shinkansen Exit of JR Hiroshima Station, this hotel offers excellent access to Hiroshima’s major sightseeing spots and Hiroshima Airport. It has a variety of room types, including the Granvia Floor on the upper levels with refined spaces and a Premium Floor with rooms featuring four beds.
The hotel also has a full range of dining facilities, including Japanese cuisine, Chinese cuisine, and buffet restaurants, making it a comfortable place to stay during summer sightseeing in Hiroshima.

This fireworks festival, set against the Seto Inland Sea, is one of Hiroshima’s signature summer events.
It features many types of fireworks, including colorful star mines reflected on the water, musical fireworks beautifully synchronized with melodies, and shaped fireworks such as hearts and smiley faces floating in the night sky. About 10,000 fireworks color the night sky, creating open, summery scenery unique to a port town.

This major event represents summer in Fukuyama City. Over three days, traditional performing arts, yosakoi dance performances, and a fireworks festival are held, filling the whole city with a summer festival mood.
About 16,000 fireworks are launched. Especially impressive is the roughly 1.4-kilometer star mine that makes use of the broad surface of the Ashida River. Various events continue from day into night, letting visitors experience the summer energy unique to Fukuyama.

Counted among Hiroshima’s three major festivals, this event represents early summer in the city. Food stalls line Chuo-dori Avenue when it becomes a pedestrian zone, and because many people enjoy walking around town in their first yukata of the year, it is known as the “festival for beginning to wear yukata.” Held every June, it is a seasonal summer tradition in Hiroshima, with the city center bustling with worshippers in yukata.