Top 10 Scenic Routes in Hiroshima Prefecture

Cycling, Coastal Drives, and Mountain Views

In Hiroshima, the journey often matters as much as the destination.

Roads follow coastlines, bridges stretch across open water, and mountain routes reveal shifting perspectives with every turn. Whether by bicycle, car, or on foot, movement through the landscape becomes an experience in itself.

Unlike cities where transportation is purely functional, Hiroshima invites you to slow down and travel with intention.

Here are ten scenic routes that define how to explore the region.

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1. Crossing Islands on the Shimanami Kaido

This is one of Japan’s most iconic routes—not just for cyclists, but for anyone interested in experiencing geography up close.

Stretching across the Seto Inland Sea, the Shimanami Kaido connects a chain of islands via long suspension bridges. Each segment offers a different view: fishing villages, open water, and quiet stretches of coastline.

You can cycle the entire route or explore it in sections, combining riding with ferry crossings or local stops.

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2. The Coastal Approach to Onomichi

Arriving in Onomichi along the coastline reveals the town gradually—boats in the harbor, hillside houses, and temple paths above.

Driving or cycling this approach creates a sense of transition from mainland to island culture. The scenery is understated, but layered.

Onomichi feels like an entry point into a different pace of travel.

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3. Ferry Routes Across the Seto Inland Sea

Not all scenic routes are on land.

Ferries connecting Hiroshima’s islands offer expansive views of water, sky, and passing boats. Unlike fixed roads, these routes shift depending on light and weather.

Sitting on deck as your destination slowly comes into view creates a different relationship with distance and time.

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4. Exploring Miyajima Beyond the Main Path

Most visitors remain near the waterfront, but the island’s interior offers quieter routes.

Paths leading toward Mount Misen pass through forested areas, gradually opening to panoramic viewpoints over the inland sea.

These routes combine physical movement with shifting scenery.

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5. Inland Drives Through Mountain Landscapes

Away from the coast, Hiroshima’s interior reveals a different side of the prefecture.

Winding roads pass through valleys, forests, and small rural communities. Seasonal changes—especially autumn foliage—transform these routes dramatically.

Driving here is less about speed and more about observation.

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6. Riverside Routes in Hiroshima City

Within the city itself, rivers create natural corridors.

Walking or cycling along these waterways offers a quieter alternative to main streets. Cafés and small parks appear along the way, and bridges provide changing viewpoints.

Urban movement here still feels connected to nature.

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7. Coastal Drives Along the Inland Sea

Driving along the coast provides continuous views of islands scattered across the water.

The road often follows gentle curves, revealing new angles with each turn. Small ports, beaches, and local stops make it easy to pause and explore.

This is a route best experienced without a strict schedule.

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8. Linking Routes for Multi-Day Exploration

One of Hiroshima’s strengths is how easily routes connect.

A cycling path can lead to a ferry, which leads to a coastal drive, which leads to a small town stay. This flexibility allows travelers to design journeys that feel personal rather than fixed.

Movement becomes modular.

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9. Early Morning and Late Afternoon Travel

Timing changes everything.

Early morning routes offer stillness—calm water, fewer people, softer light. Late afternoon introduces warmer tones and longer shadows.

Traveling at these times transforms even familiar routes into something more atmospheric.

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10. Letting the Route Shape the Experience

In Hiroshima, routes are not just ways to get somewhere—they define the experience itself.

Choosing how you move—cycling, driving, walking, or ferry—changes what you notice, how fast you go, and how deeply you engage with the surroundings.

The destination becomes only one part of the journey.

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Why Routes Matter in Hiroshima

Hiroshima Prefecture is not a place best understood from a single location.

It is a region of connections—between islands, between city and countryside, between movement and stillness.

Scenic routes reveal these relationships in a way that static travel cannot.

For travelers willing to slow down and follow the landscape, Hiroshima offers not just places to visit, but ways to experience them.

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