Takehara town [竹原]

Takehara is a small town in Takehara city.
It is located about 65 km east of Hiroshima city and about 25 km west-southwest of Mihara city.

The town faces Seto Inland Sea, and is on a narrow flatland formed by small rivers.
It is surrounded by mountains.

In the 17th century, Hiroshima Clan reclaimed the costal land of this area from the sea for the production of rice.
But, because of salty soil, the land was changed to the fields to produce salt.

After that, the port was opened to ship salt and rice and this town developed.

Production of salt declined in the early 18th century.
Instead, sake production developed.

Rich merchants who made a fortune by such industries lived in this town, so current old town was formed.

The old town is on the east side of Honkawa river and is located about 1 km northeast of JR Takehara station.

The street along the foot of the mountain is called Honmachi Street (本町通り).
It is the main street and is about 500 meters long.

There are many houses built from the 18th to the 19th century along the street.
The scenery is used in some Japanese movies and animated movies.

Kasai residence (笠井邸) was built in 1872, and is the residence of the manager of salt field.

Matsusaka residence (松阪邸) was built around the 1820s and was renovated in 1879.
It is the residence of a rich merchant.

Yoshii residence (吉井邸) is the oldest building in takehara and was built in 1691.
It was the residence of a rich merchant of salt and sake.

There are two sake breweries in the town.

Taketsuru Brewery (竹鶴酒造) is the center of the town.
It was established as a producer of salt around the 1660s, and started the sake brewery in 1733.

Fujii Brewery (藤井酒造) was established in 1863.
A part of the brewery is open to the public.

Taketsuru Brewery Fujii Brewery (Japanese website)

There are some Buddhist temples at the foot of mountain.

Saihoji (西方寺) was founded in 1560.
Fumeikaku (普明閣) is the main temple and was built on the model of Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto in 1758.

Shorenji (照蓮寺) is the north edge of the town, and was found around the 14th century.

Takehara Tourism Association

How to get here

By JR Kure Line, about 45 minutes by rapid train from Hiroshima to Hiro.
From Hiro to Takehara, about 50 minutes by local train.

Or, from Mihara, about 50 minutes by local train of JR Kure Line.

Other Tourist Attractions in Hiroshima Prefecture

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