Takehara Historic District
竹原町並み保存地区
Known as the 'Little Kyoto of Aki', a town enriched by salt making, with a well-preserved old street of white-walled, lattice-windowed houses. It is also the hometown of Masataka Taketsuru, the father of Japanese whisky.
In the Edo period, Takehara grew rich from sun-dried salt production on the Seto Inland Sea, and merchant mansions line its streets. It was designated a National Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings in 1982 and is called the 'Little Kyoto of Aki'. Highlights include the Fumyokaku pavilion of Saihoji Temple, built on a cliff overhang with views over the town's rooftops; the Matsusaka House; and Takezuru Sake Brewery, the model for NHK's morning drama Massan and the hometown of Masataka Taketsuru, founder of Nikka. The old streets are free to explore, and a walk takes 1 to 2 hours. JR Takehara Station on the Kure Line is about a 15-minute walk from the old town. From Hiroshima, the trip takes about 1.5 hours by train, and it can be combined with Okunoshima on the same day.
Opening hours
all day (facilities approx. 10:00–16:00)
Nearby sights
- Okunoshima (Rabbit Island)
- Saijo Sake Brewery Street
- Yamato Museum
- JMSDF Kure Museum (Iron Whale Museum)
- Mazda Museum
- MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima
- Hiroshima City Museum of Contemporary Art
- World Peace Memorial Cathedral