5 Photogenic Gourmet Foods and Souvenirs of Hiroshima

When it comes to Hiroshima, it's not just Miyajima and momiji manju! Photogenic gourmet foods that are hot topics on social media keep appearing one after another. Eat, shoot, share, and color your Hiroshima trip with even more fun!

01 | Age-Momiji® — Miyajima Momijido

Age-Momiji® from Momijido, a specialty of Miyajima World Heritage Site. This skewered sweet is made by deep-frying momiji manju (maple-leaf-shaped cakes), creating a unique texture — crispy on the outside and piping-hot and chewy inside.

• Instagram-worthy point: Hold the skewer in your hand and photograph it together with the steam from frying.
• Best shooting time: 10:00–12:00, when good light allows vivid colors.
• Angle: A vertical composition tilted slightly with the five-story pagoda or the old town street in the background is recommended.
• Access: About 10 minutes by ferry from Miyajima-guchi. Main store at 448-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City (approx. 9:00–17:30).

02 | Colorful Lemon Sweets — Setoda Lemon Cake

The yellow lemon cake made with Seto Inland Sea lemon, Hiroshima's pride, is the standard souvenir of Ikuchijima Island on the Shimanami Kaido. The glossy-glazed shape is simply adorable!

• Instagram-worthy point: Just lining them up with the blue sea in the background creates a tropical resort feel.
• Best shooting time: 14:00–16:00 when the afternoon light is soft
• Angle: Flat-lay from directly above with multiple pieces lined up for a unified look.
• Access: About 40 minutes by bus or ferry from Onomichi Station to Ikuchijima Island.

03 | Cream Bun — Hattendo ekie Hiroshima Store

Hattendo's cream buns, born in Mihara City and beloved for their fluffy, melt-in-the-mouth texture. Custard, fresh cream and custard, matcha, ogura bean paste — the packaging color changes with each flavor, and just lining them up makes a colorful display!

• Instagram-worthy point: Placing one on a white palm and shooting simply highlights its premium feel.
• Best shooting time: Any time of day. Natural light by a bright window is ideal.
• Angle: Shooting at 45 degrees close-up to the hands is a current trend.
• Access: Inside JR Hiroshima Station ekie (Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City).

04 | Okonomiyaki — Micchan Sohonten Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit ekie Store

Okonomiyaki, Hiroshima's soul food. The layered structure shows up clearly in cross-section, giving you a photo with a great sense of volume. The contrast of brown, yellow, and green is appetite-inducing.

• Instagram-worthy point: Recording the moment of cutting the cross-section in a video is sure to make a great reel.
• Best shooting time: Aim for the moment when it is freshly cooked and steam is still rising!
• Angle: A low-angle horizontal shot emphasizing the cross-section works well.
• Access: Inside JR Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit ekie (1-2 Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City) / 11:00–21:30 (L.O. 21:00), closed on ekie's scheduled closure days.

Hiroshima's gourmet scene is packed not only with flavors to eat, but also with the joy of photographing them. On your next trip, enjoy eating your way through the city with a camera in hand.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Opening hours and closing days: Momijido Main Store (448-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi City) is open from around 9:00 to 17:30, and Nibanya from around 9:30 to 17:30. Micchan Sohonten's Hiroshima Station Shinkansen Exit ekie branch is open 11:00-21:30 (last order 21:00) and follows ekie's closing days. Hattendo's ekie Hiroshima store also follows the opening hours of the complex.
• Budget guide: Deep-fried momiji manju and cream buns are both in the few-hundred-yen-a-piece range typical of street snacks and small gifts. For okonomiyaki, reckon on around 1,000 yen and up per pancake (prices are subject to revision).
• Access: Miyajima - about 10 minutes by ferry from JR Miyajimaguchi or Hiroden Miyajimaguchi, then from the pier to the Omotesando shopping street. Hattendo and Micchan Sohonten - inside ekie at JR Hiroshima Station (Matsubara-cho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City). Setoda (Ikuchijima) - reached from Onomichi by ferry or bus.
• Parking: There is very little parking on Miyajima itself, so the standard approach is to leave your car in a paid car park at Miyajimaguchi and cross by ferry. For ekie at Hiroshima Station, use the station's paid parking.
• Photography rules: Do not photograph shopfronts, products or staff in the shopping street without permission. Always get staff permission before taking photos inside a restaurant or around the griddle. Refrain from using a tripod or shooting for long periods on the crowded approach road or at counters, as it obstructs both passers-by and business. Feeding the deer on Miyajima is prohibited, and getting close to them for photos can lead to bites and to the deer eating paper items.
• Points to note: On Miyajima, keep an eye on the time of the last ferry. The scenery around Itsukushima Shrine changes dramatically with high and low tide, so check the tide table. The shops in ekie form queues during the station's busiest times.

(Sources: Momijido official website, Micchan Sohonten official website, ekie official website)