Top 5 Photogenic Natural Scenery Spots in Hiroshima

Hiroshima is hiding an abundance of breathtaking scenery beyond its World Heritage sites. Sea, mountains, lakes, sunsets — I want more people to discover the extraordinary natural beauty that this prefecture has to offer. This article covers Tomonoura, Kosanji Temple, Sandankyo Gorge, Taishakukyo Gorge and Miyajima.

01 | Tomonoura (Fukuyama City) — A Port Town Where Nostalgia and Sea Blue Converge

The historic port town of Tomonoura, with its stone-paved streets and white-walled townscape blending into the sea, offers a miraculous scene. At dusk, the moment the night lantern (joya-to) and sky are dyed amber-red feels like a scene straight out of a movie. The golden angle is to frame the lantern in the foreground with the sea and sky as the backdrop using a wide-angle lens. From autumn through winter, the crisp air makes the color contrasts even more vivid.

Access: About 30 minutes by bus from JR Fukuyama Station

02 | Kosanji Temple — Hill of Hope (Miraishin no Oka) (Onomichi City, Ikuchijima Island) — White Marble Against the Sky

An otherworldly scene reminiscent of Greece, where the blue sky of the Seto Inland Sea meets gleaming white marble. A clear morning to midday is the best time, when sunlight illuminates the whole surface most brilliantly. Shoot from a low angle with a wide expanse of sky to maximize the sense of openness. The pairing with summer's blue sky is unbeatable!

Access: From JR Onomichi Station, take the sea route or bus bound for Setoda to reach Ikuchijima Island (travel time varies by route). Admission to the Hill of Hope (Miraishin no Oka) requires a Kosanji Temple Museum entry ticket: ¥1,800 for adults / ¥1,200 for university and high school students. Open 9:00–17:00 (last admission 16:30).

03 | Sandankyo Gorge (Yamagata-gun, Akiota Town) — Into the Depths of a Fantastical Valley

The nationally designated Special Scenic Spot Sandankyo Gorge, where a clear stream runs between deep green and bare rock. The autumn foliage season (October–November) layers red, orange, and green in a breathtakingly beautiful scene. The technique is to slow down your shutter speed to render the flowing water silky. Early morning, when mist still hangs over the gorge, produces fantastical shots that are sure to cause a stir among your followers!

Access: Take a bus bound for Sandankyo from Hiroshima Bus Center (transfer from JR Hiroshima Station to the Bus Center is required). According to information published by Hiroshima Prefecture, Akiota Town, and others in late August 2026, the section between Sandantaki and Shimotateno-kuchi has been closed with no prospect of reopening, and the section between Kurobuchi and Mizunashiguchi is also fully closed due to bridge repairs. Whether the route will be passable during the October autumn foliage season has not yet been announced. Be sure to check the latest trail conditions on the official Akiota Town website before visiting.

04 | Taishakukyo Gorge — Shinryu-ko Lake (Jinseki-gun, Jinseki Kogen Town) — Fresh Greenery and Autumn Foliage Reflected on the Lake

Jinseki Kogen Town spreads across a highland at 500–700 m elevation. Within the town lies Shinryu-ko, a reservoir dam lake that forms part of the nationally designated Scenic Spot Taishakukyo Gorge, offering spectacular reflections of fresh greenery and autumn foliage on the water's surface. A sightseeing boat lets you aim for dynamic angles looking up at the gorge from just above the waterline. Upstream, there is also a natural stone bridge called Onbashi. (As of September 2026, the area from the north side of Onbashi to the red-painted bridge has been closed due to a rockfall in November 2025; only a distant view from outside is possible. Taishakukyo Tourism Association: 0847-86-0611.) A calm morning with little wind makes it easier to achieve perfect reflections.

Access: Public transport options are limited, so renting a car is the most practical choice. Always check the official Jinseki Kogen Town Tourism Association website for the sightseeing boat's operating period, timetable, and fares.

05 | Miyajima — Evening View from Daishoin Temple (Hatsukaichi City) — A "Divine Sunset" Beyond the Iconic Shot

The large torii of Itsukushima Shrine is world-famous, but the evening view of Miyajima and the Seto Inland Sea as seen from the hilltop of Daishoin Temple is still a spectacular view known only to those in the know. In the evening, the sky grades from pink to orange, and the silhouettes of the islands and sea emerge in a fantastical glow. However, Daishoin's precinct closes in the evening, so visitors cannot remain inside after dark. Be sure to check visiting hours on the official website. A vertical composition layering the island silhouettes of the Seto Inland Sea with the setting sun is recommended. Sunset times vary greatly by season, so check in advance along with the ferry timetable for your return trip.

Access: About 10 minutes by ferry from JR Miyajima-guchi Station. Plan for about 30 minutes on foot from Miyajima Pier to Daishoin, including some uphill sections. Note that visiting Miyajima requires a Miyajima Visitor Tax (¥100 per person per visit / ¥500 for an annual pass), which is normally collected together with the ferry fare.

Hiroshima's nature is full of joy not just in viewing, but in "capturing" it. When you find a favorite scene, share it on social media!

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Best season and time of day: Tomonoura and Miyajima are best in the late afternoon, the Hill of Hope (Miraishin no Oka) from a sunny morning through to midday, Sandankyo Gorge during the autumn colours in October and November, and the Jinsekikogen area (Taishakukyo Gorge and Lake Shinryu) in the fresh green and autumn foliage seasons.
• Opening hours and periods: Kosanji Museum (including the Hill of Hope) is open 9:00-17:00, with last admission at 16:30. The precincts of Daishoin close in the evening, so photography after sunset is not possible. The operating period and timetable of the Taishakukyo sightseeing boat vary with the season.
• Fees: Kosanji Museum costs 1,800 yen for adults and 1,200 yen for university and high school students (including admission to the Hill of Hope and the Kongokan). When visiting Miyajima you must pay the Miyajima visitor tax of 100 yen per person per visit (500 yen per person if you pay for a full year at once), which is normally collected as an addition to the ferry fare.
• Access: Tomonoura is about 30 minutes by bus from JR Fukuyama Station. For the Hill of Hope (Ikuchijima, Setoda), take a boat and bus connection from JR Onomichi Station. Sandankyo Gorge is normally reached by bus from the Hiroshima Bus Center. Public transport to Jinsekikogen Town is infrequent, so a rental car is the realistic option. Miyajima is about 10 minutes by ferry from JR Miyajimaguchi Station, and it takes around 30 minutes on foot from the pier to Daishoin, including some uphill stretches.
• Parking: The streets of Tomonoura are narrow and parking is limited, so public transport is recommended. Please check the official websites for parking charges at each facility.
• Photography rules: Kosanji Museum displays notices about photography. Follow the on-site notices and the official website regarding tripod use and commercial shoots. Daishoin and Itsukushima Shrine are places of worship: be considerate so as not to disturb other visitors, and follow the on-site signs as to whether photography is allowed inside the halls. The streets of Tomonoura are where residents live their daily lives, so do not enter private land or the grounds of private homes.
• Safety notes: The walking trail at Sandankyo Gorge is subject to falling rocks and rising water, and sections are sometimes closed after disasters. Check in advance whether the trail is open, and avoid entering the gorge alone at night or in the early morning. Along the shore at Tomonoura and Miyajima there are many quays without railings, and the water's edge is dangerous after dark. Deer live on Miyajima, but feeding them is prohibited.

Note: Fees, opening hours and boat operations are subject to change. Check each official website for the latest information before visiting.

(Sources: Kosanji Museum official website, Hatsukaichi City official website "Outline of the Miyajima Visitor Tax", Jinsekikogen Town tourism navigator / Jinsekikogen Town official website)