Saijo Sake Breweries and Taishakukyo Gorge One Day Course

This greedy course of sake and nature lets you tour the breweries of Saijo, one of Japans leading sake towns, then head out a little in the afternoon to walk the scenic Taishakukyo gorge. The brewery townscape of red brick chimneys and white plaster walls, and the huge natural bridge called Onbashi. You can taste the travel mood unique to inland Hiroshima in a single day.

Course Route

9:00 Start in front of Saijo Station About thirty six minutes by train from Hiroshima Station, get off at Saijo Station. The entrance to the brewery street is about a five minute walk away. 9:15 Stroll the brewery street Seven breweries gather along the roughly one kilometer street. Walk and take in the rows of red brick chimneys and white plaster walls. The stroll itself is free, and the whole area is within walking distance of the station. 9:45 Enjoy tastings at the breweries Taste and buy local sake at each brewery. Many offer tastings free or for a few hundred yen in small pours, and some have wells where you can sample the brewing water, giving a deeper sense of the craft. 11:30 Lunch on a local specialty Have lunch on dishes that suit local sake, such as the bishu nabe hot pot unique to a sake town. A budget of around 1000 to 2000 yen is a guide. 13:00 Travel to Taishakukyo Head toward Taishakukyo near Shobara by car, or by a mix of bus and train. The scenery shifts into the hills of the Chugoku mountains. Public transport is infrequent, so driving is the realistic choice. 14:30 Walk Kami Taishaku Walk the path along the clear stream. Pass through the Hakuundo limestone cave (entry is a few hundred yen), and further on the natural bridge comes into view. From the second parking lot it is about a 25 minute walk to Onbashi. 15:00 See Onbashi The limestone natural bridge of Onbashi, about ninety meters long, is overwhelming. You are amazed by a form that nature carved out over a vast span of time. 16:30 Set off home Breathe in the gorge air to the full and begin the journey home. If time allows, a sightseeing boat on Shinryu Lake downstream is also recommended.

Highlights

The Saijo brewery street charms visitors with its distinctive scene of chimneys and white walls and the chance to taste freshly made local sake. The Onbashi of Taishakukyo is one of the worlds great natural bridges, and its size and sculptural beauty are a must see. You can enjoy two very different sides of Hiroshima, sake and gorge, in one day.

Access and Tips

The brewery street is within walking distance of Saijo Station and easy to explore. Taishakukyo has limited public transport, so a rental car or driving is realistic. If you plan to enjoy tastings, avoid driving and think carefully about how to get around.

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: Taishakukyo is especially beautiful with fresh greenery in early summer and colored leaves in autumn, when the path walk is most comfortable. Watch for icy roads in winter. The brewery street holds a Sake Festival every autumn and draws big crowds.
• Time needed: About two hours for the brewery stroll and tastings, and about an hour and a half to two hours round trip on the Kami Taishaku path.
• Travel guide: It takes about an hour and a half by car from Saijo to Taishakukyo. To do both in a day, allow plenty of time.
• Avoiding crowds: Roads and parking are busy during the Sake Festival and the autumn leaf season. Shift your timing or set off early in the morning.
• Budget guide: Tastings and shopping, lunch, the Hakuundo cave entry and transport come to roughly 3000 to 5000 yen per person.

A Quick Tip

The Taishakukyo path has sections you walk, so wear comfortable shoes. If you drink sake, never drive, and rely on public transport or a companion who does not drink. The hills can be cooler than the city, so a jacket is reassuring.