Sights, Events & Activities Info. in Hiroshima: 01/2011

Jan 31, 2011

Feb 3 (Thu)Setsubun sai (Setsubun Festival) in hiroshima ar Gokoku shrine♪

Setsubun marks the end of the lunar year and the coming of spring. It is marked by a cleansing ritual of oni harai that's performed in houses and elementary schools all over Japan.

at Gokoku Shrine, located in front of Hiroshima Castle from 15:30.
Try and grab the lucky beans, mochi !!

Jan 19, 2011

Jan 27th(Thu)~ Snowtrekking and onsen tour in Kita-hiroshima

Jan 27th(Thu)~ Snowtrekking and onsen tour in Kita-hiroshima!!!!!

All inclusive tour that takes you from the city center into the (hopefully) snowbound northern mountains of Hiroshima Prefecture in just 90min. On arrival, the day starts with a guided snowshoe trek to the designated The natural monument "Tengu-shide" grove of trees. These twisted hornbeams look particularly distinctive when their branches are loaded with snow.

After the trek, you can warm yourself up with a soak in an onsen hot spring and a simple, but hearty lunch of tofu-nabe and rice.

As the bus is going to take you back to the city, you don't have to worry about indulging in the different varieties of high quality daiginjo sake produced at the Oigame brewery. Then after a 30 minute pit stop, you can sleep off the sake on the way home.

Tour Schedule

08:00 Depart Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen side)
08:20 Depart Midorii JR Station
09:30-12:30 Guided snowshoe trekking
12:30-14:00 Tawara Onsen and Tofu-nabe lunch
14:20-15:00 Oigame sake tasting and Edo-era brewery tour.
!5:10-15:40 20min stop at the "Mai road Chiyoda" rest stop
16:10 Arrive Midorii JR Station
16:40 Arrive Hiroshima Station (Shinkansen side)

Price: ¥8500

NB: Two guides accompany the snow trek and beginners are welcome.

This is a tour aimed at Japanese customers and they probably don't expect to get any non-Japanese participants. This doesn't mean non-Japanese people should be hesitant about joining, just to let you know that they may be surprised if you call.

If you do join in, please let them know where you heard about the tour - they have no idea who we are, but it would be nice if they did :)

Dates

January 27
January 30
February 11
February 13
February 26

Jan 14, 2011

Jan 20(Thu) Momote-sai @Omote Shrine on Miyajima

Momote-sai

The ritual firing of the first arrow of the year at Omote Shrine on Miyajima.

Taking place at Omote Shrine on Miyajima, a shrine which actually predates the mosre famous Itsukushima Shrine, this annual ritual is the remanents of a grander ceremony which is said to have involved a hundred archers firing 200 arrows. These days, there is just one archer who after firing arrows towards heaven, the earth, left and right fires four more arrows at a target, 20 paces away, with the character oni, demon, painted on the back. While similar ceremonies in other parts of Japan are held to wish for bountiful harvests and for weather divination, according to the "Momote-sai website" this ritual is said to symbolize a determination to live the year peacefully.

After the ceremony, hohan is served. This is a dish of rice topped with various foods and soup, once eaten on the battlefield.

Momote-sai

more details,plz check this website!!

http://www.miyajima.or.jp/event/event_momote.html

Date:January 20th (Thu)

Time:11:00~

Jan 13, 2011

Make your own Momiji Manju in Miyajima!

You can find many specialties anywhere in Japan.

Momiji Manju is a one of Hiroshima local specialty.
It is a sweet bean paste filled cake. Shaped just like a small maple leaf.
Now you can make your own Momiji Manju in Miyajima Island!

Where: Shishiiwa Ropeway station

Fee:３００yen/person (If you are a couple, 500yen/a couple)

When:10:00-12:00 / 13:30-15:30
( It will take 15-20 minutes for the experience.)

*You need to make a booking in advance on the 2nd floor of Shishiiwa station.
*Sign up: 2 or more only

You will also see the nice view from the top of Misen mountain.
It takes only 10 minutes to get to the top from Shishiiwa Ropeway station.

If the weather is very clear, you will be able to see lots of small islands in Seto inland sea.

Jan 11, 2011

MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Open Concourse

Home of Hiroshima Carp, MAZDA Zoon-Zoom Stadium's concourse is open for public twice a week on every Thursday and Saturday until the end of February.

Only ramped entrance from Hiroshima Sta. is available
Time9:00-17:00
Admission:Free

Look for detail fromHere.(Japanese)

To MAZDA Zoom-Zoom Stadium Hiroshima from J-Hoppers Hiroshima
20min. by tram from Dobashi Sta.-Hiroshima Sta.
and 7min. walk from Hiroshima Sta.

Jan 10, 2011

Jan 15(sat),16(sun) Tondo Festivals

Tondo Festivals

If you're driving or biking along the rivers that run through town or in the countryside around the middle of January you may well see groups of people gathered around large bonfires, eating and drinking. This is the tondo matsuri, which is held on or around koshogatsu - literally means "small new year", and is celebrated at lunar New Year.

Local communities gather at the site of their bonfire and burn the New Year decorations, roast mochi and warm sake over the flames, and fan the smoke from the burnt decorations for good luck.

The large Gokoku Shrine, located in the city next to the castle will hold its tondo matsuri on Jan 15th from 10am. You can get an idea of the event from the video below.

There is also a tondo on the banks of the river next to Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni on January, 16 from 5pm to 7pm.

Follow the smoke plumes to the festivals at other shrines, schools and parks.

Jan 8, 2011

Jan.8(Sat)-21(Fri) Nine US documentaries at Yokogawa Cinema

Over the next two weeks Yokogawa Cinema is screening nine American documentaries that, due to the subject matter they cover, received very limited runs in the US and have been rarely screened here in Japan. The films Jesus Camp, Where In The World Is Osama Bin Laden?, Bigger, Stronger, Faster, Flow: For The Love of Water, Kinjongilia, Kassim The Dream, Crude: The True Cost of Oil, Jake on Corwood and The Business of Being Born will be screened between January 8 and January 21. There are four films a day showing in the first week and two showings a day in the second week.

Please check below for more details and the time schedules: