One-day BUS Tour to the rabbit island

 Okunoshima(大久野島),which is called Rabbit island,is located in eastern Hiroshima.There are over 1000 friendly rabbits on the island and it is known as the paradise for bunny lovers.It is popular but it is a bit hard to get to because it is far from Hiroshima city.

If you have got a JR pass,we usually sugget you to get there like this...

Take Bullet train (KODAMA) about 30mins to JR Mihara station, another 25mins by JR Kure line to JR Tadanoumi station and take a Ferry about 15mins to the island.



If you do NOT have a JR pass,it costs a lot....
However,here is a good news for you!
JR BUS company started a ONE-day bus tour to Takehara and Okunoshima.
The tour starts at JR Hiroshima station and takes you to the historic district in Takehara,the rabbit island and takes you back to Hiroshima in 1 day !
Takehara is famous for bamboo trees,so you can try the bamboo works during the tour.The tour costs 5000yen included round bus tickets,ferry tickets,fee for bamboo works.(Lunch is NOT included.Please buy something to eat by yourself in Takehara)
How to join the tour:(Every Tuesdays and Fridays)
On the day you join the tour,please go to the JR bus ticket window at north side of JR Hiroshima station up to 10 mins before its departure.
Upon boarding,give your ticket to the staff on the bus.






Sorry,I could not find any website in English but you can see some photos on this website.Please refer to the link below:
http://www.chugoku-jrbus.co.jp/teikan/takehara_ohkunoshima/
Hirsohima-Takehara JR Bus (Japanese)

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum Reopens

Hi it's Chippy from Hiroshima Hana Hostel.

What do people visit Hiroshima for?

They come to visit our two World Heritage sites; Itsukushima Shrine and the Atomic Bomb Dome.

In the Peace Memorial Park where the Dome locates, there's also a museum called "Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum."

 

On the 25th of April, the museum reopened after two years of renovations.

The museum first opened in 1955, 10 years after the bomb was dropped.
It's been partly renovated and displays and exhibitions have changed through the years.

Hiroshima Hana Hostel sometimes offers a free guided walking tour.
The guide picks you up at the hostel, takes you to the park, walks around with you explaining the histories. We get very good reviews of the tour as it helps you a lot with understanding the histories and deepening your knowledge.

As the tour is held randomly, we can't tell when it happens until a day or two days before the day. If it's on during your stay, you should definitely join the tour.

To know more about the museum, go on the official website.

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Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

Hours Open : 8:30-18:00 (Mar. - Jul)

Fees : 200yen (Adults), 100yen (High School Students),

Free (Junior High School Students or younger)

Access : From Hiroshima Station, take tram #2 or #6 and get off at Genbaku Dome Mae. (Takes about 20 minutes)

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Enjoy Plum-blossoms!

Hi.This is Ena from Hiroshima Hana Hostel.
What is your purpose of visiting Japan?
Recently,the cherry blossoms(Sakura) in Japan are super famous all over the world. It is said that the best time to see Sakura will be around Apr 4th in Hiroshima this year. 
 ☆Sakura Cherry Blossom Calendar Forecast for 2017(JPN)

As soon as the cherry blossom blooms, then the crowds will follow.
However, I personally think  plum-blossoms(Ume) are about as pretty as them.  

Ume (plum-blossoms)

The Shukkeien Japanese Garden in Hiroshima is known as a popular spot to admire beautiful plum-blossoms.There are over 100 plum-trees with red and white flowers in the garden.
NOW,they are in full bloom and you will be able to enjoy them till next weekend!
Before the SAKURA season,why don't you enjoy the Japanese spring with plum-blossoms without crowds? 
 ---------------------------------------------------------
<The Shukkeien Japanese Garden （縮景園) >
◎Access
About 10min Walk from JR Hiroshima Sta.
Or, take a sightseeing Loop Bus to Shukkeien stop
(FREE with a Japan Rail Pass) 

◎9AM-5PM (from Oct 1st to Mar 31st)
    9AM-6PM (from Apr 1st to Sept 30th)

◎Admission Fee
・Adults  260yen
・Students(High school and University students) 150yen
・Children (Elementary and Junior high school students)  100yen
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New Year's Day @ Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine

It is already now at the end of December....
Do you have any plans for New Year's Eve or New Year's Day?

On New Year's Day many Japanese go to the shrine to worship.
If you are coming to Hiroshima for those days, why don't you go to Gokoku Shrine?
Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine（広島護国神社） is a Shinto shrine  next to Hiroshima Castle.Every year many people.... more than 600,000 people visit there in the first three days of the new year for Hatsumode(初詣）,the first visit of the year to a shrine.

This is how we worship at shrines;
1) Ring the bell
2) Throw change gently in the offering box
3) Two bows,
    two claps and one bow
 




Opening Hours
---------------------------------

＊Dec 31st   ～24：00

＊Jan 1st    0：00～23：00
＊Jan 2nd  8：00～22：00
＊Jan 3rd  8：00～22：00
---------------------------------
EVENTS

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◎Dec 31st（大晦日　Oomisoka)

17:00～　大祓式・除夜祭　
　　　　New Year's Eve  Celemony

◎Jan 1st (元旦　Gantan) 

0:00～　初神楽奉奏（巫女舞）　Kagura

10:00～ 歳旦祭　New Year's Day Celemony

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◆Access　Hiroshima Gokoku Shrine
Take a Tram No.2 or 6 to Kamiyacho-Higashi stop from Hiroshima Sta.
Another 8min walk to the shrine

Have a good New Year's holiday!



** Be Careful ! **

The Peace Memorial Museum will be closed 
on Dec 30th and 31st.