Experience Full of Japan! Sake Tasting and Cultural Activities in Hiroshima

Hello. It's Chippy from Hiroshima Hana Hostel.

Do you like Japanese sake?

If yes, Hiroshima is the best place for you.

A big sake festival in Hiroshima, "Saijo Sake Festival" is annually held in early October. Saijo is a small town in Higashi Hiroshima which has more than 10 sake breweries. The festival is getting more and more popular even among non-Japanese people. It's a shame it's only held one time a year...

However, there are good news for you guys who're coming in March this year!

Hiroshima Museum of Art is going to hold special events on the 1st and 22nd of March.
If you visit the museum on these dates, you can not only enjoy masterpieces by artists such as Van Gogh and Picasso, but also experience Japanese unique cultures.

☆Sake Tasting - 1000yen for 3 cups 

You will get to choose what you want to drink from 5-6 kinds of sake, wine and more. By posting on SNS you'll get your fourth cup for FREE.

☆Kimono Experience - 2000yen/adult, 1000yen/child

Choose your own kimono from several choices and enjoy your time at the museum.

☆Kyudo Experience - 500yen (Mar. 1 only)
You can play Japanese traditional sport called "Kyudo (Japanese archery)" only for 500yen!

☆Koto Experience - 1000yen (Mar. 22 only)
 Play Japanese unique instrument "Koto (Japanese harp)" and enjoy the beautiful sound.

If you are planning to travel around Hiroshima in March, you can't miss the events!
Go to Instagram or Facebook for more information.

Hiroshima Rose Festival 🌹

Hello everyone! It's Chippy from J Hoppers Hiroshima.

I can't believe how fast it is to turn to be spring from the autumn this year! It's been super hot these days and it even feels like we skipped the spring!

In Japan, after cherry blossoms fell, it's the season for ROSES!!

There will be a "Rose Festival" taken place at the Hiroshima Botanical Garden from next week!

The rose garden covers 1600 square meters and contains 570 different varieties of rose. With other parts of the gardens there are about 850 varieties on display in total including pure bred roses, modern roses, and some of them are created in Hiroshima and even named after Hiroshima.

They will also hold some workshops such as making wreaths of flowers and forming roses out of soft clay (clay craft) during the period. Some flower shops and food stalls will come to warm up the festival too!

It only takes about 40 minutes by bus departing from the Bus Center which is 15 minutes from J Hoppers.
If you feel like spending your time on relaxing surrounded by beautiful nature rather than being in a crowd in the city center, this place will be the best spot for you!

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　　　　　　　　　　　Rose Festival 🌹

☆Dates: May 13th ～ May 28th (closed on Fridays)

★Hours: 9:00am ～ 4:30pm

☆Place: The Hiroshima Botanical Garden

★Admission Fee: 510yen (Adults)

☆Access: Hiroshima Dentetsu Bus #55-1 (40 minutes)
              bound for Yakushigaoka Danchi via The Botanicall Garden

※Bus runs once an hour until evening. Check the time schedule in advance:
http://www.hiroden.co.jp/bus/route/w-54-55.html#tab2 (JP)

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Hiroshima Botanical Garden Website: http://www.hiroshima-bot.jp/index.htm

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? 
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<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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Cherry Blossom Season is fast Approaching.

A GOOD PLACE TO SEE THE CHERRY BLOSSOM.

Constructed with the hope of eternal world peace, the park consists of a number of peace-promoting monuments. Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum exhibits visual materials showing outlooks of Hiroshima at the time when it was granted with permanent peace after the war.

You can see several sites including the A-bomb dome that has been designated as a World Heritage Site, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Hall for Atomic Bomb Victims, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, and International Conference Center Hiroshima. The bell chimes for peace within the Peace Memorial Park was selected as one of “Japan Sound View Best 100”.

Also, this place is a popular spot to admire beautiful cherry blossoms.

Every year you can see hundreds of people having Hanami near the rivers all along the peace park. As soon as the blossom blooms, then the crowds will follow.