A Day to Seek Nature, Art and Local Delicacies in a City Blessed with Abundant Water and Greenery Where the ‘Sea of Fog’ Awaits; Miyoshi City

Miyoshi City (三次市), located in the northern part of Hiroshima Prefecture, where the land is so rich in water because of the three rivers including Gonokawa River (江の川) the largest in the Chugoku region merging, is very famous for the ‘Sea of Fog’ (霧の海) that appears in early autumn. The fruits grown in such a place are the highlights you never want to miss in the city, in addition to some art museums and galleries. In this issue, let us suggest you the one-day excursion from Hiroshima City to Miyoshi City for healing your mind with nature, art and local delicacies.

It takes around an hour and a half from Hiroshima Washington Hotel to Miyoshi Station by JR Geibi Line rapid service.

Until 31st August, 200 Furins producing the good old summer of Japan at “Sagi Shrine” with history of over 1,300 years

Since its establishment in 675, “Sagi Shrine” (鷺神社) has been worshipped in a quiet place surrounded by lush greenery with people’s prayers for a world without plagues and has survived for more than 1,300 years undergoing repeated reconstruction and restoration. At its premises, the ‘Furin Festival’ (風鈴祭り, Wind Bell Festival) is being held until 31st August. As many as 200 Furins are coloring the scenery in the precincts, creating a photogenic space yet good old Japanese summer atmosphere.

Opening Hours	Ask the shrine for details <Furin Festival>12th June ’21 to 31st August ’21
Address	188-2 Tokaichimachi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access	A 20-minute walk from JR Miyoshi Station
URL	https://www.instagram.com/saginokosan/

Browse, buy and taste wine made only from grapes grown in Miyoshi City at “Miyoshi Winery”, the first winery ever in Hiroshima Prefecture

Reference from 広島観光ナビ “広島三次ワイナリー“

As the first winery ever in Hiroshima Prefecture, “Miyoshi Winery” (三次ワイナリー) was founded in 1994. In addition to the winery, there are also annexed facilities such as ‘Product Shop’ (物産館) where you can purchase wine made from homegrown grapes, and sweets using the wine, and ‘Barbecue Garden’ (バーベキューガーデン). At ‘Barbecue Garden’, obviously, you can enjoy a barbecue with Hiroshima Wagyu beef and vegetables harvested in Miyoshi City, and of course together with the wine. Among those facilities, ‘Cave a Vins’ (ワイン館) is the one you cannot miss. Equipped with one of the largest walk-in cellars and tasting counters in the western part of Japan, you can do tastings of all the available wines on sale from 200 yen per glass. The wine concierge will help you find a wine to your liking.

Opening Hours	<Barbecue Garden> 11:00AM – 6:00PM <Cafe Vine> 8:00AM – 5:00PM <Wine shop at ‘Cave a Vins’> 9:30AM – 6:00PM *Closed from 29th December to 1st January, and second Wednesday in January, February and March
Address	445-3 Higashisakeyamachi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access	A 12-minute ride on a public bus from JR Miyoshi Station to Miyoshi Winery Bus stop
URL	https://www.miyoshi-winery.co.jp

Fulfill your mind with art works of an artist couple from Miyoshi City at “Okuda Genso Sayume Art Museum”, known as the best museum where you can see the moon in beauty

“Okuda Genso Sayume Art Museum” (奥田元宋・小由女美術館) is an art museum exhibiting the works of a Japanese-style painter Genso Okuda (奥田元宋) from Miyoshi City and his wife, a puppet designer Sayume Okuda (奥田小由女). Since Genso has worked on many pieces with the motif of the moon, the museum is designed to have visitors enjoy the view of the moon in the most beautiful way. That is why this museum is also called the ‘Museum Where You Get to Enjoy the Best View of the Moon’. The must-see in this museum is the scenery spreading in the lobby that embodies the work ‘Machizuki’ (待月). You will definitely be overwhelmed by the mysterious sight of the moon and its reflection on the pond between the buildings. By the way, on the night of the full moon, the closing time is extended to 9:00 PM.

Opening Hours	9:30AM – 5:00PM / Closed on every Wednesday *Opened until 9:00 PM on nights of the full moon (except for January and February)
Address	10453-6 Higashisakeyamachi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Address	An 11-minute ride on a public bus from JR Miyoshi Station to Bijutsukan Mae Bus stop
URL	https://www.genso-sayume.jp

Enjoy picking fruits of 14 kinds and 150 varieties all year round at “Hirata Farm” visited by 160,000 people a year

At “Hirata Farm” (平田観光農園) in the forest at an altitude of 550m, there is a vast garden of 15ha with 150 varieties of 14 kinds of fruits such as strawberries, cherries and peaches where you can enjoy a variety of fruit picking regardless of the season. Moreover, there are plenty of experience-based programs that anyone can enjoy available, such as pizza baking using fruits harvested very in the farm, outdoor cooking with a Dutch oven, and canned-fruits making. At ‘cafe noqoo’, a café in a renovated old folk house of 100 years old, why not have a seasonal parfait with plenty of seasonal fruits from the farm?

Opening Hours	<Hirata Farm> 10:00AM – 5:00PM in March to November, 10:00AM – 3:00PM in December to February <cafe noqoo> 11:00AM – 3:00PM <noqoo DELI> 11:00AM – 3:00PM <strawberry circus café> 11:00AM – 3:00PM *Closed on every Thursday and Friday in December to February
Address	1740-3 Uedamachi, Miyoshi City, Hiroshima Prefecture
Access	A 39-minute ride on a public bus from JR Miyoshi Station to Yaburedo Bus stop and a 13-minute walk from Yaburedo Bus stop
URL	http://www.marumero.com