Discover Higashihiroshima

The area around Higashihiroshima brings together different cultural and historical themes: Saijo’s group of breweries and streetscape, Kagamiyama Castle, and the Mitsujo Kofun complex. They offer different perspectives—a group of breweries that continues to operate today and has a long history, the preserved structures of a historic mountain castle, and an archaeological comparison of scale. When planning your trip, it is helpful to distinguish these locations and themes from one another.

Brewing history and streetscape in Saijo

The historic Saijo brewery group extends across the Saijo Sakagura-dori district. The history of its brewery facilities dates back to the early modern period; the group developed further in modern times and continues to exist today. It offers a way to trace the development of modern Japanese brewing. The historic landscape is well preserved and considered unique in Japan. Saijo thus combines a long span of history with a clearly defined district.

Saijo Sake Brewery Street also has a distinctive streetscape: red-brick chimneys, red-tiled roofs, namako-style walls, and white-plastered brewery buildings characterize the street. Seven sake breweries are located there within walking distance of JR Saijo Station. Alongside the historical development, this description provides specific points of reference: the number of breweries, their location in relation to the station, and the different features of the buildings.

Kagamiyama Castle: preserved fortifications

Kagamiyama Castle offers a different historical perspective. The ruins retain in good condition the kuruwa (enclosures) laid out at the time, slopes cut into the rock, and trenches known as tatebori. The site is considered a significant large-scale mountain castle from the early Sengoku period. Kuruwa, slopes, and trenches refer to different structural elements; together, they give a more concrete picture of the preserved castle structures than the general term “mountain castle” alone.

The castle was built as an Ōuchi stronghold from which to rule Aki and served as an eastern outpost of their domain in eastern Saijo, in Aki Province. The historic territory today encompasses the southern part of Higashihiroshima and parts of Kure. This places the historical context within a broader geographic setting without equating it with the present-day boundaries of a single municipality.

The walk from the entrance to Kagamiyama Park to Kuruwa No. 1 at the summit takes about 20 minutes. Check the latest notices about closed areas before setting out.

The walking information for Saijo and Kagamiyama is different: in Saijo, seven breweries are within walking distance of JR Saijo Station; in Kagamiyama, the walk described is from the park entrance to a specific kuruwa at the summit. This helps you consider the two details separately when planning your trip.

Mitsujo Kofun complex: a sense of scale for Kofun No. 1

The Mitsujo Kofun complex in Saijo includes a keyhole-shaped kofun and round burial mounds. Kofun No. 1 is about 92 meters long and is one of the largest burial mounds in Hiroshima Prefecture. The size comparison refers to this individual keyhole-shaped kofun; the complex as a whole also includes round burial mounds.

The surrounding area thus brings together different historical subjects: the development of a brewery group that continues to operate today, the preserved structures of a mountain castle, and the forms and specific length of a kofun. If you are looking for a hotel in Higashihiroshima, these regional cultural themes can help guide you in choosing the focus of your trip.

For the main travel overview: Hiroshima Prefecture.