About our ecotours

The Setonaikai Ecotourism Association, in collaboration with Fukuyama Tourist Co., Ltd. (planning and implementation), organise ecotours in Takehara, the implementation site of the Shohekiga Project.

Based on the theme of "salt, saké, and blue," we developed original ecotours focusing on Takehara's local history and industries such as salt production and saké brewing which are nurtured by nature in Takehara.

The ecotours provide opportunities for visitors to enjoy Takehara's culture, interact with local people, and to discover the charm of Takehara.

The concept of the ecotours is in line with the conservation and sustainable use of the natural and cultural resources in the local area and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (8, 9, 11, 14, 15, and 17).

Also, we hope the ecotours would lead to the revitalization of the region.

These ecotours are made-to-order tours. We will also adjust the schedule upon customer's requests.

About the exhibition of Shohekiga Paintings

(Seasonal exhibition)

The shohekiga paintings created in this project will be exhibited during the "Sea Art Walk (Umi de tsunagaru art walk)" held from late April to the first week of May and "Path of Admiration (Shokei no michi)" in late October.

We hope that the exhibition of artworks during these periods would be an opportunity for guests to experience the nature and culture of Takehara through art and encourage the artists.

These ecotours are made-to-order tours. We will also adjust the schedule upon customer's requests. Ecotours would be also held except the exhibition period.

More about the ecotours

Take a stroll back in time at Takehara, Hiroshima's Little Kyoto, a nostalgic town.

Inquiry (Fukuyama Tourist)

Inquiry and apply for ecotours

[Premium saké brewery experience and stay at a historical building]

An ecotour of salt, saké and "blue" - Little Kyoto in Hiroshima, salt-producing town Takehara

(2 days, 1 night)

More about ecotours

An ecotour of salt, saké and "blue" Little Kyoto in Hiroshima, salt-producing town Takehara

(day trip)

More about ecotours

Takehara, Little Kyoto in Hiroshima

Takehara, located in the south-central part of Hiroshima Prefecture, and facing the Seto Inland Sea, is known as a ”Little Kyoto'' town in Hiroshima. The Takehara Townscape Preservation District, lined by historical buildings from the Edo period (1603-1867) to the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989) eras, is designated as a Japan Heritage (日本遺産) site, and is a place where you can spend a rich time surrounded by a nostalgic landscape.

In addition, saké using Hiroshima's unique “soft water brewing method'' and wa-én (和塩, Japanese salt) rich in mineral and nutritious are produced in Takehara by taking advantage of nature's blessings.

Walking around the Town

Takehara Townscape Preservation District

Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings/Japan Heritage Cultural Asset

Takehara, located in the south-central part of Hiroshima Prefecture, and facing the Seto Inland Sea, is known as a ”Little Kyoto'' town in Hiroshima. The town was founded as a manor for Shimogamo Shrine in Kyoto, and during the Edo period, the townspeople's culture was greatly fostered by wealthy merchants called "hamadanna" who prospered and made their fortunes through salt production, saké brewing, and shipping.
The various designs of the lattices, walls, balustrades, and glass windows of the houses that make up the elegant and stately townscape create a beauty that is unique yet unified, and you can feel the life of the past from the houses lining the many alleys, such as Honmachi Street, Okoji, Itayakoji, and Nakanokoji.

NIPPONIA HOTEL Takehara Saltworks Town - Renovation of the historic architecture

In the ecotours, we provide NIPPONIA HOTEL Takehara Saltworks Town for your accommodation.

NIPPONIA HOTEL Takehara Saltworks Town is based on the concept of Albergo Diffuso． In Italian, albergo means ‘accommodation’ and difuso means ‘dispersion’. Several old or vacant buildings in the town are renovated to use as lodging facilities, and each building has respective roles such as reception, guest rooms, and restaurants. As a result, the entire town will take on the function of a hotel. This concept is designed to revitalize the area as guests move around the town and create interaction. This concept is also expected to solve the problem of vacant houses due to the declining birthrate and aging population.

As such, NIPPONIA HOTEL renovated 3 historic buildings in the town, and allocates the roles of a reception, a restaurant, and guest rooms to respective buildings. Historic buildings including a local bank (accommodation building) and a Japanese ryotei (料亭) restaurant (front desk/restaurant building) were renovated for the buildings of this nostalgic and relaxing hotel.

During your stay at the hotel, you will experience the feeling of being wealthy merchants (hamadanna, 浜旦那), who made their fortunes through salt and saké production and created the historical townscape of Takehara.

We provide the customers to stay at suite or maisonette rooms.

**Takehara and wa-én (和塩), Japanese salt**

Until the Middle Ages, most of the Takehara City area was located in the shallow sea. During the Edo period, land reclamation was promoted and developed as salt farms. Salt farms produced high-quality salt, and Takehara flourished as a ‘saltworks town’ for over 320 years, from 1650 to 1970. The owners of the salt farms were called ‘hamadanna’, and thanks to the wealth generated by salt production, they have established a rich culture in Takehara.

Wa-én (和塩) full course cuisine

During the ecotours, we will provide a special wa-én full course cuisine for guests at the NIPPONIA HOTEL Takehara Saltworks Town.

This full course cuisine is specially planned for our ecotours, and will use wa-én for all dishes from appetizers to desserts using local ingredients.

Do you think it’s salty and unhealthy? – The answer is NO. On the contrary, this wa-én full course cuisine is not salty at all. As well as wa-én is rich in nutrients and minerals, a slight amount of salt extracts umami from ingredients and creates a delicate taste. Also, this menu is inspired by local salt production history.

We provide this course as dinner for 2 days-1 night ecotour, and as lunch for one day trip.

Wa-én full course cuisine

Gargouille made from local vegetables, Hiroshima greens and wasabi condiman

Fresh fish marinated with mineral-rich Takehara salt with local citrus

Red turnip potage - float with turnips flavored with Takehara salt

Saké -steamed local fish using saké from Taketsuru Saké Brewery, rouleaux style with a sauce that has a mellow and rich salty taste

Grilled Taoshita beef loin wrapped in salt pie served with arranged Takehara salt

Hamadanna's hospitality dish: Gyohan told by Taketsuru Saké Brewery

Takehara salt and Setouchi mandarin orange parfait

*This menu was provided in February 2024.

The menu may be changed according to seasons and so on.

Gyohan (魚飯) -Takehara's traditional cuisine for guests

Gyohan (rice and seafood with dashi soup) is a Takehara's traditional cuisine that hamadanna usually served to guests at the end of a party. Salt farms were abolished in 1960 due to a national policy and opportunities to see gyohan gradually decreased. But it is still a local cuisine unique to Takehara that has been handed down by merchants in the area. In 2008, an association trying to conserve local food culture recreated this menu so that it could be provided to visitors. In 2020, gyohan was certified by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs as the ‘Traditional 100 Year Food’.

Please enjoy gyohan that was born out of Takehara's history.

Fujii Shuzou Co., Ltd. (Saké Brewery)

At Fujii Shuzou, saké is produced using Hiroshima’s unique soft water brewing method. Please enjoy a saké tasting and take a look at saké, saké sets (tokkuri (flask) and cups), tableware, handicrafts, accessories and bags made of kimono fabric, etc. at their gift shop.

Fujii Shuzo is famous for its saké brand Ryusei (龍勢) which was served at the working dinner of the G7 Summit in Hiroshima in 2023.

NOTE:

*Please do not eat natto (納豆) during the tour. Also, please do not wear perfume. A local saké brewery, Fujii Shuzou’s saké is produced through an old-fashioned process in which ‘kōji mold (Aspergillus oryzae)’ plays an important role. If you come to the saké brewery after eating natto or wearing strongly scented perfume, you will not be allowed to enter the brewery as these have negative effects on ‘kōji mold’ inside the brewery. Your understanding and cooperation to conserve local saké production is highly appreciated.

Hiroshima’s unique ‘soft water brewing method’

Hiroshima is now known as one of Japan's three premier saké brewing regions. However, Hiroshima was considered unsuitable for Japanese saké production in the past as most wells provided soft water. Soft water was regarded as unsuitable for saké brewing because yeast does not work well and fermentation is insufficient. However, a Hiroshima’s master saké brewer, Senzaburo Miura (三浦仙三郎) intensively studied saké brewing and local water quality, and developed a unique method taking advantage of the weak points of soft water. Fermentation process progresses more slowly with soft water than hard water, but it also means that soft water enables a long-term fermentation along with a culture of kōji mold (Aspergillus oryzae). In this way, the soft water brewing method unique to Hiroshima enables the production of a smooth saké with rich flavor and a mellow taste.

Fujii Shuzou's basic concept is that "sake is not made by humans, but brewed by nature."
They brew saké using Hiroshima's unique soft water brewing method.

Premium Saké Brewery Experience

In the "Premium Saké Brewery Experience" provided for the 2-day 1-night eco-tour, the 5th head of Fujii Shuzou Co., Ltd., Yoshifumi Fujii, will explain the "soft water brewing method" that characterises Hiroshima's saké, the history of the company's saké brewing in Takehara, and the process of saké brewing using pure rice, complete fermentation, and kimoto brewing. You can observe the actual process at the saké brewery. Please enjoy and experience the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage "Traditional Japanese Saké Brewing".

During the tasting, the proprietress will serve you the company's brand saké "Ryusei" at different temperatures in various sake cups while you look at the lush green garden from a specially prepared zashiki room (Japanese guest room) inside the saké brewery. Along with beautiful table coordination, you can also enjoy the perfect snacks to match the type and taste of the saké.
While listening to the story of the 5th head of the family, enjoy the various flavors of saké and feel the saké brewing that is in harmony with nature.

This is a special experience offered on the 2-day 1-night course. The day trip course only includes a visit to the Fujii Shuzou's Exchange Center.

Fujii Shuzou's Exchange Center

At Fujii Shuzou's Exchange Center, you can also enjoy shopping for saké, sweets, and stylish miscellaneous goods.

Closed: Mondays (or the following day if Monday is a public holiday)

Tokobo Fudo (Pottery Studio) -

Japan Blue Pottery

Let’s make a decanter, a pair of small saké cups and small salt plates in Japan Blue at a local pottery studio, Tokobo Fudo. Takehara, located in the Seto Inland Sea area, has recently drawn the attention of visitors due to its selection as one of 52 places to go in 2019 by the New York Times.

Setouchi (瀬戸内) means the Seto Inland Sea and the blue is thought of as the local theme color by people in the area. After experiencing local food culture of salt and saké in Takehara, why not keep your memory by making a souvenir? The glaze is made from bamboo ash of Takehara. A pair of small blue saké cups and salt plates will retain the memory of your trip.

The decanter, saké cups and the salt plates will be delivered to your home after firing.

At the studio, you may also be able to meet the lovely cat "Soseki" who serves as the chief of tourism by strolling alleys of Takehara.

Artworks by ceramic artist Noriko Iwakawa

You can also purchase Noriko's JAPAN Blue works at Tokobo Fudo.

Pottery making experience

You can make the following items in the pottery making experience.
Why not think about the design before your trip to make your favorite ones?

One-day course

Hina dolls (includes a mini folding screen and wooden box, shown right) or a cup and a saucer.

In Takehara, various hina dolls which celebrates the girls' healthy growth and happiness are decorated from February to March.
Why not make your original hina dolls to retain the memory of your trip? (Hina doll making is provided as a year-round plan.)

1 night, 2 day course

A set of saké vessels (1 decanter, 2 sake cups) and 2 small salt plates

Noriko's Homemade Cake and Coffee

Noriko's homemade cake and coffee will be provided as part of the 2-day, 1-night course.

Meals

"Takehara-yaki" Lunch at Horikawa

Okonomiyaki made with saké lees from Takehara's junmai ginjo saké

The dough of "Takehara-yaki" , one of Hiroshima-style okonomiyaki, is made by mixing aged saké lees into a paste. When you put it in your mouth, the sweet aroma of saké wafts softly. Enjoy Takehara's local okonomiyaki.
Horikawa's Takehara Yaki is also designed on the local okonomiyaki manhole. Please look for it in the town!

Junmai ginjo saké is made by using only rice with a polishing ratio of 60% or less, rice koji and water, and fermenting the rice for a long time at low temperature (ginjo brewing).

This meal will be served as lunch on the second day of the 2-day, 1-night course.

What are ecotours

by Setonaikai Ecotourism Association?

◆ Interactive and experiential trips with stories based on local nature, culture, and history ◆

Ecotours have "stories" based on the nature, history, and culture of the region. Setonaikai Ecotourism Association aims to create trips that lead to the conservation and sustainable use of local resources.
We propose ecotours that convey the potential charm of the region from the perspectives of natural science, history, culture, industries, food culture and art through interactions with local people.

Setonaikai Ecotourism Association Official Website

Inquiries and Applications

Fukuyama Tourist Co., Ltd. (Fukuyama Transporting Group)
4-16-25 Higashifukatsucho, Fukuyama City, Hiroshima Prefecture, 721-0974
Telephone number: +81-84-926-7722
Business hours: 9:00-18:00 (Mon-Fri), 9:00-17:00 (Sat)
Closed: Sundays and public holidays

Travel agency registration number: Japan Tourism Agency Commissioner's Registered Travel Agency No. 2114
Affiliated organizations: Full member of the Japan Association of Travel Agents (JATA) General Incorporated Association
General travel agency manager: Otani Tsukasa

Fukuyama Tourist website

Click here to inquire and apply for ecotours

The ecotour contents on this page are based on the ecotours planned and implemented from October 2023 to February 2024 as part of the Japan Tourism Agency's "Tourism Restart Project" (project name: "A space of hospitality created by shohekiga paintings by young artists - experience art and food culture in the salt-making town of Takehara, "Little Kyoto" town in Takehara).