Mihara: Castle Ruins, Autumn Leaves at Buttsu-ji Temple, and a Japanese Garden by the Airport (By Car)

This course connects three highlights of Mihara City by car. After viewing the stone walls of the tenshudai (keep foundation) at the Mihara Castle Ruins, which are integrated with JR Mihara Station, you will head to Buttsu-ji Temple, a Zen temple nestled in the mountains, and finally stroll through Sankeien Garden, a Japanese garden next to Hiroshima Airport.

History and Regional Appeal

Mihara is a land with deep ties to the Kobayakawa clan of the Sengoku period. Buttsu-ji Temple is a Zen temple founded in 1397 when Kobayakawa Haruhira welcomed the Zen monk Guchu Shukyu, and it flourished through the devotion of the Kobayakawa clan. Mihara Castle was built by Kobayakawa Takakage, the third son of Mori Motonari and a renowned tactician of the Sengoku period. Buttsu-ji Temple, which had fallen into ruin after the Onin War, also somewhat recovered during the era of Takakage.

The castle was built by connecting islands facing the Seto Inland Sea, and it is said that it was also called "Ukishiro" (floating castle) because it appeared to float on the sea at high tide. Traveling from the seaside castle ruins to the mountain Zen temple, and then to Sankeien Garden, which expresses the landscapes of Hiroshima's mountains, villages, and sea in a single garden, allows you to experience both the sea and mountains of Mihara.

Key Highlights

• ​Mihara Castle Ruins​​: JR Mihara Station is located on the former site of the honmaru (main bailey), and an extraordinary feature is that the tenshudai (keep foundation) can be accessed directly from the station concourse. The tenshudai is of a scale that could accommodate six main keeps of Hiroshima Castle, ranking among the largest in Japan, and retains stone walls built using a special construction method called "aburi-zumi." The castle ruins are designated as a National Historic Site as one of the Kobayakawa Clan Castle Sites.
• ​Buttsu-ji Temple​​: The head temple of the Buttsu-ji School of Rinzai Zen. Crossing Kyomo Bridge over the mountain stream in front of the temple leads to buildings such as the sanmon gate and the main hall, and climbing the stone steps on the opposite bank of the stream brings you to the Jizo-do hall, a National Important Cultural Property. It is one of the premier autumn foliage spots in the prefecture, with the best viewing period from early to mid-November.
• ​Sankeien Garden​​: A Japanese garden spanning approximately 6 hectares, built in 1993 to commemorate the opening of Hiroshima Airport. Composed of three zones representing mountains, villages, and the sea, it features the "Sandan Falls" with a drop of about 14 meters in the mountain zone, and the "Chokentei," an overwater structure reminiscent of Miyajima, in the sea zone.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

The estimated time required is about 6 hours. The tenshudai of the Mihara Castle Ruins is right from within Mihara Station, and about 15 minutes by car from the Mihara-Kui Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway. After viewing the castle ruins, head northwest to Buttsu-ji Temple, about 8 kilometers in a straight line. Buttsu-ji Temple is approximately 20 minutes by car from the Mihara-Kui Interchange. An admission fee is required during the autumn foliage season, and traffic restrictions are implemented on surrounding roads.

From Buttsu-ji Temple to Sankeien Garden is approximately 10 kilometers west in a straight line. Since Sankeien Garden has parking spaces only for people with disabilities, please park at Chuo Forest Park or Hiroshima Airport parking lots. It is about 5 minutes from both the Kochi Interchange and Hongo Interchange on the Sanyo Expressway. Sankeien Garden also holds an autumn foliage festival in November, so in autumn, you can enjoy the colorful leaves at both Buttsu-ji Temple and Sankeien Garden.

Summary of the Experience

From the station concourse to the stone walls of a Sengoku castle, across a mountain stream bridge to a Zen temple spanning over 600 years, and into a garden reflecting Hiroshima's landscapes. Take a day by car to appreciate the history built by the Kobayakawa clan alongside the mountain and village scenery of Mihara.