May

With many accessible mountains and gorges and the Seto Inland Sea as a stunning backdrop, Hiroshima prefecture offers excellent walking routes suitable for all abilities, from those who want a leisurely 2km stroll to seasoned hikers looking to scale summits. In fact, there are over 70 listed trails across the prefecture. Here are a few choices to get you started. Mount Misen Trails Located on Miyajima Island, Mt. Misen is a hiking hotspot in Hiroshima, with its 535-meter peak not beyond the realms of most fit walkers. Three trails take you past forests, wildlife including monkeys and deer, shrines, statues, and the Reikado spiritual flame, which according to legend, has been burning for 1,000 years. The Daisho-in trail is the shortest of the three (5.6km), taking you up steps to the summit. The forested Momijidani trail is the longest at 8.2km, while the Omoto trail (7.9km) takes in parks and ravines. You can also do a loop route that is just over 6km. All routes should take between 2-3 hours, and there is a ropeway to the summit should you start to tire. Miyajima is easy to reach from the Hiroshima mainland, just a 10-minute ferry ride from Motoyasubashi Pier.…