Ms. Naoko Yamane
Member of the "Oyster Eating Club"
She is a member of the "Oyster Eating Club," a research organization that loves Hiroshima oysters, and she is in charge of planning and editing. She is a member of the editorial department of the town information magazine "TJ Hiroshima", and is the editor-in-chief of the Hiroshima prefectural SNS "Nikkan Washira".
Oysters are the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about Hiroshima's specialties. There are many places in the prefecture where oysters are produced, and the taste varies depending on the location and variety. In recent years, the way to enjoy oysters has been evolving to not only eating them, but also drinking them, looking at them, and wearing them!
Ms. Yamane is a member of the "Oyster Eating Club," which is a group of people who have come together to make Hiroshima the best city in the world to eat oysters in. She took us on a course, centered around Miyajima, to enjoy oysters to their fullest. The “Island of the Gods” is also the island of oysters. Let's go on an oyster tour of Hiroshima with Ms. Yamane, who is full of local jokes!
“If Ms. Yamane, a member of the "Oyster Eating Club," were to lead a tour for oyster lovers to enjoy the shellfish in a variety of ways....”
The route of World Heritage in Hiroshima
Travel time : 45 minutes
1/10
Get to Miyajima by marine transport between the two World Heritage sites!
A short 45-minute boat trip will allow you to enjoy Hiroshima's unique scenery from the river and the sea.
When I take my friends to Miyajima, I use the "Hiroshima World Heritage Route," a marine transportation service that connects the two World Heritage sites of the Peace Park (Atomic Bomb Dome) and Miyajima. Because it’s a high-speed boat ride, you can arrive in as little as 45 minutes. When sailing on the river, you will pass under bridges many times, which is very thrilling. When you go out to sea, you can see oyster rafts, shipyards, and other typical Hiroshima sights.
Please enjoy the view from inside the ship since deck use is prohibited at sea. You can also take the outbound train here and use the Hiroshima Electric Railway for the return trip.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
The sailing schedule and use of the deck may vary depending on the tide level, so check the website for information or inquire directly before using the boat.
45 minutes by high-speed boat
Miyajima Curry Bread Laboratory
Travel time : 15 minutes
2/10
The crunchy dough and flavorful oysters are perfect!
Fill up on the popular original curry bread!
Enjoy curry bread that attracts even deer!
When you arrive at Miyajima, the first thing you should do is eat. We recommend Miyajima Curry Bread Laboratory, which is located a few minutes' walk from the pier toward Itsukushima Shrine.
The most popular item here is the oyster curry bread (500 yen), which contains two whole large oysters.
The dough is crunchy, and the taste of sweet original beef curry and oysters will fill your mouth with flavor.
In April 2021, "Hiroshima Curry Bread Laboratory", a member of the same group, opened in Kamiyacho. It offers the same oyster curry bread and more than 15 other kinds of curry bread.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
The spicy aroma will stimulate the appetite of not only people, but also deer! If you eat it right there, the deer will come to you, so be careful!
5-minute walk
Kaki-ya (Oyster Shop)
Travel time : 90 minutes
3/10
Take-out and eat-in are both available!
Tantalize your taste buds with a wide selection of oyster dishes!
The best oysters are the ones that are grilled over a high flame.
This restaurant specializes in oyster dishes and has an impressive modern Japanese storefront. In addition to oyster dishes, there is a wide selection of wine, sake, and other alcoholic beverages, and you can also buy souvenirs such as oysters in oil. The oysters on the half shell that are grilled in the store are delicious, and you can feel the spirit in the bold way they are grilled over high heat.
The oysters are so fragrant and juicy that you will want to eat the shells as well. The producer varies depending on the season, and most of them are from Jigozen. If you want to fully enjoy oysters, be sure to try the oyster shop set meal, which includes grilled, raw, and fried oysters.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
Kaki Iwai (Oyster Celebration), a café with a great view, and GEBURA, a store specializing in lemon drinks, are affiliated. Both are located on the island, so if time permits, be sure to stop by.
2-minute walk
MIYAJIMA BREWERY
Travel time : 20 minutes
4/10
A beer stand with its own brewery.
Cheers to craft beer made from local ingredients!
This is a craft beer that even people who don't like oysters should drink!
Once you've had your fill of eating oysters, it's time to try drinking oysters at MIYAJIMA BREWERY, a beer stand with its own brewery, established in 2017.
On the third floor, there is a restaurant where you can enjoy freshly brewed beer and dishes made with local ingredients. The craft beer you should try here is "Oyster Stout," which uses oysters as a secondary ingredient. The oyster shells and meat are used to make a mild black beer. The dark malt gives it a cocoa-like aroma that goes perfectly with fried oysters.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
There are six types of take-out beer in cups. An S size (450 yen) and L size (650 yen) are available. Bottled beer is popular as a souvenir.
15-minute walk
Miyaji Marine Miyajima Aquarium
Travel time : 90 minutes
5/10
An interactive aquarium full of learning.
See and touch the creatures of the Seto Inland Sea.
This is what an oyster raft looks like under the sea! Take a look at this amazing section.
The concept of the Miyajima Aquarium, which exhibits more than 15,000 creatures of 380 species mainly from the Seto Inland Sea, is "healing and interaction”.
What you should pay attention to here is the "oyster viewing". From the second floor, you can look into the water tank with binoculars, and if you go to the first floor, you can look under the surface of the oyster raft through the water tank. You may have seen oyster farming before, but it's hard to see what's going on under the water! Even the residents of Hiroshima Prefecture can't help but to admire this section.
Kosuke OkiChief, Miyajima Aquarium Management Section, Environment and Industry Department, Hatsukaichi CityYou can see many creatures of the Seto Inland Sea, such as the now rare environmental symbol of the Seto Inland Sea, the snapping turtle. You can also see the Tachibana Fish that stands upright in the dark sea.
15-minute walk
Hakata-ya
Travel time : 30 minutes
6/10
A long-standing “momiji manju” shop with much care.
Undertaking an innovative menu.
The amazing collaboration of momiji manju and oysters is a must-try!
After walking around in circles and getting a little hungry, you can revisit snack time.
Hakata-ya, which has been in business for 140 years, is a long-established “momiji manju” shop. The store has an eat-in space where you can eat freshly baked or fried momiji manju on the spot. The "Momiji no Deai" is a lemon-flavored sponge cake dough that can be topped with ingredients of your choice. Choose oysters marinated in oil, and you'll get a strange cross between a snack and a treat! The sweet and salty flavor is addictive.
Yui ItoHakata-ya StaffMomiji no Deai is also available in a box (880 yen for 8 pieces). When eating at home, it's best to heat them in a toaster and top them with liver pate or red bean paste butter!
5-minute walk
Sasaki Stationery Store
Travel time : 20 minutes
7/10
Find a unique souvenir at a retro stationery store on Machiya Street.
Nail it with the realistic cuteness of the oyster shell motif!
Sasaki Stationery Store, located in the middle of Machiya Dori, is a slightly retro shop that retains a good old-fashioned atmosphere. You can find nostalgic stationery, Japanese goods, ceramics, and accessories. A must-see item is the “oyster ball” (1,100 yen). What? A beanbag with an oyster shell as its motif? We can't believe our eyes for a moment, but the strange realism is kind of cute! The reasonable size of the ball fits comfortably in your hand, which is also strangely relaxing. Many of the products are only available here, making it a must for souvenir shopping.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
Although it is called "stationery," it is more like a general store. They also sell "Koshi-gami," an amulet that has been used to ward off evil for centuries on Miyajima.
5-minute walk
Pettara Pottara Honpo
Travel time : 10 minutes
8/10
Oysters and conger eel, grilled rice ball style.
Fill your stomach with classic gourmet foods.
Nostalgic taste like grandma's homemade snacks.
We’ve eaten our way through a lot of food so far, but there's one more thing we’d like to mention ☺.
“Pettara pottara”, a grilled rice ball-like dish made from glutinous and unglutinous rice produced in the prefecture, is a popular snack in Miyajima. The sweet secret sauce goes well with the chewy rice. There are two kinds of oysters and conger eel from the Seto Inland Sea, so take your pick. The oysters are dipped in the sauce right in front of you and then grilled over a charcoal fire, so the outside is crispy and the smell of the “okoge” is delicious. The outside is crispy and the smell of okoge is delicious. If you take it home with you, it will become hard, so enjoy it freshly grilled on the spot.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
If you want to enjoy the unique taste of Miyajima at home, you can also buy a package of 12 (5200 yen) from the store's official website!
5 minutes by shuttle bus
Moriwaki Suisan
Travel time : 30 minutes
9/10
Miyajima oysters are grown in the nutrient-rich sea.
Direct from trusted producers!
You can also buy Hiroshima Oyster Brand oysters certified as "Premium Top Oysters".
If you want to give someone oysters that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, this is the place to go. Moriwaki Suisan, located on the way to Baigaura from the pier, is a producer of high-quality Miyajima oysters.
They are also sold directly and can be shipped to other regions. Oysters are sold from November to March. Moriwaki Suisan's oysters are carefully selected for their seeds, and the rafts are moved many times during the cultivation process to store nutrients and make the oysters plump and juicy. The difference in taste is obvious! Some of their oysters have been certified as "Premium Top Oysters" by Hiroshima Prefecture.
Kei MoriwakiRepresentative Director, Moriwaki SuisanThe secret to its deliciousness is freshness management. Oysters are immediately dipped in seawater ice for instant cooling, so they retain their freshness and taste.
5 minutes by shared bus
15 minutes by ferry to Miyajima-guchi
20 minutes from JR Miyajima-guchi Station to Hiroshima Station on the JR Sanyo Line
Shima Shouten
Travel time : 30 minutes
10/10
Oysters are cute! Let's make a souvenir for yourself from a new brand that shows us their cuteness.
1-2 Matsubaracho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture (in ekie, Hiroshima Station) 732-0822
082-568-9195
Find the best oyster goods at the gateway to Hiroshima, where you can find local goodies.
The last stop on your tour of Miyajima is the train station, where you can pick up some souvenirs at "Shima Shoten", a select store inside the shop ekie that touts “good things from the Seto Inland Sea”.
You can find everything from up-and-coming artists to traditional crafts. A recent hot item is the oyster-themed apparel brand "The World is My Oyster". At Shima Shoten, we offer miniature cards and regular postcards made from crushed oyster shells. The aurora borealis glow and oyster-shell-shaped letterpress printing, inspired by the underside of an oyster shell, are stylish, original, and cute. Other items such as tote bags and stickers are also available.
- Ms. Naoko YamaneMember of the "Oyster Eating Club"
The motif of the brand is oyster producers in Hiroshima such as "Farm Suzuki" and "Ondo Kaisan". Please enjoy the lovely Hiroshima oysters as a memory of your trip.
1-2 Matsubaracho, Minami-ku, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture (in ekie, Hiroshima Station) 732-0822
082-568-9195
Editor's Note
This tour introduces the appeal of oysters from many angles. Miyajima Island, which has a solemn image, is actually an oyster island where you can encounter unique foods, and I think this tour will help you understand the current atmosphere in Hiroshima, where oysters are becoming more and more popular as a charming food. There are a lot of places to visit not only for oyster lovers, but also for people who don't like oysters.
She is a member of the "Oyster Eating Club," a research organization that loves Hiroshima oysters, and she is in charge of planning and editing. She is a member of the editorial department of the town information magazine "TJ Hiroshima", and is the editor-in-chief of the Hiroshima prefectural SNS "Nikkan Washira".