Last Updated: Oct 5, 2025

Miyoshi, Hiroshima

A City of History, Nature & Yokai

This story was originally published on donnykimball.com and has been syndicated here on Medium.

When most people think of Hiroshima, they conjure up images of the Atomic Bomb Dome or the iconic “floating” torii gate of Itsukushima Shrine. Alas, there is so much more to the prefecture than just these mainstays. In fact, unbeknownst to many international visitors to Japan, the majority of it is actually quite mountainous. And nestled within the great outdoors of northern Hiroshima Prefecture are a ton of hidden gems. In today’s article, we’ll be taking a look at just one of these off-the-beaten-path allures: the city of Miyoshi.

Now, for those of you who have never heard of Miyoshi before, know that you’re not alone as this spot rarely pops up on radars of international tourists. Essentially, it’s the final bastion of urban civilization in northern Hiroshima before the landscape fades into the incredibly mountainous core of western Honshu. Though you’ll find some pockets of people living here and there to the north of Miyoshi, it’s essentially the last valley capable of housing a reasonably sized city in the area before you reach the Sea of Japan side of the country.

Historically speaking, Miyoshi was an important strategic hub thanks to its location along an old shipping route that connected the Iwami Ginzan silver mines with the…