Mihara City (三原市) is located at the crossroads of the inland Sanyou route to Hiroshima and the coastal highway. As well, Hiroshima Airport is located in the western area of Mihara. Over 106,000 people (2005) now live in Mihara City which recently had its population boosted by the three towns it amalgamated on March 22, 2005. Mihara City enjoys an average yearly temperature of 15-16C in the south and 12-13C in the north.

The area around Mihara in the Seto Inland Sea is, apparently, ideal octopus habitat. The octopuses probably rather somebody hadn't figured that out as it lead to them being named the area's specialty food.

The camphor tree is the city tree and the rhododendron and plum blossom share the honor being the city flower.

Currently, Mihara Bypass (Highway 2) is being constructed to improve traffic in the city. The first 5.3 km in the west has been completed and tunnel 5 from Mihara City to the east will open by the end of 2006. The full length of the 9.9 kilometer bypass is scheduled to be completed in the first half of 2008.

Most of Mihara's attraction is the area's natural beauty and you'll only find that outside the city center.You will find a decent assortment of shopping and restuarants in the city. Mihara's large Fuji Grand mall which has a Takayama Pet Store is located a short 10 minute walk southwest of Mihara Station near Mihara Region Plaza. DeoDeo, UniQlo and a number of other shops are in Miyaura-cho west of the station.

Mount Fudekage (筆影山 - 311 meters) is a popular hiking destination south of Mihara City. The view from the mountain was featured in JR West's "Discover West" advertising campaign. The plateau at the summit features a brand new viewing platform and a small cherry tree picnic field. Mount Ryuou (竜王山 - 445 meters) and various scenic spots can be reached via the hiking trails on the mountain.

Mount Fudekake can be climbed from JR Sunami Station (Kure Line) and Wadaguchi in about 60 minutes. Hiking from Mount Fudekake to Mount Ryuou takes around 60 minutes. There is also a smaller direct path from Sunami Station to Mount Ryuou.

The Zen buddhist temple, Buttsuji, is located a fair distance north west of Mihara City. Under the patronage of the Kobakawa's, a deeply religiously devoted family, Rinzai-Zen Buddhism enjoyed a golden period where, at their height, they governed 88 sub-temples and 3,000 smaller temples. Zazen retreats (Zen meditation) are held on the weekends at the temple.

See Article: Mihara's Butsuji Temple

This famous shrine is located 20 minutes drive north of Mihara City. Hachiman is the patron god of samurai and protector of Japan and its people. Despite being a god of war, it's somewhat fitting with the romantic image of samurai battles that most people have that temple grounds are more pretty and ornate than imposing. Over 30,000 other shrines to this Kami (god) exist across Japan with the most famous being in Kamakura (south of Tokyo).

See Article: Mihara's Mitsuki-Hachimangu Shrine

Sunami Beach Park is a large ocean recreation area which is nationally recognized for its design. The ocean park is located 20 minutes by bus west of Mihara City on the Seto Inland Sea. The beach is extremely popular in the summer because of its well thought out design.

See Article: Sunami and Enden's Ocean

Like many places in the Hiroshima area, evidence of habitation extends back into the Jomon (13,000 BC to 300 BC) and Yayoi periods. The most famous family to rule the area, the Kobayakawa clan, rose to power in the 1300s. By start of the 1400s, they controlled a vast domain but their empire fell apart during the Onin War (1467-1477). In the Edo Era (1603-1868), the Mihara area became to be under the control of Hiroshima-han.

Mihara City amalgamated into it the towns of Kui, Daiwa and Hongo on March 22, 2005.

Mihara Station is a Shinkansen station as well as the location where the Kure bound train line which follows along coast from Hiroshima to Mihara rejoins the more direct east-west Sanyo-Honsen Line. Local trains take a bit over one hour to go between Mihara and Hiroshima on the Sanyo-Honsen Line and over two hours on the Kure Line. Kodama-class shinkansen trains take 24 minutes to travel between the cities. Hiroshima Airport is located to the west of Mihara City.

Website: Mihara City (Japanese) / Mihara Tourism Website (Japanese - English Pamphlet)

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