Saijo

The town of Saijo is part of the larger Higahi-Hiroshima city, about 30 kilometers east of Hiroshima city. Until the relocation of Hiroshima University from the city center in the 1980’s, Saijo was a quiet town whose primary industry was sake production. Now, of course, Saijo is a thriving university town. Hiroshima University (or Hirodai) is the prefecture’s national university, and very well regarded. The main reason for non-academic visitors to Japan to travel to Saijo will be the Saijo Sake Festival, held the second Saturday and Sunday of October in each year. If you’re in western Japan while the festival is taking place, it’s well worth a trip.

On weekends and holidays, at least 2 breweries are open to the public. The breweries are near JR Saijo station.

More Info.:
Saijo Sake Festival
Sake and Shochu
Takehara

Matt Mangham

The Kodama shinkansen is the only one that stops at Higashi-Hiroshima Station, and from the station travelers can make the 20 minute trip into Saijo by taxi or bus. Traveling from Hiroshima Station, take the JR Sanyo-line train bound for Saijo, Shiraichi and Okayama. The train usually departs from platform 5, but will sometimes depart from other platforms. Check the schedule board, which offers information in both Japanese and English. Don’t worry about whether to catch the express or the ordinary train. The express arrives in Saijo after about thirty minutes, and the ordinary train after forty. Get off at Saijo Station.

Saijo Sake website: http://saijosake.com/index.html