Discover your spiritual self at the Mitaki-Dera temple. A temple that goes back to the Daido Era, the year 809 to be precise, the Mitaki-Dera, or the ‘Three Waterfalls’ temple is as spectacular as a religious shrine could get. Located in a heavily forested and rather steep valley in the Mitaki-yama Mountain (a part of the Hiroshima prefecture), this Shingon Buddhist temple is extremely popular for its vermillion two-storied pagoda fringed by some pretty cherry blossoms. In fact, the pagoda, with its wooden Amida Buddha is an important cultural property in the prefecture. Mitaki Dera’s atmosphere is pretty much nonpareil and exceedingly romantic given its moss covered stone steps, waterfalls and babbling streams. The rains and autumn leaves only add to its hypnotic charm. For those who intend to immerse themselves in the local culture, Buddhist statues and images can be found in abundance.

Leading up to a hiking trail that possesses some arresting views of Hiroshima City followed by a descent that goes into an enchanting bamboo forest, this temple is one of the relatively lesser known gems of Hiroshima and is therefore not very crowded. The tea houses located within the temple complex serve authentic Japanese food along with sweet treats. One of the most interesting aspects of Mitaki-Dera’s waterfalls is that the holy water is used as an offering for the victims of the atomic bombings of 1945 during the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.