Rahayu720 — A Halal Grocery Near Miyajima

Japan can be an exciting place to travel. But for visitors looking for halal food, finding something to eat is not always easy. Especially when visiting smaller towns or popular sightseeing areas like Miyajima, the options can sometimes feel limited.

Just one stop away from Miyajimaguchi, however, there is a small shop offering a reassuring solution. Tucked just behind JR Maezora Station in Hatsukaichi, Rahayu720 is a halal grocery where travelers and local residents alike can find ingredients, snacks, and ready-to-eat foods from Indonesia and beyond.

Inside, shelves are filled with colorful packages of instant noodles, sauces, and snacks. Freezers hold frozen meals that can easily be heated at home or in a hotel. Drinks, seasonings, and other staples line the walls, creating a small but lively collection of flavors from Southeast Asia.

The shop is run by I Wayan Murdika, who is originally from Indonesia. After meeting his Japanese wife in Bali, he moved to Japan and eventually settled in Hatsukaichi. Opening this store in June last year was a long-held dream.

Friendly and easy to talk to, Murdika speaks fluent Japanese and warmly welcomes visitors who stop by. For Muslim travelers heading to Miyajima, the shop has become a helpful place to find halal snacks or frozen foods that can be enjoyed during their stay. If needed, he can also arrange delivery to hotels in Hatsukaichi, making it easier for visitors to access halal ingredients during their trip.

At the same time, Rahayu720 has also become a meeting place for people searching for halal foods in the region. Customers come not only from Hatsukaichi, but also from Iwakuni and Hiroshima City. Many stop by to ask questions, share information, or simply enjoy a friendly conversation. Murdika is always happy to chat about life in Japan and often shares tips about places to visit around Hatsukaichi and Miyajima. For newcomers and travelers alike, the shop often becomes a small but welcoming source of local knowledge.

Alongside Indonesian ingredients, the shop also carries locally made products such as Hiroshima-produced tempeh, a fermented soybean food widely used in Indonesian cooking. Blending local production with Indonesian food culture, it offers visitors an unexpected connection between Hiroshima and Southeast Asia — and perhaps even a unique souvenir to take home.

The name Rahayu means “peace” or “well-being” in Indonesian. The number 720 combines the birthdays of Murdika’s children, giving the shop a name that reflects both family and hope.

Looking ahead, he hopes to expand the space into a small café where people can enjoy Indonesian dishes together.

For travelers visiting Miyajima — and for anyone searching for halal ingredients in the region — Rahayu720 offers something simple but meaningful: a place where food, culture, and friendly conversation come together.