中国地方
Chugoku
12 destinations
Overview
Western Honshu stretches between the San-yo coast (facing the Seto Inland Sea) and the quieter San-in coast (facing the Japan Sea). Hiroshima carries the weight of history alongside one of Japan's finest oyster cultures. Miyajima's floating torii gate is among the country's most photographed images. Izumo Taisha is Japan's oldest shrine tradition. The art islands of the Seto Inland Sea sit offshore, anchored by Naoshima's world-class contemporary art museums.
Who it's for
History and peace-study travellers, contemporary art lovers, slow-travel cyclists, and Shinkansen riders who decide to stop rather than pass through.
Destinations in Chugoku
Where the destinations are
The map is for orientation - select a destination below to explore it.
Hiroshima
広島
Chugoku · Hiroshima
A city of extraordinary resilience - the atomic bomb memorial, its own okonomiyaki style, and the finest oysters in Japan.
Miyajima
宮島
Chugoku · Hiroshima
The island shrine with a great torii gate standing in the sea - consistently voted Japan's most beautiful scenery.
Naoshima
直島
Shikoku · Kagawa
Japan's premier art island - Benesse's extraordinary project placing world-class contemporary art within an island fishing village community.
Izumo
出雲
Chugoku · Shimane
The ancient spiritual heart of Japan, home to Izumo Taisha - possibly Japan's oldest shrine, where all the gods of Japan meet in October.
Kurashiki
倉敷
Chugoku · Okayama
A preserved Edo canal district of white-walled warehouses, now housing the world's finest private collection of Western art in Japan.
Okayama
岡山
Chugoku · Okayama
A prosperous Shinkansen city with Korakuen - one of Japan's three great gardens - and the Black Crow Castle.
Tottori
鳥取
Chugoku · Tottori
Home to Japan's only large sand dunes, a dramatic Sanin coastline, and enthusiastic Conan manga tourism.
Onomichi
尾道
Chugoku · Hiroshima
A hillside port town of stairs, cats, and temples, beloved by filmmakers and at one end of the 70km Shimanami Kaido cycling route.
Matsue
松江
Chugoku · Shimane
The 'city of water and samurai' - home to one of Japan's original twelve castles and sitting between two lakes on the San-in coast.
Yamaguchi
山口
Chugoku · Yamaguchi
A quiet former 'Kyoto of the West' with a celebrated five-storey pagoda, a Sesshu-designed garden and the hot springs of Yuda Onsen.
Tomonoura
鞆の浦
Chugoku · Hiroshima
A beautifully preserved Edo-era port town said to have inspired Miyazaki's Ponyo, with stone quays and a lighthouse unchanged since the Edo period.
Tsuwano
津和野
Chugoku · Shimane
A tiny castle town in a mountain valley called the 'Little Kyoto of San-in', with carp-filled drainage channels and a hillside Inari shrine.
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Guides for Chugoku
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Yamaguchi and Shimonoseki: A Guide to Japan's Western Tip
Practical guide to Yamaguchi and Shimonoseki: pagodas, ink-wash gardens, fugu at Karato Market, the Kanmon pedestrian tunnel, and shinkansen access tips.
Hiking in Japan for Non-Hikers: Where to Start Your Journey
Beginner-friendly hiking in Japan: easy trails, no experience needed. From Mount Takao to Kamikōchi, discover accessible mountain walks with transport details and practical tips.
Japan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites: A Practical Visitor's Guide
Practical guide to visiting Japan's 25 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Real transport details, admission fees, seasonal tips, and itinerary suggestions for temples, castles, mountains, and islands.