Within the South West of Japan, sandwiched between Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu lies the Seto Inland Sea, dotted with over 350 islands, a area generally known as Setouchi. It gives a singular escape for travellers in search of a unique aspect of Japan.
Whether or not you’re an artwork fanatic, a historical past buff, or somebody craving for a peaceable retreat, Setouchi guarantees a memorable journey via a panorama that seamlessly marries custom and sweetness.
Simose Artwork Museum
Simply outdoors Hiroshima, overlooking the inland sea is the Simose Artwork Museum, newly opened in 2023. The putting design by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is a harmonious mix of conventional Japanese aesthetics and modern components. The museum showcases works by Matisse, Chagall, and Kaii Higashiyama in a sequence of eight separate vibrant moveable pavilions.
Simose Artwork Museum
Simose Artwork Museum
Simose Artwork Museum
As soon as inside you progress via the exhibition area effortlessly and the versatile modular partitions permit full flexibility. You too can spend the night time right here as there are ten luxurious villas with sea or forest views. Add a gourmand French restaurant and you’ve got the distinctive expertise of “taking a look at artwork amid artwork.” The grounds are additionally thoughtfully landscaped, offering alternatives for guests to discover the outside sculptures and installations.
Simose Artwork Museum
Simose Artwork Museum
Simose Artwork Backyard Villa
Saijo Sake Breweries
Hiroshima Prefecture is understood for its sake heritage and town of Saijo is one in every of Japan’s prime three manufacturing areas. It’s generally known as Hiroshima’s sake capital and is house to streets of historic breweries. Many of those have been producing sake for over a century and so they present a glimpse into the evolution of sake-making strategies, mixing custom with fashionable innovation.
Kamotsuru Sake Brewery
Kamotsuru Sake Brewery
Kamotsuru Sake Brewery
The city boasts a myriad of sake varieties, from the crisp and dry to the candy and velvety. It’s price visiting the Kamotsuru Sake Brewery to see the meticulous technique of sprucing rice, fermenting mash, and the fragile artwork of bottling. And naturally a guided tour all the time finish with tutored tastings. The city additionally has its personal sake competition attracting over 200,000 guests yearly.
Ikuchi
120 km east, Ikuchi is a captivating island within the Seto Inland Sea and the city of Setoda makes a very good base. Its slender streets are lined with well-preserved Edo-period service provider homes and dotted with historic temples and shrines. From right here you may hook up with the Shimanami Kaido, a 70-kilometer biking route that seamlessly connects six islands. It begins at Onomichi Metropolis on Honshu, winding its manner via six islands earlier than reaching Imabari Metropolis on Shikoku Island.
Shimanami Kaido
Shimanami Kaido
Shimanami Kaido
Shimanami Kaido
You possibly can be part of it midway in Setoda the place E-bikes are available for rent. The route takes you alongside the coast previous Setoda Sundown Seaside earlier than climbing as much as the Tatara Bridge amongst orange bushes. On the opposite aspect is Omishima and it’s price stopping for refreshment on the seaside Tatara Shimanami Park earlier than returning. You might cycle your entire Shimanami Kaido in sooner or later, however higher to take your time and hop between islands.
Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens
One other 45 km east, amidst the plush greenery of Chiba Prefecture, is Shinshoji Temple, based within the 13th century. Over the centuries, it’s developed right into a sanctuary that seamlessly combines conventional Japanese structure with the calming aesthetic of its Zen backyard. The temple advanced has undergone a number of renovations, and the museum gives a curated assortment of Zen artefacts, calligraphy, and work.
Shinshoji Temple
Shinshoji Gardens
Shinshoji Gardens
The Backyard of Contemplation is a meticulously designed panorama that options strategically positioned rocks, and thoroughly pruned bushes to rearrange nature. The meandering paths supply quiet spots for reflection and meditation amidst the serene environment. The altering seasons supply pink and white cherry blossoms within the spring and heat crimson and yellow leaves within the autumn.
Kurashiki
75 km east, in Oyama Prefecture, Kurashiki is also known as the “Venice of Japan.” It was as soon as a serious buying and selling hub for rice and canals had been constructed to permit barges to navigate between town’s storehouses and the close by port. These days are gone however most of the warehouses have been transformed into museums, boutiques and cafes.
Kurashiki Canal
Kurashiki Canal
Kurashiki Canal
The Ohara Museum is essentially the most spectacular of Kurashiki’s museums, exhibiting an beautiful assortment of Western and Japanese artwork. Ivy Sq. was the location of the primary cotton mill in Japan, now repurposed right into a boutique resort, outlets, and eating places. Take a ship journey alongside the canal via the guts of the Bikan Historic Quarter previous weeping willows below historical bridges with reflections of the white-walled warehouses within the water.
Awaji Island, Hyogo
Awaji Island, 130 km additional east, is linked to Honshu by theAkashi Kaikyo Bridge , the world’s second longest suspension bridge. Hidden within the lush mountain panorama is Honpukuji Temple, or Water Temple, accomplished in 2018, a minimalist masterpiece created by Tadao Ando. Don’t anticipate conventional temple design – this has a curved concrete façade that conceals a big, oval pool of water that displays the hillsides behind.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
Honpukuji Temple
Honpukuji Temple
Contained in the temple unfolds into an unlimited open area with the pure mild rigorously filtered via strategically positioned openings, including to the sense of serenity. The primary prayer corridor, with its hovering ceilings and minimalist décor, makes use of conventional wooden and stone to enhance the modern concrete components. Close by is Zenbo Seini, a Zen wellness retreat designed by Shigeru Ban and a very good place for meditation.
Zenbo Seini
Zenbo Seini
Zenbo Seini
Yamamoto Nohgakudo Theatre, Osaka
100 km east, within the coronary heart of Osaka’s Chuo Ward, the Yamamoto Nohgakudo Theatre stands as a cultural oasis, preserving and showcasing the wealthy heritage of Japanese Noh. Constructed within the early 20th century, intricate picket carvings and painted panels within the inside transport the viewers to a bygone period. It’s an intimate area and fashionable expertise gives subtitles in numerous languages together with English.
Yamamoto Nohgakudo Theatre
Yamamoto Nohgakudo Theatre
Yamamoto Nohgakudo Theatre
In addition to performances, in addition they supply cultural workshops in the course of the day. These hands-on experiences permit individuals to strive on costumes, be taught fundamental actions, and acquire insights into the symbolic language of those historical artwork kinds. It’s a uncommon alternative to attach with Japanese traditions on a private stage, notably when you’ve by no means seen a Noh efficiency.
Nara
30 km inland from Osaka is Nara, the short-lived capital of Japan from 710 earlier than it moved to Kyoto in 794. The town accommodates eight temples together with the UNESCO World Heritage Website of Todai-ji. In-built 752, this imposing picket construction homes a colossal bronze statue of Buddha, standing 15m excessive. Within the surrounding park and gardens greater than a thousand sacred Sika deer wander freely.
Close by is the city of Tawaramoto, house to a number of artisanal soy sauce breweries which have been crafting the condiment for hundreds of years. Maruto Soy Sauce Brewery is the oldest, established in 1689 and as soon as provided the Emperor. They nonetheless make it right here and you will get a guided tour of the method. A part of the 130 year-old constructing has been transformed to a resort and the restaurant gives their merchandise at their conventional Japanese meal.
Maruto Soy Sauce Brewery
Maruto Soy Sauce Brewery
Maruto Soy Sauce Brewery
Factfile
GO: JAL flies twice every day direct from London Heathrow to Haneda Tokyo airport. Connecting flights can be found to Hiroshima.
Any Put on, Anyplace is a clothes rental service for anybody who travels to Japan with JAL. It helps cut back your carbon footprint.
The Shinkanzen or bullet practice connects Tokyo and Hiroshima.
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Good to know: Mymizu is an app that lists free factors the place you may refill your water bottle everywhere in the nation.
