Almost 20 million worldwide vacationers arrived in Japan within the first 10 months of 2023. However regardless of the nation’s various vary of points of interest, nearly all of these vacationers head to 3 of Japan’s most well-known locations – Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto. Whereas the three cities are standard for a motive, there are a number of lesser-known areas the place vacationers will uncover a novel facet of Japan with out the crowds. 

Setouchi, generally referred to as Japan’s Mediterranean, encompasses the Seto Inland Sea and a number of other coastal areas of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. I visited the area in November and found simply how potential it’s to get pleasure from Japan’s spectacular autumn color in peace. 

House to one of many world’s most stunning cycle routes, a state-of-the-art floating gallery and Japan’s tastiest oranges, Setouchi deserves a spot in your 2024 bucket checklist. 

From London, it’s best to fly to Tokyo Haneda Airport after which catch one other flight to Hiroshima to entry the remainder of Setouchi. Japan Airways and British Airways each fly on to Tokyo Haneda whereas Japan Airways additionally presents an enormous vary of inside flights. In the event you’re in search of particular offers and reductions, you may see the newest offers from British Airways right here.

On the time of writing, British Airways had direct return flights to Tokyo Haneda from £867 per individual. After all, costs do fluctuate relying on the time of yr you journey and the demand for every flight.

It’s a protracted flight, so in the event you’d like to interrupt up the journey, you may take a look at a spread of connecting flight choices and evaluate costs on Skyscanner.

Islands, oranges and dizzyingly excessive bridges, every twist of the Shimanami Kaido cycle route brings one other spectacular view. The 70km bike experience is without doubt one of the world’s most stunning journeys to tackle two wheels, connecting the island of Shikoku to the Japanese mainland.

Fashionable roads, cycle lanes and straightforward electrical bike rent make the gorgeous route appropriate for all skills. Very similar to the Mediterranean, Setouchi is known for oranges and lemons and cyclists will glide by acres of citrus farms alongside the best way. It’s sure to make you hungry, so make sure that to cease at a market en path to gas up one of many area’s famously candy oranges. Pause on the bridge for breathtaking views throughout the Seto Inland Sea.

It’s not possible to journey to Japan with out sampling sake, the nation’s fermented rice wine. Saijo is Hiroshima’s sake capital and the city’s breweries supply excursions a number of days of the week. Vacationers can get a glimpse into the intricate course of and style quite a lot of sake flavours on a brewery tour.

Whether or not it is a Uniqlo bum bag or a heated rest room seat, Japan’s modern design is world-renowned. Rise up shut and private with the work of one of many nation’s most well-known architects at Setouchi’s Simose Artwork Backyard Villa. Iconic architect Shigeru Ban designed the lodge’s 10 villa-style rooms and highlights embody a home made solely of cardboard paper tubes and one with none partitions.

An in a single day keep in a villa does include a hefty price ticket however vacationers can pop in for the day to go to the lodge’s floating artwork gallery. Strikingly adrift on the water, the gallery’s rooms are repeatedly rearranged and have work by modern Japanese artists in addition to items by Picasso and Chagall. 

Whereas every month in Japan presents one thing completely different, the most well-liked occasions to go to are the cherry blossom and autumn color season. In the event you’re seeking to keep away from the crowds in a number of the nation’s extra well-known spots in autumn, head to Shinshoji Zen Museum and Gardens.

The temple’s gardens are breathtakingly stunning and alive with color in autumn, whereas the museum’s distinctive zen meditation expertise shouldn’t be missed. Its raked zen backyard can be a must-see, with all of the work accomplished by only one monk. 

An ideal base for the Shimanami Kaido cycle, Azumi Setoda is an attractive ryokan-style lodge in Setoda, alongside the route. The sustainable property has a pleasant public backyard and visitors may also use the property’s genuine onsen bathhouse freed from cost. Lovingly restored, the ryokan was as soon as a household house and visitors are handled to a standard breakfast and dinner utilizing native components. 

An evening in one in all Simose Artwork Backyard villas is a once-in-a-lifetime expertise and every room is totally distinctive. Shigeru Ban’s villas are designed to filter gentle so get up early to benefit from the rooms at their finest. 

After all, Setouchi has a spread of choices for all budgets. Each Reserving.com and Motels.com are unbelievable choices to seek for lodging and supply a worth comparability service to seek out the most effective deal. You may also see scores from different holidaymakers based mostly on their experiences. 

Azumi Setoda’s lodge restaurant options the area’s native components and the staff has taken care to place the give attention to greens that may usually be thrown away. The chef’s signature carrot dish which makes use of each single piece of the vegetable is a spotlight of the delicate menu. 

Simose Artwork Backyard Villa’s restaurant is open to the general public. A advantageous eating expertise overlooking the water, the tasting menu is a masterpiece. Don’t miss the grilled scallops with clam and leek sauce. 

Only a brief journey from Simose Artwork Backyard Villa, Hiroshima’s Oyster Ship Kanawa is without doubt one of the metropolis’s most atmospheric eating places. Floating on the river, diners are handled to a menu centred round seafood and it’s a unbelievable introduction to Japanese delicacies. 

Ever been tempted to depart society behind? Get a style of a monk’s life-style with lunch at Shinshoji Temple restaurant. In a novel expertise, visitors dine on udon noodles and should clear their bowl simply because the monks do – with a pickle soaked in inexperienced tea. Plates can’t be cleared till the pickle is eaten. Whereas tea soaked pickles won’t be a flavour you’ll wish to convey again to the UK, it makes for a enjoyable and quirky expertise.