Chugoku&Shikoku 8 Days Itinerary-A

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The distance you will drive on this day is about 140km, which is an average distance, but since there are many places to visit and you will be spending a lot of time at the Tottori Sand Dunes, we recommend leaving around 9am.

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The first destination of the day is [Genbudo Park]. At Genbudo Park, you can see wonderful pillar joints (regular and beautiful cracks created when magma flowing out from volcanic activity cools and hardens).

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Next you will head to “Takeno Beach” where you can enjoy breathtaking coastal beauty.

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Next you will stop by Cafe Bloom. It’s a simple cafe with a kitchen car on the beach, but there are handmade tables and chairs, so you can enjoy a relaxing cafe time while looking out at the ocean.

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Next you will head to the Uradome Coast. Park your car at the Uradome Coast Origuchi Parking Lot(浦富海岸降口駐車場), walk down to Uradome Coast, and take a stroll along the beautiful promenade along the coast.

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Next you will head to the famous Tottori Sand Dunes. This is a place you should definitely visit when you go to Tottori. There are several restaurants around the parking lot, so you can have a late lunch here.

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Next up is The Sand Museum. You can travel by car, but you can also walk as it is about 450 meters from the Tottori Sand Dunes parking lot.

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On this day, you will stay at Misasa Onsen. Enjoy a relaxing soak in the hot springs of Misasa Onsen, which boasts one of the highest levels of radon in the world. Even if you bathe in a radon hot spring, the amount of radiation you will be exposed to is so small that it will not have any negative effects on the human body. Rather, when it enters the body through breathing, it activates the metabolism and has the effect of increasing immunity and natural healing power.
Near Misasa Onsen, on the lakeshore (approximately 14 km, 20 minutes by car) is Hawai Onsen, which has a quiet and calm atmosphere, and you have the option of staying at a hot spring inn there.

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The mileage is about 150km, which is standard, and there are so many things to see. So if you want to stop by at many spots, we recommend that you start early.

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If you drive for about an hour from Tottori, you will find [Kurayoshi Shirakabe Storehouses town]. You can enjoy a walk in the nice atmosphere of the old storehouses. Lunch here is also a good idea as there are many restaurants.

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Tottori is famous for the production of high-quality pears. At this Museum, you can learn and eat very delicious pears

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You will then head towards Daisen. [Kagikake Pass Observatory] is the most recommended observatory in Daisen. Especially the autumn leaves in the fall are wonderful. We recommend that you visit there.

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The most recommended site of the day is [Adachi Museum of Art]. It has been selected as No. 1 in the American Japanese garden magazine since 2003, and its beauty is superb. This is a must-see even for those who are not interested in gardens.
The collection of Taikan Yokoyama, a major Japanese painter, is also worth seeing.

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If you can arrive in Matsue city before the sun sets, stop by the best spot of the setting sun [Lake Shinji] before heading to the hotel.

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On this day you will stay in Matsue.
Matsue’s specialties include Taimesi (rice with minced sea bream), Izumo soba, and Shijimidon (freshwater clam bowl) at Lake Shinji.

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The mileage is about 210km, and it is a day with many spectacular sightseeing spots such as Matsue Castle, Izumo Taisha Shrine, and Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine village.
Especially, Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine village can be very time-consuming, so early morning departure is highly recommended.

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First thing in the morning, go to Matsue Castle, the symbol of Matsue. It is a wonderful castle known as the original castle tower.

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It takes about 1 hour from Matsue to arrive at [Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine].
Along with Ise Jingu, it is the most important shrine in Japan. This is the biggest attraction in the Sanin region and is an overwhelming sight.

Inasa Beach located only 1km west from the shrine is also nice to visit.

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If you drive from Izumo on the expressway (E9) for about 50km for about 1 hour, you will reach the World Heritage Site [Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine village].

The following parking lots are recommended.
①2nd Free Parking
MAPCODE: 599 144 182*37
②1st Free Parking
MAPCODE: 599 113 262*56

Please refer Google town map below.

When you hear the word “silver mine”, you might think of a mine shaft, but in reality, the mine shaft itself is short, and it has no special features and is not recommended. In addition, you will need to walk or cycle a 4km round trip from the parking lot to the mine shaft!
The town of Omori at the foot of the mountain is worth seeing. You can enjoy a stroll through the mansion with the hidden storehouse used for silver trading and the wonderful townscape. We also recommend lunch at a cafe that has been renovated from an old folk house.

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On this day you will stay in Hiroshima.
Speaking of Hiroshima gourmet, Okonomiyaki and oysters are famous. We recommend that you try both.

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The mileage is a short 110km. If you want to spend plenty of time in Miyajima, especially thinking to climb Mt.Misen, it is better to depart earlier.

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The first place to visit is [Miyajima island], which is famous for World Heritage [Itsukushima Shrine]. Vermilion-painted Otorii gate that juts out into the sea is famous as Japan’s icon.

You need to take a ferry to the island. There are many parking lots at the ferry terminal, but the parking lot indicated by the MAPCODE is recommended.
There are two ferries, JR West Ferry and Matsudai Ferry. Both of them are almost same but if you want to visit Mt.Misen, Matsudai ferry & ropeway combination tickets are recommended.

Around shrine, there are many attractions such as Senjokaku (Toyokuni Shrine) and Omotesando Shopping Street.

Another highlight of Miyajima is climbing Mt. Misen. At the top of the mountain, there are many natural giant rocks and unusual stones. You can also enjoy the view of Itsukushima Shrine and the Seto Inland Sea from the 360-degree panoramic observatory.

Miyajima is also a famous spot for autumn leaves in the Chugoku region. Miyajima Momijidani Park, a 5-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine, is located at the foot of the Misen Primitive Forest, and during the season (End October-End November), about 700 autumn leaves color the park.

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After enjoying Miyajima, head to Kintaikyo Bridge, one of the three famous bridges in Japan. This bridge has five arches and is a rare wooden arch bridge in the world where no nails are used.

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Next, return from Kintaikyo Bridge to Hiroshima, which is about an hour and 20 minutes drive.
If you haven’t been to [Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park] yet, be sure to visit.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk around the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Park, and about 1 hour to the museum.

On this day, you are staying in Hiroshima, following the previous day. Please relax and enjoy the night in Hiroshima.

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The mileage is 230km, which is very long, and there are many sites you may want to see, so it is recommended that you leave at around 8 o’clock or at the latest by 9 o’clock. We also recommend using the expressway (E2) from Hiroshima to Onomichi so that you can spend more of your time on the Shimanami Kaido, which is the highlight of the day.

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The first place to visit is [Senkoji Temple] in Onomichi City. It takes about one and a half hours, or about 85km, to reach Senkoji Temple by expressway (E2). Senkoji Temple is located on a hill at an altitude of 140m and overlooks the city, Onomichi Port, and Onomichi Channel from the precincts.

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After leaving Onomichi, it’s finally the main part of the day, Shimanami Kaido (E76). It is world-famous for being a cyclist’s sanctuary. This road is the best drive route with six islands connected by bridges.

[Dolce Ice Cream] on Ikuchijima island is a famous resting place. The gelato overlooking the beautiful Setouchi sea is exceptional.

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For islands with tourist spots and restaurants, such as Ikuchijima Island, drive on ordinary roads instead of highways. If you go along the road along the sea, you will feel great with a refreshing drive while looking at the sea in Setouchi.

After a break at Dolce, head to Kosanji Temple & The Hill of Hope on the same island. [Kosanji Temple] is a place like a museum of shrines and temples, with buildings that imitate famous shrines and temples.

[The Hill of Hope] is a southern European-style white marble garden on the grounds of Kosanji Temple, and is a photogenic place with a wonderful contrast between the white rocks and the blue sea.

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The final destination of the Shimanami Kaido is Drive Japan’s absolutely recommended [Kirosan Observatory Park]. With a panoramic view of the Kurushima Strait and the Kurushima Strait Bridge, which are known for their rapid tides, it is the No. 1 observatory on the Shimanami Kaido. The observatory itself is also unique and was designed by Kengo Kuma, who is famous for designing the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo. On the way, you will pass a narrow mountain road, so please drive carefully.

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On this day you will stay in Matsuyama city where is famous for Dogo Onsen. It is the oldest hot spring in Japan, said to have been in existence for 3,000 years! It was also loved by Soseki Natsume, a famous novelist whose portrait was also on the old 1,000-yen bill.
“Taimeshi(Sea bream on the rice)” is recommended for dinner, but there is also B-class gourmet yakibuta tamago rice.
Citrus fruits such as mandarin oranges and ponkan are also recommended.

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Since the mileage is a long 210km, it is recommended to leave by about 8 o’clock or at the latest around 9 o’clock. Also, the highlights are concentrated in the second half, so please move on to the expressway in the first half.

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There is not much to see from Matsuyama to Kagawa prefecture, so please travel about 100km on the expressway (E11).

The first destination of the day is [Chichibugahama Beach]. This place is famous for pictures similar to the ones taken at Lake Uyuni in Bolivia. The best time to take pictures is at dusk, but you can take interesting pictures with a water mirror even during the day.

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Next, please drop in at [Marugame Castle]. Ishigaki (stone wall), which is said to be the best in Japan with a height of over 60m, is very powerful.

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Next, let’s take expressway(E30) and head toward Kurashiki through the Seto Ohashi Bridge. [Yoshima Parking Area] is recommended for a break. Located almost in the center of the bridge, you can see it up close. There is also an observatory, which is ideal for a break while admiring the beautiful scenery.

Along the Bridge, you can enjoy a drive in the spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea and the islands, and enjoy the exhilaration of a car trip.

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You will stay in Kurashiki on this day.
In Kurashiki, hotels are concentrated between Kurashiki Station and the Bikan Historical Quarter, but it is recommended to stay as close to the Historical Quarter as possible. Enjoy a fantastic night walk in the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter. Also enjoy local gourmet food such as Takomeshi.

Traditional white-walled buildings, quaint Kurashiki River, willows, and bridges harmonize beautifully, leaving the beauty of a good old Japanese town and making you want to walk for hours. In addition, it is a town full of various attractions such as the Ohara Museum of Art.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter is an overwhelmingly spectacular place among the many old townscapes in Japan. However, many shops close around 17:00, so if you want to spend more time in Kurashiki, please try to reach around 14:00.

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The mileage depends on the destination but you will stay Kurashiki continuously and it’s a relaxing day.
For those who want to enjoy Kurashiki thoroughly, it is recommended to spend some time exploring the Bikan Historical Quarter without driving on this day.

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First, let’s head to the [Bitchu Kokubunji Temple] with the five-storied pagoda. It is known as the only five-storied pagoda in Okayama prefecture with a height of 34m.

It is also famous for its flowers and is especially recommended for the below period.
Rape blossoms: Mid Jan-End Feb
Ranger: End Apr-Bgn May
Sunflower: End Jun-End Jul

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Please head to [Korakuen Garden & Okayama Castle]. Korakuen Garden is one of the three famous gardens in Japan along with Kenrokuen garden in Kanazawa and Kairakuen garden in Mito. You can see Okayama Castle from the splendid Japanese garden.

The flowers of Korakuen Garden are beautiful, especially during the cherry blossoms (late March-early April) and autumn leaves (mid-November-early December) are recommended. Bitchu Kokubunji Temple is also known for its rape blossoms (mid-January-late February), lotus (late April-early May), and sunflowers (late June-late July).

[Okayama Castle] has a black appearance and is also called a Karasu (Crow) castle, and is sometimes contrasted with Himeji Castle (Shirasagi Castle), which has a white appearance.

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On this day, you are staying in Kurashiki, following the previous day. Enjoy a night in a traditional town with a calm atmosphere.

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Driving mileage is very long, more than 230km so it is recommended to leave by about 8 o’clock or at the latest around 9 o’clock. Please also take the expressway along the way to save time.
The following itinerary is for reference only. Please plan your schedule according to your car return location and your schedule.

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After leaving Kurashiki, head to [Korakuen Garden & Okayama Castle]. Korakuen Garden is one of the three most famous gardens in Japan along with [Kenrokuen garden] in Kanazawa and [Kairakuen garden] in Mito. You can see Okayama Castle from the splendid Japanese garden.

The flowers of Korakuen Garden are beautiful, especially during the cherry blossoms (late March-early April) and autumn leaves (mid-November-early December) are recommended.

[Okayama Castle] has a black appearance and is also called a Karasu (crow) castle, and is sometimes contrasted with Himeji Castle (Shirasagi Castle), which has a white appearance. You will go to Himeji Castle after Okazaki Castle, so it may be interesting to compare the appearance of both.

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We would definitely recommend “Kakioko” for lunch on this day! Kakioko is Okonomiyaki(savory Japanese pancake dish) that has oysters in it. Tamachan is the most famous Kakioko restaurant but you will have to wait long queue. If you visit on the weekend or on holiday, please refer driving map and consider other restaurants.

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Next, take the expressway (E2) to [Himeji Castle]. The castle was registered as first World Heritage in Japan and, is the biggest highlight of the day. The cherry blossoms at Himeji Castle have also been selected as one of the “100 Best Cherry Blossom Spots in Japan” and are visited by a large number of people from late March to early April.

If time permits, we also recommend the Kokoen Garden located on the west side of Himeji Castle. Kokoen is a Japanese garden with a view of Himeji Castle. It is often used as a location for Japanese historical drama.

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Your last stop on this day is [Mt. Rokko (Garden Terrace)] on Mt. Rokko in Kobe. Use the expressway (E2) for this section as well.

This is famous as one of Japan’s three major night views, and the vast night view from Kobe to Osaka along Osaka Bay is beautiful.

The distance and time from the observatory to the goal are as follows.
Umeda (Osaka) Station: 40km / 70 minutes
Shin-Osaka Station: 40km / 70 minutes
Kyoto Station: 80km / 80 minutes
Kansai International Airport: 80km / 90 minutes

①Returning a car in Osaka or Kyoto
When you return to Osaka or Kyoto, refuel and then return the car to the car rental branch. Use the MAPCODE on the driving map for the nearest gas stations near Osaka Station or Kyoto.
Traffic jams often occur in Osaka and Kyoto because they are both large cities. Be sure to return your car with plenty of time to spare.

Osaka and Kyoto offers a wide variety of culinary delights! For dinner, try Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki and other local food.

②Returning a car at Kansai Airport
When heading to Kansai airport, the distance from Osaka station is about 75 km, about 1.5 hour by expressway(5&4). Make sure you arrive at the car rental company branch 2 hours before your flight.

Additionally, there are no gas stations on the Kansai International Airport island. If you do not have enough time before your flight, we strongly recommend that you head to the airport and settle the missing gasoline bill at a rental car branch instead of trying to force yourself to refuel.