Yanai
Yanai is a traditional merchant town with an Edo-period atmosphere. It’s known for its quaint goldfish lanterns and goldfish-themed festival.
SETOUCHI TOURS
Yamaguchi City
Yamaguchi was the home of the powerful Ōuchi and Mōri clans who influenced national policy for centuries. The city once rivalled Kyōto for the sophistication of its culture.
Iwakuni
Iwakuni still retains its atmosphere as an Edo period castle town, while its location makes it highly representative of the western Setouchi region.
Shimonoseki
Due to its highly strategic location as the Asian gateway to the Seto Inland Sea, Shimonoseki was the site of some of Japan’s most consequential historical events.
Kanba Falls
Mt. Daisen is a dormant volcano in Tottori Prefecture on the Japan Sea coast. At 1,729 m, it’s the highest mountain in the Chūgoku region.
Hiruzen Highland
Mt. Daisen is a dormant volcano in Tottori Prefecture on the Japan Sea coast. At 1,729 m, it’s the highest mountain in the Chūgoku region.
Tobishima Kaidō vs. Shimanami Kaidō
A comparison of two popular island routes from a cycling point of view. Each has its fans, but both beg to be ridden.
Fukiya Furusato Mura
A street of Edo period buildings uniformly painted with bengara ferric oxide. This town once thrived from mining this valuable red mineral.
A Brief History of the Seto Inland Sea
A quick look at the history of Setouchi, the area around the Seto Inland Sea.
Kōrakuen Garden
Kurashiki is best known for the Bikan Historical Quarter, now preserved as a historic district, with many of former storehouses converted into characterful shops, museums, and cafés.