Chugoku Region San'in & Sanyo Grand Loop Self-Drive

Depart from Okayama to loop around western Honshu, covering both the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea sides in one trip

Pick up your rental car in Okayama and head north to Tottori. Drive along the Sea of Japan through Matsue, Izumo, and Iwami Ginzan to Tsuwano, Hagi, and the Yamaguchi coast, before returning via the Seto Inland Sea side through Iwakuni, Miyajima, Hiroshima, and Onomichi. Daily driving time is under three hours, with stays in hot spring towns and historic districts. Perfect for self-drive travelers with a two-week vacation. Although the route is long, it remains highly fulfilling even after prioritizing attractions.

Mount Mitoku is closed in winter; Motonosumi Shrine is often closed to visitors on weekends; the Miyajima Torii gate is under renovation until after spring 2027.

Day by day

Day 1 · Korakuen Garden and North to Tottori Sand Dunes

Okayama & Kurashiki（Okayama Korakuen） → Tottori（Tottori Sand Dunes、The Sand Museum）

Pick up your car in Okayama, visit Korakuen Garden in the morning, and drive via the Chugoku Expressway and Tottori Expressway for about 2.5 hours to the sand dunes.

Stay: Around Tottori Sand Dunes

Day 2 · Uradome Coast to Misasa Onsen

Tottori（Uradome Coast、Hakuto Shrine） → Kurayoshi & Misasa Onsen（Kurayoshi Shirakabe Dozo Storehouses）

Drive east from the sand dunes for about 20 minutes to Uradome, then head west along the coast for about 1 hour to Kurayoshi and Misasa.

Stay: Misasa Onsen

Day 3 · Nageiredo and Hoki Daisen

Kurayoshi & Misasa Onsen（Mitokusan Nageiredo、Gosho Aoyama Manga Factory） → Izumo & Matsue（Mount Daisen & Daisen-ji、Kaike Onsen）

Drive from Misasa to Mount Mitoku (approx. 15 minutes), then to Hokuei (approx. 40 minutes), Mount Daisen (approx. 1 hour), and Kaike Onsen (approx. 40 minutes).

Climbing to Nageiredo requires a group of two or more. Access is restricted during rain or snow; check the official website before departing.

Stay: Kaike Onsen

Day 4 · Sakaiminato Mizuki Shigeru Road to Matsue

Izumo & Matsue（Mizuki Shigeru Road、Adachi Museum of Art、Lake Shinji Sunset）

Drive from Kaike to Sakaiminato (approx. 30 minutes), then to Adachi Museum of Art (approx. 40 minutes), and on to Matsue (approx. 40 minutes).

Stay: Matsue Shinjiko Onsen

Day 5 · Matsue Castle to Izumo Taisha

Izumo & Matsue（Matsue Castle、Horikawa Pleasure Boat、Izumo Taisha、Shinmon-dori Street）

Explore Matsue city center on foot and by boat in the morning, and drive along Lake Shinji for about 1 hour in the afternoon to Izumo Taisha.

Stay: In Front of Izumo Taisha

Day 6 · Hinomisaki and Iwami Ginzan

Izumo & Matsue（Inasa Beach、Izumo Hinomisaki Lighthouse & Shrine、Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine）

Drive from the temple town for about 20 minutes to Hinomisaki, then about 1 hour and 15 minutes to Iwami Ginzan, and about 30 minutes in the evening to Yunotsu.

Park your car at the World Heritage Center and take a bus into Omori. You can rent a bicycle to visit the Ryugenji Mabu Shaft.

Stay: Yunotsu Onsen

Day 7 · Westward along the Coast to Tsuwano

Hagi & Tsuwano（Tsuwano Tonomachi Street、Taikodani Inari Shrine、Anno Mitsumasa Art Museum）

Drive from Yunotsu via Hamada and Masuda for about 2.5 hours to Tsuwano, and explore the historic district on foot in the afternoon.

Stay: Tonomachi-dori Area, Tsuwano

Day 8 · Over the Mountains to Hagi Castle Town

Hagi & Tsuwano（Shoin Shrine & Shoka Sonjuku、Tokoji Temple、Hagi Castle Town (Kikuya Yokocho)、Hagi Castle Ruins & Shizuki Park）

Drive from Tsuwano for about 1.5 hours to Hagi, park near Shoin Shrine, and then walk to the castle town for sightseeing.

Stay: Horiuchi Castle Town

Day 9 · Motonosumi and Tsunoshima Coastline

Kitakyushu & Shimonoseki（Motonosumi Shrine、Tsunoshima Bridge）

Drive from Hagi for about 1.5 hours to Motonosumi, about 1 hour to Tsunoshima, and about 1.5 hours to Shimonoseki.

Motonosumi Shrine is often closed to visitors on Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays. Walking through the torii gates is not allowed; focus on coastal views.

Stay: Shimonoseki Station / Karato

Day 10 · Karato Morning Market and Akiyoshidai

Kitakyushu & Shimonoseki（Karato Market、Akiyoshido Cave、Akiyoshidai Plateau） → Hagi & Tsuwano（Rurikoji Five-storied Pagoda）

Drive from Shimonoseki via the Chugoku Expressway for about 1 hour to Akiyoshidai, then about 40 minutes to Yuda Onsen in Yamaguchi City.

Most sushi stalls at Karato Market operate from Friday to Sunday; on weekdays, you can visit Kaikyo Yume Tower Park instead.

Stay: Yuda Onsen

Day 11 · Kintai Bridge to Miyajima

Hiroshima（Kintaikyo Bridge & Iwakuni Castle） → Miyajima（Itsukushima Shrine、Miyajima Omotesando Shopping Street）

Drive from Yuda via the Sanyo Expressway for about 1.5 hours to Iwakuni, then about 40 minutes to Miyajimaguchi. Park your car and take the ferry to the island.

It is inconvenient to bring a car to Miyajima; park at Miyajimaguchi and only bring your overnight luggage.

Stay: Around Itsukushima Shrine

Day 12 · Mount Misen and Peace Memorial Park

Miyajima（Mount Misen） → Hiroshima（Peace Memorial Park & Museum、Atomic Bomb Dome、Okonomimura）

Take the ropeway up Mount Misen in the morning, take the ferry back to Miyajimaguchi, and drive for about 40 minutes to downtown Hiroshima.

Stay: Kamiyacho·Hondori

Day 13 · Onomichi and Kurashiki back to Okayama

Onomichi & Shimanami Kaido（Senkoji Park & Ropeway、Cat Alley (Neko no Hosomichi)） → Okayama & Kurashiki（Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter）

Drive from Hiroshima via the Sanyo Expressway for about 1.5 hours to Onomichi, then about 1 hour to Kurashiki, and about 40 minutes to Okayama to return your car.