Setouchi

The Seto Inland Sea coast and islands: Naoshima art, the great torii of Miyajima, the Kurashiki Bikan district, and cycling the Shimanami Kaido.

Setouchi refers to the Seto Inland Sea between western Honshu and Shikoku and its shores, spanning Hiroshima, Okayama, Kagawa, Ehime, Yamaguchi and other prefectures. With more than 700 islands, a mild climate and calm waters, it is called Japan's "Aegean Sea." The first highlight is the modern art islands: Naoshima's Chichu Art Museum and Yayoi Kusama's pumpkin, the Teshima Art Museum and the Inujima Seirensho, with installations all over the islands during the Setouchi Triennale. Next come two World Heritage sites, Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and Miyajima's Itsukushima Shrine with its great torii standing in the sea; Okayama's Korakuen and the white-walled storehouses of Kurashiki's Bikan Historical Quarter; the Shimanami Kaido, about 70 km linking Onomichi and Imabari, a world-famous cross-sea cycling route; and Matsuyama's Dogo Onsen in Ehime, one of the models for the bathhouse in Spirited Away. Plan 5–8 days, entering from Okayama or Takamatsu: 2 days on the art islands, 1–2 days in Hiroshima and Miyajima, and 1–2 days on the Shimanami Kaido. The Sanyo Shinkansen links the coastal cities, and ferries run between islands with limited sailings, so check timetables in advance; most art facilities close on Mondays, and the Chichu Art Museum must be booked online.

Destinations

Itineraries