A Trip To Discover the Unique Scenery of Western Japan by Following the "Golden Route to West Japan"
The "Golden Route to West Japan" is a fascinating travel route that connects the metropolis of Osaka to the picturesque island of Kyushu. Follow the "Golden Route to West Japan" to encounter the landscapes woven from the nature and history of Western Japan, such as the islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea, mountain castles towering over the plains, and hot spring resources brought by volcanoes.
Take local trains and buses from a major Shinkansen station and visit a local city full of charm. Since ancient times, people have lived in harmony with the harsh yet abundant nature of the area. By gazing at the landscape and interacting with the local people, you will be able to deeply feel the history and culture of the area.
In this article, we will introduce a shrine on a World Heritage island, an impregnable castle that makes use of the terrain, a historic public bathhouse that utilizes hot spring resources, and tourist spots where you can experience the energy of the earth. Travel through Western Japan in search of memorable landscapes.
Miyajima is a World Heritage Site where nature, faith, and architecture are in perfect harmony
About 14% of Miyajima in Hiroshima Prefecture, including the famous Itsukushima Shrine, is a World Heritage Site. Along with Matsushima in Miyagi Prefecture and Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture, Miyajima is one of the "Three Views of Japan," and Miyajima has a different beauty from the other two, where historical buildings and nature are in harmony.
When you arrive on the island, the first thing to do is visit Itsukushima Shrine. Since ancient times, the entire island has been revered as a sacred island, the current shrine was built at this size in the 12th century. Despite being a wooden building, it is built in the sea, and there is a 16-meter-tall "Otorii" gate just offshore from the shrine. When the tide is low, you can walk between the shrine and the Otorii gate, and when the tide is high, the building appears to be floating on the water, a rare sight even in Japan.
Located behind Itsukushima Shrine, "Mt. Misen Primeval Forest" is also a designated World Heritage area. Mt. Misen has been a sacred mountain since ancient times, and its 535-meter summit is filled with gigantic stones, giving you a sense of the mystique of nature. The views from the "Shishiiwa Observatory" and "Mt. Misen Observatory" are spectacular and unobstructed. There are many steep inclines, so be sure to wear suitable hiking shoes.
Miyajima is known for its beautiful cherry blossoms and autumn leaves, and its seasonal scenery attracts visitors. There are plenty of shopping options and you can enjoy delicious food, including Hiroshima specialties such as oysters and conger eel on rice, as well as the special experience of strolling around in a kimono. We hope you will enjoy your time on Miyajima to the fullest.
Okunoshima Island is home to hundreds of rabbits
Okunoshima Island is famously known as "Rabbit Island." A small island just off the coast of Takehara City in Hiroshima Prefecture, measuring 4.3 kilometers in circumference, is home to several hundred rabbits. It can only be reached by ferry, regular vehicles are not allowed, and there are no residential areas on the island. It is a paradise for rabbits on a scale rarely seen.
When you land on the island, you are immediately greeted by a rabbit. You may be tempted to hold them in your arms, but please do not touch them. The rabbits are semi-wild and may become stressed if touched by people, and may fall and injure themselves. Enjoy them from a distance.
Okunoshima Island is also known as "the island that was erased from the map." From 1929 to 1945, the former Japanese military manufactured poison gas on this island. Because of its top-secret nature, Okunoshima Island was erased from the map and was not made public until 1984. Even today, the remains from the war convey a tragic history in the same spot where rabbits live their leisurely lives.
An English version of the map is available at the "Okunoshima No. 2 Pier Rest Area" and on the website "Takehara Hiroshima Tourism Guide." Take a walk around the island and enjoy the beauty of the many islands of the Seto Inland Sea. A guidebook of Takehara City including Okunoshima Island (English, Traditional Chinese, and Korean) is also available. Please use this as a guide to learning about the multifaceted Okunoshima Island.
Dogo Onsen Honkan was the first public bathhouse in Japan to be designated an Important Cultural Property
The Dogo Onsen Honkan in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture, looks like a highly dignified ryokan, but it is actually a public bathhouse. However, it does have a different feel to other public bathhouses. The four buildings are designated as National Important Cultural Properties and have received three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japan.
Dogo Onsen is one of Japan's "Three Ancient Springs," and it is said to have a history of 3,000 years and appears in mythology and ancient history books. The wooden structures of Dogo Onsen Honkan are also old, the newest being 100 years old. In order to preserve this historically valuable public bathhouse for future generations as it has been done until now, restoration and preservation work was completed in July 2024.
There are other special features of Dogo Onsen Honkan. One is that there is the "Yushinden" which was a bathhouse dedicated for use by the Imperial household. It is gorgeous and carefully finished down to the smallest detail, demonstrating the high level of craftsmanship of the artisans. Viewing is possible with a reservation.
Near the Dogo Onsen Honkan is the directly-sourced, free-flowing Tsubaki-no-Yu, a longtime favorite among locals, and the Asuka-no-Yu which opened in 2017 architectural styles from the Asuka Period (7th century). Please visit the official Dogo Onsen website or the Dogo Tourist Information Center to find multilingual brochures and learn about and enjoy Japanese bath culture.
Matsuyama Castle, an impregnable fortress with a valuable Tenshu
Matsuyama Castle is the largest castle in the Shikoku region, located in Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture. It took about 25 years to complete, starting in 1602. There are 12 existing Tenshu (the highest tower within a Japanese castle) in Japan built before the 1850s, and the one at Matsuyama Castle is one of these valuable Tenshu. The 21 buildings, including the Tenshu, are designated as National Important Cultural Properties.
Matsuyama Castle stands on Mt. Katsuyama, located at the center of Matsuyama City. In addition to the elevation of the mountain, the Tenshu is approximately 30 meters high, providing a 360-degree view of the area around the castle. Climb up to the Tenshu to experience the spectacular view, which has been awarded one star by the Michelin Green Guide Japan Inside the Tenshu, visitors can also view the armor and swords of successive feudal lords.
There are five ways to ascend to the castle, the most common being by cable car or chairlift . Get off and walk about 10 minutes to the entrance of the Tenshu. The other four are by foot, and all take 30 to 40 minutes. The most well maintained is the "Shinonome-guchi path" to the castle, but the regular route during the samurai period was "Kuromon-guchi path." It might be interesting to aim for the main keep by advancing through the Kuromon-guchi, as if you're laying siege to the impregnable Matsuyama Castle.
Multilingual brochures are available at Matsuyama Castle. Check out the brochure to see how tight the defensive mechanisms are.
Welcome to the seven hells where hot water and hot mud gush out of the "Hells of Beppu"
You can find "hell" (Jigoku) in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. And there is not just one. The cool cobalt blue of the 98-degree Celsius "Umi Jigoku," the bright red "Chi-no-Ike Jigoku" with its 72-degree Celsius hot water, and "Tatsumaki Jigoku" with its 105-degree Celsius fumes rising at regular intervals, four out of seven of which are designated as the National Scenic Place of Beauty "Beppu no Jigoku."
The true nature of the hells is hot springs caused by two adjacent active volcanoes. This hot spring area was already described in an 8th century book and is said to have a history of well over 1,000 years. It used to be a place that was not easy to approach, and that is why it has been called "hell" to this day, but nowadays anyone can take a tour of the various hells.
Five of the seven hells are located in the Kannawa area and can be visited on foot. The other two are approximately 6 minutes away by local bus from the Kannawa area. The sight of terrifying hot springs of various colors and shapes gushing out is truly like something out of hell. However, when you consider that this is a landscape created by a volcanic eruption, you will feel the enormous energy of the earth and the mystery of nature.
Brochures in English, Korean, and simplified Chinese can be downloaded from the official website. Enjoy a tour of the hells while reading the detailed explanations.
Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa: Experience geothermal cooking that has continued for 400 years!
When most Japanese people hear "Beppu Onsen in Oita Prefecture," most think of the steam rising from all over the town. The "Steam and Hot Spring Landscape at Beppu" has been designated as a National Important Cultural Landscape, and you can see this scenery for yourself if you visit Kannawa.
There is no reason not to take advantage of the abundant hot spring steam. Since the 16th century, people in Kannawa have practiced "jigokumushi," or hell-steaming, in which food is heated by the steam of hot springs at nearly 100 degrees Celsius. Meat, fish, vegetables, and other ingredients are placed on a colander and placed in a device called a "hell steam pot" to create a delicious steaming dish.
Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa is a facility where visitors can experience jigokumushi. After purchasing a ticket and receiving the ingredients, follow the staff's instructions to set them in the hell steam pot by yourself. Hot steam rises when the lid is opened, so be careful not to burn yourself.
The steamed ingredients are colorful, have a great texture, and taste delicious even without any seasonings. The steam contains salt, and by steaming it all at once, the flavor is concentrated. You are given salt and sauce to choose from, so it's fun to vary the flavor as you eat.
The menu is available in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Korean. We hope you enjoy the food, made even more delicious by the blessings of the hot springs.
Facility information
Miyajima
Location: Itsukushima Shrine, 1-1 Miyajima-cho, Hatsukaichi-shi, Hiroshima
Directions:
29 minutes from Hiroshima Station (JR) on the Sanyo Main Line to Miyajimaguchi Station, 10 minutes on the JR West Miyajima Ferry to Miyajima Pier
1 hour 15 minutes by streetcar from Hiroshima Station (Hiroshima Electric Railway), 10 minutes by JR West Miyajima Ferry from Hiroden-Miyajima-guchi Station to Miyajima Pier
Okunoshima Island
Location: Okunoshima, Tadanoumicho, Takehara-shi, Hiroshima
Directions:
30 minutes from Hiroshima Station (JR) by Sanyo Shinkansen Kodama; 22 minutes from Mihara Station on the JR Kure Line, 7-minute walk from Tadanoumi Station, 15 minutes from Tadanoumi Port on the Kyukamura Passenger Boat or Omishima Ferry, get off at Okunoshima Pier
2 hours from Hiroshima Station (JR) on the JR Kure Line, 7-minute walk from Tadanoumi Station, 15 minutes from Tadanoumi Port on the Kyukamura Passenger Boat or Omishima Ferry, get off at Okunoshima Pier
100 minutes from Hiroshima Bus Center on the Geiyo Bus Kaguyahime-go, 7-minute walk from Tadanoumi Station (JR), 15 minutes from Tadanoumi Port on the Kyukamura Passenger Boat or Omishima Ferry, get off at Okunoshima Pier
Dogo Onsen Honkan
Location: 5-6 Dogoyunomachi, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime
Directions: 25 minutes from Matsuyama Station (JR) on the Iyo Railway No.5 JR Matsuyama Ekimae Line , 5-minute walk from Dogo Onsen Station
Matsuyama Castle
Location: 1 Marunouchi, Matsuyama-shi, Ehime
Directions:
Cable Car/Chairlift
12 minutes from Matsuyama Station (JR) on the Iyo Railway No.5 JR Matsuyama Ekimae Line, 5-minute walk from Okaido Station
Ninomaru Historical Garden
10 minutes from Matsuyama Station (JR) on the Iyo Railway No.5 JR Matsuyama Ekimae Line, 5-minute walk from Ehime Pref. Office Station
Hells of Beppu
Location: 559-1 Kannawa, Beppu-shi, Oita
Directions:
Umi Jigoku
16-26 minutes from the West Exit of Beppu Station (JR) on the Kamenoi Bus No. 1, No. 2, No. 5, No. 7, No. 24, or No. 41, 1-minute walk from the "Umijigoku-mae" or "Kannawa" bus stop
Chi-no-Ike Jigoku
19 minutes from Beppu Station (JR Nippo Main Line), 9 minutes from Kamegawa Station on Kamenoi Bus No. 26, 7-minute walk from the "Chinoike Jigoku Mae" bus stop
40 minutes from the East Exit of Beppu Station (JR) on Kamenoi Bus No. 26, 7-minute walk from the "Chinoike Jigoku Mae" bus stop
Jigokumushi Kobo Kannawa
Location: 5 Kumi, Furomoto, Beppu-shi, Oita
Directions: 16-26 minutes from the West Exit of Beppu Station (JR) on the Kamenoi Bus No. 1, No. 2, No. 5, No. 7, No. 24, or No. 41, get off at the "Kannawa" bus stop