A guide to exploring Japan's Setouchi & San’in area
The Setouchi Area in Western Japan is a strip of five prefectures surrounding the Seto Inland Sea, the largest one in the country. Thanks to its calm waters and moderate climate, Setouchi Area’s surrounding coastal lands and islands are blessed with stunning natural landmarks, fresh produce and more. Each prefecture also boasts various customs and traditions for immersive local experiences.
Fun fact: Setouchi became a top travel destination and a part of the National Geographic Traveler Cool List in 2019.
Here’s how you can explore Setouchi for yourself!
Explore Setouchi with Klook!
From train passes to day tours and kimono experiences, you'll find everything you need for your Japan adventures on Klook!
How to travel around Setouchi
You can swiftly traverse from prefecture to prefecture through the Sanyo Shinkansen or local train. Other land transportation options include the Okayama Electric Tramway, express trains, rapid services, local trains, and buses.
With the Seto Sea’s calm nature that’s ideal for sea travel, ferries are another excellent mode of transport. You can access all of these modes of transportation with the 7 Day JR Setouchi Area Pass, which provides unlimited travel within the area!
How to use your 7 Day JR Setouchi Area Pass
The beauty of traveling around the Setouchi Area is that it has easy access to the Shinkansen or bullet train system. With the 7 Day JR Setouchi Area Pass, not only will you have Shinkansen access, but you’ll also have access to the other train, bus, and ferry services within the area.
To get your pass, you simply have to:
- Book online using Klook
- Redeem your voucher at the JR west station for a JR Setouchi Area Pass, and you’re ready to explore all of Setouchi!
To add vibrancy to your trip, you can also opt for a fun and unique travel experience aboard the Hello Kitty Shinkansen or bullet train. There’s no dull moment aboard this themed train, decorated from top to bottom with all things Hello Kitty!
This colourful Shinkansen traverses several prefectures in Setouchi: Okayama, Hiroshima, and Yamaguchi.
A Complete 5-Day Setouchi Itinerary
Day 1: Okayama Prefecture
Getting to Okayama
Okayama is located East of the Setouchi Area and is commonly accessed by tourists from Kansai Airport in Osaka. From there, you can take Shinkansen to Okayama prefecture using your JR Setouchi Area Pass.
It takes around 45 minutes by Shinkansen from Shin-Osaka to Okayama Station.
What to see and do in Okayama
A visit to Kurashiki City in Okayama is just what the doctor ordered for history buffs and travel enthusiasts! This city is known for the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area, which runs along the Kurashiki River. Its buildings were formerly warehouses or homes of wealthy merchants, with beauty and cultural artifacts passed through generations.
You can go on a machiaruki or walking tour around the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Area and marvel at the white-walled structures and enjoy sweet treats along the way!
Day 2: Kagawa Prefecture
How to get to Kagawa
Use your 7 Day pass and take the JR train lines from Okayama to Takamatsu, the biggest city in the prefecture. The journey takes about 50 minutes.
What to see and do in Kagawa
Credit: Shikoku Tourism
When in Kagawa, you absolutely have to experience walking along Chichibugahama Beach. This kilometer-long beach is a popular spot for swimmers and you can’t leave without snapping the signature reflection shot. Plus, it’s also known as one of the best places to see the sunset in Japan!
Day 3: Ehime Prefecture
How to get to Ehime
Using your 7 Day JR Setouchi Area Pass, you can take the JR line Express Train from Kagawa to Ehime Prefecture.
What to see and do in Ehime
Take a breather and enjoy a refreshing dip in an onsen! The perfect place to do this in Ehime is in the Dogo Onsen Annex in Asuka-no-Yu Bathhouse, which was constructed with the architectural sensibilities of the Asuka period.
Both the spacious bathing rooms and outdoor baths are designed for utmost relaxation which you deserve.
Day 4: Hiroshima Prefecture
How to get to Hiroshima
From Ehime Prefecture, you can take a ferry to Hiroshima, which takes around 70 mins by the express one. Make sure to check out the ferry’s schedule!
What to see and do in Hiroshima
Photo by Bing Hui Yau on Unsplash
A favourite attraction in Hiroshima is the Itsukushima Shrine, the famous floating torii gate. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was erected over water, making it appear to float during high tide. During this, you can reach the shrine itself via boat. You can also explore the prayer hall, main hall, and a noh theater stage nearby as part of the shrine complex.
You can also try oyster landing with local fishermen as part of the shrine experience! On a boat, you’ll go with them to the oyster farm, where you’ll learn how the oysters are cultivated and see expert oyster landing firsthand.
Day 5: Yamaguchi Prefecture
How to get to Yamaguchi
Use your 7 Day Pass to take the Shinkansen from Yamaguchi. It takes around 30 minutes by Shinkansen from Hiroshima to Shin-Yamaguchi.
What to see and do in Yamaguchi
It’s the grand finale of your epic Setouchi Area adventure, and Yamaguchi has amazing nature stops for you to explore! A must-visit destination in Yamaguchi is Akiyoshido, an awe-inspiring limestone cave that is one of the largest in Japan.
Since they began forming millions of years ago, the caves are filled with limestone formations, gigantic stalagmites, and rimstones masterfully carved by mother nature herself. Thanks to its natural beauty, Akiyoshido is considered a national treasure.
If you want to further your nature experience and get a whiff of fresh air, you can also head over to Akiyoshidai Plateau, the country’s largest karst tableland (a land formation made out of limestone) that doubles as a national-quasi park. White fragments of limestone are scattered throughout the area like clouds, surrounded by walkways and grassy fields where you can go for walks, runs, or simply observe the flora and fauna.
BONUS: Trip to areas nearby Setouchi Area
Osaka, Kyoto, Fukuoka
Photo by Nomadic Julien on Unsplash
If you end your five-day trip in Yamaguchi, you can head West, straight to Fukuoka, by riding the Shinkansen there. Or you can take Shinkansen back to Osaka and appreciate the wonderful mish-mash of modern architecture and delicious local food. Also on the East is Kyoto, which abounds with Buddhist temples and imperial palaces waiting to be explored!
If you prefer to go West of Yamaguchi, you can go to Fukuoka and visit its ancient temples, shrines, and enjoy the delightful local food.
Pro-tip: you can also take the Hello Kitty Shinkansen to Osaka and Fukuoka!
San’in Area
Another point of interest near Setouchi is the San’in Area, which is comprises of the Tottori prefecture on the North of Okayama and Shimane Prefecture on the North of Hiroshima.
The Tottori Sand Dunes are the city's most popular attractions. These large sand dunes span 16 kilometers along the coast of the Sea of Japan. Here you can opt for a scenic walk or ride horse or camel-drawn carts!
Meanwhile, in Shimane Prefecture lies the beautifully landscaped Yushien Garden, popular for its peonies. In fact, its main attraction is the collection of 250 types of Japanese peony flowers! You can see these flowers year-round, thanks to the outdoor and indoor displays that shield the flowers from harsher weather.
Want to visit the San’in Area? The 7 Day JR Sanyo-San'in Area Pass allows you to travel to its various areas! You can also take the JR Lines Express Train to Tottori (expect the ride to last 110 minutes from Okayama) and Shimane (160 minutes from Okayama).
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