Chugoku Region 5 Days West

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Hiroshima Airport is the gateway to the Chugoku area. First of all, please complete the reception procedure at the rental car counter at the airport. It takes about 5 minutes by free shuttle bus to the rental car company branch.

The mileage of this day is about 170 km, and Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine is time-consuming. The trip is fast.

If your flights arrive late at night, you can stay in a hotel near the airport. 

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The first destination is [Hirata Fruit Farm].
This fruit farm is open the whole year, and you can enjoy fruit picking anytime!

You can eat a variety of sweets, like parfaits, tarts, and ice cream, using their fresh fruits. Of course, you can also buy many fruit products like snacks, dried fruit, and jams.

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Today’s highlight is the UNESCO World Heritage Site [Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine Village].

The following parking lots are recommended:
①2nd Free Parking
MAPCODE: 599 144 182*37
②1st Free Parking
MAPCODE: 599 113 262*56

Please refer Google town map below.

Please refer Google town map below.
The process of refining silver requires large quantities of timber. In spite of this Iwami Ginzan Silber Mine is considered a “Suitable Industrial Historic site”, as it kept the environment in consideration during the production of silver.
(You need to walk 4 kilometers from the parking lot to the mine shaft)

The town of Omori at the foot of the mountain is worth seeing.
You can enjoy a stroll through the mansion with its hidden storehouse used for silver trading and the wonderful townscape. We also recommend lunch at a cafe that has been renovated from an old farmhouse.

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This is the last spot for this day. 
It is an unknown scenic spot designated as a national natural monument. As you pass through the cool cave, the scenery of mysteriously shaped stones spreads out, giving you a feeling of exploration that is reminiscent of the shallow waters of the sea about 16 million years ago.

On this day you will stay in Hamada town.

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The mileage is about 130 km, and it is not a busy day.

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The first destination of the day is a Japanese garden. 
Sesshu (1420–1502) was a Buddhist monk who is famous for painting and gardens. And there are three gardens and his museum.
The above MAPCODE is for Manpukuji Temple, and please refer to the map below for other gardens.

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It is about 35 km to the next destination, “Tsuwano Old Town (津和野)”. Tsuwano, the day’s highlight, is a very beautiful old town with a moat where carp swim. There are Japanese-style Catholic churches that are worth visiting.

Another highlight of this day is “Taikodani Inari Shrine (太皷谷稲成神社)”. It is an undiscovered, very beautiful red shrine located on the hill, and you can look down on Tsuwano Town. The shrine also has a red torii gate tunnel with 263 steps. If you are fine walking, it is a great experience to walk from Tsuwano town to the shrine and to try to climb it.

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After Tsuwano, let’s head to “Chomonkyo Gorge (長門峡)”. It is a scenic spot designated as a national scenic spot in 1923. 

And there is another reason why we recommend this spot. From this gorge to Hagi town, you can enjoy driving an unknown but beautiful route along the Abukawa River. If you are lucky, you may be able to watch wild monkeys too.

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The last destination is Hagi Castle Town, where you will stay this day. 
Hagi is a city that produced several famous samurai involved in Japan’s Meiji Restoration. In the castle town that extends from the outer moat of the former Hagi Castle, the town lines are divided in a grid pattern, and there are scattered houses such as merchant houses, intermediate samurai residences, and doctors’ houses. Even now, the town line remains as it was, and it retains the remnants of the past.

You will stay in Hagi Town on this day. Hagi is a charming small town but there are not many restaurants.
If you would like to relax, it is also a good idea to book your inn with dinner and breakfast.

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The mileage is about 170km and there are many attractions on this day. If you would like to travel at a relaxing pace, it is recommended to depart earlier.

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[Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory] yet, be sure to visit. 
Akiyoshidai is the largest Karst plateau in Japan. Karst is a terrain created by the erosion of the earth, which is composed of easily meltable rocks such as limestone, rainwater, and groundwater. Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory is an observatory located in the southern part of Akiyoshidai. From the observatory, you can overlook the karst terrain and grasslands of Akiyoshidai.

You can enjoy breathtaking and exhilarating driving around Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory. Please refer to the below town map, and you can get a MAPCODE for this scenic drive.

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The first highlight of this day is Akiyoshido Limestone Cave, located 100 m underground in Akiyoshidai, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan. 
Let’s go on an underground adventure with a total length of 1km and a height difference of 40m!

It takes 90min for a round trip and 60min for a one-way trip. 
If you don’t have enough time, we recommend you to park and enter the cave from “Kurotani  Entrance”. Once after exiting the other exit, “Akiyoshido Exit,” walk to the Visitor Center and take a taxi back to Kurotani Entrance.

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“Motonosumi Shrine (元乃隅神社)” is another must-visit spot. This shrine became famous when CNN selected it as one of the 31 most beautiful places in Japan in 2015. The red torii gate that stretches all the way to the sea is very beautiful and photogenic.

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The best highlight of this day is the “Tsunoshima Bridge,” which is the very photogenic bridge connecting to Tsunoshima Island. You can enjoy very breath-taking driving scenery.

We also provide the MAPCODE for the observatory where you can look down the bridge above the MAPCODE. Please view the detailed map below.

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You will stay in Shimonoseki on this day.

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It is a little tough, but it is recommended you get up as early as possible to ensure you have enough time for sightseeing.
If you like seafood, it is a good idea to have breakfast not at the hotel but at Karato Market. They open at 6:00 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, 8:00 a.m. on Sundays, and PH. Please check the Driving Map for a MAPCODE.

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Then you will head to Kintaikyo Bridge, one of the three famous bridges in Japan. This bridge has five arches and is a rare wooden arch bridge in the world where no nails are used.

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Miyajima Island, which is famous for its World Heritage Site, Itsukushima Shrine, is the highlight of this day. A vermilion-painted Otorii gate that juts out into the sea is famous as Japan’s icon.

You need to take a ferry to the island. There are many parking lots at the ferry terminal, but the parking lot indicated by the MAPCODE is recommended.
There are two ferries, the JR West Ferry and the Matsudai Ferry. Both of them are almost the same, but if you want to visit Mt. Misen, Matsudai ferry and ropeway combination tickets are recommended.

Around the shrine, there are many attractions such as Senjokaku (Toyokuni Shrine) and Omotesando Shopping Street.

Another highlight of Miyajima is climbing Mt. Misen. At the top of the mountain, there are many natural giant rocks and unusual stones. You can also enjoy the view of Itsukushima Shrine and the Seto Inland Sea from the 360-degree panoramic observatory.

Miyajima is also a famous spot for autumn leaves in the Chugoku region. Miyajima Momijidani Park, a 5-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine, is located at the foot of the Misen Primitive Forest, and during the season (end of October–end of November), about 700 autumn leaves color the park.

On this day, you are staying in Hiroshima, following the previous day. Please relax and enjoy the night in Hiroshima.

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The mileage is about 50 km, and it takes 1 hour to get to the airport.

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If you haven’t been to [the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park] yet, be sure to visit. 
It takes about 30 minutes to walk around the Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Park, and at least an hour for the museum.

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If you have time before your flight, Hattendo Village, located next to the airport, is nice to stop by. 
A famous bakery that sells cream-filled rolls 
Here are many attractions such as miniature ponies, athletic playground equipment, and photo spots.

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This is the end of this road trip.

When you return your car , refuel and then return the car to the car rental branch. se the MAPCODE for gas station.