Chugoku
Contents |
Geography
Chugoku region is the westernmost region of Honshū, the largest island of Japan.
Climate
The climate between the Sanin area and the Sanyo area are quite different. The Sanin area has the "Sea of Japan"climate, and in winter it snows a lot. The whole area of Tottori, the inland of Shimane, parts of the northern part of Okayama and Hiroshima are the heavy snowfall area. On the contrary, the Sanyo area has the "Seto Inland Sea" climate, which makes it rain seldom all year.
Economy
Prefectures
Major cities and towns
Hiroshima - site of the infamous nuclear bomb attack.
Miyajima - Location of Itsukushima Shrine, the most photographed shrine in all of Japan.
Onomichi - hillside town with pleasant paths connecting dozens of small temples
Okayama - featuring Korakuen Garden, one of Japan's Top 3 gardens and the brooding black Okayama Castle.
Kurashiki - site of one of Japan's largest and most beautiful historic areas, the Bikan Historic District, as well as the famous Ohara Museum of Art, which is full of famous works from Europe.
Takahashi - a quaint little castle town most famous for Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, and original Japanese castle, as well as Japan's highest castle.
Tottori - Home to Japan's only sand dunes, the Tottori Sand Dunes provide visitors with a highly unique experience, including camel rides.
Matsue - Famous for Matsue Castle, one of Japan's few remaining original castles
Izumo - Home to the great Izumo Shrine, the second most holy Shinto Shrine in Japan.
Iwami - Home to the Iwami Ginzan mines, registered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Shimonoseki - at the southwestern tip of Honshu, known for fugu (globefish/pufferfish/blowfish. It also has great historical significance as the site of the battle of Dan-no-Ura the final battle in the Gempei Wars and the location where the Treaty of Shimonoseki was signed, which ended the Sino-Japanese War.
Hagi - one of the most beautiful castle towns in Japan, also the birthplace of many great statesmen who played important roles in Meiji Restoration
Other destinations
Yamaguchi - a city with many well-preserved temples
Akiyoshidai - Home to the Akiyoshi Plateau, the largest plateau in Japan, as well as Akiyoshi Cave, the largest cave in Japan.
Bizen - home to Japan's oldest and most respected style of pottery.
Tsuyama - a relaxed town famous for the thousands of cherry blossoms around its castle ruins in Kakuzan Park, a historic district, and Shurakuen Garden.
Niimi - home to the Maki Cave and Ikura Ravine.
Daisen - Home to the beautiful Mount Daisen, where visitors can hike to see Daisen-ji Temple, climb the mountain or ski down it.
Misasa - a small town most famous for the amazing Sanbutsu-ji Temple, built into a cliff.
Fukuyama - a town with a cultural district featuring many museums, as well as Fukuyama Castle.
Things to do
Koraku-en - one of Japan's three most beautiful gardens
Peace Memorial Park in Hiroshima
Tottori Sandhill
Saji Astro Park
Kintai Bridge - One of the three most beautiful bridges in Japan
Specialties
Hiroshimayaki
Iwakuni Sushi
globefish
Laver
Matsuba Crabs
Oysters
Places to stay
Hotel Ichibata
Naniwa Issui
Hotel Gyokusen
Chorakuen
Tamai Bekkan
Hotel Rich Garden
Izumo Station Hotel
Izumo Royal Hotel
Hotel Sun Route Tsuwano
Tsuwano Kanko Hotel
Hotel Granvia Okayama
Chisan Hotel Okayama
Kurashiki Ivy Square
Hotel 330 Grande Kurashiki
Getting in
Hiroshima has a fairly large airport, with domestic and some international connections.
The San'yo Shinkansen line links Hiroshima, Okayama and other major towns to Kyushu in the southwest and Kansai (Osaka) to the east. The less populated northern Japan Sea coast is served by ordinary train services.
Getting around
Sanyo Honsen
See also
Links
Some content adapted from Wikipedia.org.
