"Chugoku"

The Chugoku region is punctuated with small but serene and exquisite villages and towns. Seaside fishing villages and hamlets nestle in the mountains. This is the place to visit in quest of nostalgic scenery and the flavor of the best of old Japan.

Chugoku, situated at the western end of the main island of Honshu, is split into the two areas of Sanyo, the Inland Sea Coast, and San-in, the Japan Sea Coast.

Okayama, 1 hr. by Shinkansen super express from Shin-Osaka, is a gateway to the Chugoku region and Shikoku Island. The main attraction here is the Korakuen Garden. Filled with flowers all year round, this garden masterpiece was created in 1700 by the ruling feudal lord of the Okayama clan who spent 14 long years to complete it.

Kurashiki, where the past is beautifully preserved and naturally blended with the new, is reached by a 15-min. train ride from Okayama. Stroll the narrow streets of the old merchant's quarter with its tileroofed houses and willow-fringed canals to get a flavor of this exquisite town. Kurashiki has several museums. Of these, Ohara museum of Art is remarkable. It contains a great collection of worldfamous paintings and sculptures. The Japanese folkcrafts and Oriental antique fine art masterpieces on exhibit are impressive.

Hiroshima, a former castle town, is reached in 1hr. 40min. by Shinkansen super express from Shin-Osaka. The present city emerged from the ashes of the World War II atomic bombing. Peace Memorial Park contains the Peace Memorial Museum displaying a large collection of photographs and objects relating to the devastation. Here the Peace Flame burns in front of the Memorial Cenotaph, never to be extinguished until all nuclear weapons are abolished.

Twenty-five min. by train from Hiroshima and a 10-min. boat ride from Miyajima-guchi, takes you to Miyajima Island and Itsukushima Shrine, a mustsee for all. The entire island, with an area of 30 sq. km., is designated by the government as a Special Historic Site and a Special Place of Scenic Beauty.

The shrine buildings are connected by corridors which stretch out over the water, so at high tide the whole structure appears to be floating on the sea. A red camphor wood torii gate rising out of the sea is the landmark of the shrine. Many colorful festivals are held here throughout the year, but the most dramatic is Kangen-sai in July or August. On this occasion, the Itsukushima deity is taken on a boat journey to visit other shrines on the mainland side and back. Sacred music is played on ancient Japanese instruments.

Hagi (Higashi-Hagi Sta.), 1 hr. 10 min. by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Sta., is an old castle town rich in history. Hagi is the birthplace of many prominent samurai who led events resulting in the Meiji Restoration. A number of old-time samurai residences, temples and shrines can be found here and there around the town, which exudes a calm, and tasteful atmosphere. Just touring the peaceful lanes is an enjoyable experience. The town is also well known for its Hagi-yaki pottery.

Tottori, 4 hrs. 20 min. by limited express from Osaka, is the seat of Tottori Prefecture. The city is noted for the sand dunes located 5 km. to the north in a portion of the San-in Kaigan National Park. Visit the dunes early in the morning to discover the beautiful patterns on their surfaces created by winds and rain during the night.

Matsue, 2 hrs. from Tottori by limited express, is situated at the point where the Nakaumi Lagoon joins Lake Shinji. The city is a major distribution hub and tourist destination, as well as the seat of Shimane Prefecture.

Izumo Taisha Shrine, 10 min. by train from Izumoshi Sta., is famed for its architectural style and is one of the oldest shrines in Japan. Backed by history stretching a few thousand years, the grand sanctuary building stands in its own solemn splendor.

The deity enshrined here is famous nationwide in support of marital bliss, thus attracting large numbers of young woman worshippers.