RW PromotionTransport
JR West Japan
Take a bullet train to discover the area near the Seto Inland Sea
From the rugby venues in Kobe and
Osaka or Tokyo and Yokohama, you can
reach the Setouchi area by shinkansen...C
The Culture Vulture
Okayama’s Korakuen Garden is
rated one of Japan’s three best
gardens and dates back 300 years. Tie
in a stroll there with a visit to Okayama
Castle, also situated on the Asahi River.
The Bikan Historical Area in Kurashiki
is the most picturesque merchants’
quarter in Japan and you can take a
traditional boat trip down the canal.
In Hiroshima, you’ll find the Atomic
Bomb Dome, which remains as a
reminder of the 1945 attack. You can
also visit the Hiroshima Peace Memorial
Museum, opened in 1955 to advocate
world peace while charting the build-up
and aftermath of the bombing.F
The Foodie
The Seto Inland Sea is known
for its fresh seafood – conger
eel and octopus among the favourites.
Hiroshima is also Japan’s biggest
producer of oysters, so they are a
must-try when in the area. There
are various ways to enjoy them –
fried, steamed, grilled, raw or with
miso (kaki-no-dote-nabe).A
The Adventurer
Head to Miyajima, a small
island in Hiroshima Bay. This
provides one of Japan’s top three scenic
views and the island is home to the
Itsukushima Shrine, a World Heritage
Site with a ‘floating’ torii gate. There are
plenty of hiking trails from which you
can explore the island too.
The Rugby World Cup also coincides
with the autumn dates (28 September
to 4 November) of the Setouchi
Triennale art festival. The theme this
year is Restoration of the Sea and you
can reach the main venue, Naoshima
Island, by train and ferry in only
one-and-a-half hours from Okayama.P
The Party Animal
For the best nightlife, head
to Nagarekawa in Hiroshima.
Once a creative centre for artists and
writers, Nagarekawa’s narrow streets,
which are something of a maze to
traverse, are now full of food and
drink establishments. There’s even
an Irish pub, Molly Malone’s!
Other top bars are the Ofuku Kimono
& Sake Bar, where you can not only try
local dishes and drinks but be fitted with
a kimono, and Tropical Bar Revolucion,
which is renowned for its cocktails.THE TICKETS
A JR-West Setouchi Area Rail Pass is
a great option if you plan to travel
around the Seto Inland Sea region
by train. It covers five days and you
can purchase it from travel agents
outside Japan or in the region itself.
Many other rail passes are available.
See westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticketPIC
Nagarekawa image is for illustration purposesFloating view
Okayama’s Korakuen GardenNeon streets
Nagarekawa