Exploring the Setouchi Region of Japan

Why the Setouchi Region of Japan is a must visit…

Tourists initially head to Tokyo or Kyoto when exploring Japan but there are so many other amazing places to see - smaller cities that offer an insight into local life, incredible historical castles, stunning gardens and a range of museums.

The Setouchi Region is the perfect area to explore, especially from the gateway of Osaka and with the new route with British Airways from London Heathrow to Osaka, Setouchi is easier than ever to get to direct from the UK.

With its year round mild temperatures and accompaniment of 3000 islands dotted along the coast, you can explore Setouchi by land easily with the amazingly organised road systems, or by the famous bullet train which is famously rarely (if ever) late, or even by sea with numerous scheduled boats and private sailing experiences.

Castles
There are over 100 castles in Japan; set up high, they were fortresses built to protect the city from attacks. Mainly built from wood, some of the castles where burnt down or destroyed and have been lovingly restored and now seen as national treasures.

Himeji castle is a stunning white castle situated high upon a hillside overlooking Himeji. There are lots of steps to reach it but once you get to the top, there are some remarkable views over the city and the castle is so spectacular and dramatic, lots of films have used it as a location.

Matsuyama Castle in Takahashi, Okayama is accessed by a cable car which gives you an idea of the height of the castle. If you are lucky enough to be there during the blossom season, then I imagine the rows of cherry blossoms in the courtyard would be beautiful. Sadly we visited just before that time. This castle feels a bit more theatrical than Himeji and even has some guards at the grand door ready for some fun photo opportunities.

You will be expected to take your shoes off and put some slippers on when you go around the castle so that you don’t damage the original floors. These look quite funny and can be a bit slippery on the stairs. This is another great location for filming - we actually saw a shoot in progress and it was amazing to see the cast dressed up as samurais (photo below).

Gardens
Japanese gardens are very famous for being structured, simple for the eye to take in and creating a sense of calm and tranquillity for the visitor.

Okayama Korakuen Garden is a landscaped garden in Okayama and is said to be one of the three great gardens of Japan. It was created around 300 years ago by the feudal lord of that area and has been maintained beautifully through the years. The gardens have ponds, a tea plantation and lots of lovely plum trees and cherry blossoms, and in the centre of the park is a rest house where you can sit and rest your feet in a stream and appreciate the views through the side panels of the rest house like a picture frame.

The tea house in the gardens is another nice place to sit and have a matcha tea whilst looking out and enjoying the views.  You can book an English speaking guide to take you around the gardens, explain the history of the garden and tell you about the plants and trees in the grounds. We would recommend you have a guide as this can really enhance the experience and make the gardens come to life even more in your mind.

Museums
The Bizen Osafune Sword Museum is a really interesting place to learn about the history of the samurai sword and experience the sword as a piece of art rather than a weapon. Here you can learn about how the swords are made and the processes that the steel goes through to get to the final product. There are lots of swords from private collectors on display, many of which date back hundreds of years.

My favourite part of this trip was visiting the workshops on site where artisans currently produce the swords by hand; here you can see the production of the sword, the engraving and polishing.

English speaking guides are available if you book in advance and the museum is located in Osafune-cho which is a short 7 minute taxi ride away from Osafune station.

Another must visit museum in the Setouchi Region is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum in Hiroshima. It is hard to comprehend that in 1945 Hiroshima was the first place in the world to suffer the atrocities of having an atomic bomb dropped on it. It is estimated that around 150,000 people lost their lives. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Gardens are home to the Genbaku dome which is also known as the Atomic Bomb Dome, the only building left standing near the epicentre of the explosion and now standing as a symbol of peace.

The museum located in the park is a sobering reminder of the devastation that the bomb caused. The upper area of the museum is dedicated to the facts and history behind the bomb and the downstairs area is dedicated to the human stories of loss, images of unimaginable injuries and artefacts such as destroyed clothes and other burnt items.

It is hard not to become emotional when in this museum and it serves as a really poignant reminder of the consequences of nuclear weapons and the importance of peace. Visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum should be an absolute necessity on any visit to Japan.

It really amazed me how Hiroshima has rebuilt and developed over the last 74 years and it is now a thriving, lively and very large city definitely worth a visit.

Food
If you are a meat fan or a foodie then you would definitely have heard of the famous Kobe beef, a tender fatty Wagyu beef from cattle reared in the Kobe area. What makes Kobe beef so special is the way that the cattle is looked after; they are fed beer and other speciality foods and are massaged to ensure that the meat is tender. This meat is such a delicacy that restaurants have to have a certificate of authenticity, and the beef is priced at very high prices.

The Kobe beef tasted amazing and is worth trying… I am sure it tastes even better if somebody else is paying!

Okonomiyaki is a type of savoury Japanese pancake with ingredients consisting of cabbage, noodles, seafood and meat. It is famous in Hiroshima as they make their own style which is a more layered version.

There is a food court in the centre of Hiroshima that houses about 25 okonomiyaki restaurants called Okonomimura. We visited this place and took our seat alongside the long metal grill to watch our dish being prepared (and sweat a little from the heat of the grill and the proximity of our dining companions). It’s a great experience as you actually eat the okonomiyaki straight from the grill in-front of you with chopsticks. The meal is really yummy, very filling and extremely reasonably priced in comparison to many meals in Japan - one okonomiyaki costs about £4.

Hotels
A Ryokan is a traditional Japanese hotel. The concept is based on the simple and sleek interiors that is synonymous with Japanese design and stems back from the days when samurai soldiers needed an inn to rest at.

The flooring of a Ryokan is often traditional matting and a futon is laid out by the hotel staff whilst you are eating your evening meal. Kimonos are supplied in your room which you can happily wear around the hotel and to the thermal baths that are often on site. Often bathrooms and toilets are communal although in the amazing Ryokan we stayed in whilst in Dogo Onsen, we did have our own bathroom and toilet.

I whole heartedly recommend staying in a Ryokan; it is a unique and authentic experience. The atmosphere is very tranquil and unlike any other hotel experience I have ever had.

British Airways fly direct to Osaka from London Heathrow four times per week.