A Crowd-free Journey through the History of Western Setouchi in Yamaguchi, Hiroshima and Ehime

In addition to the World Heritage Sites of Hiroshima and Miyajima, this four-day itinerary includes visits to, undiscovered, repositories of feudal history and ancient onsen hot spring resorts in Yamaguchi and Ehime.

Travel: Miyajima to Hiroshima

・Take the local train from Hiroshima Station to Miyajima-guchi Station (Approx 30 minutes)
・Take the ferry from Miyajima-guchi to Miyajima (Approx 10 minutes)

World Heritage Sea Route
High speed ferries make the journey between Hiroshima’s two UNESCO World Heritage Sites in approximately 45 minutes. Hiroshima departures are from Peace Memorial Park, just south of the A-bomb Dome Memorial. Please check the website as schedules change according to the tides.

URL: http://www.aqua-net-h.co.jp/en/heritage/

Make a peace pilgrimage to the site of the world’s first A-bomb attack

Visiting Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Park, Peace Memorial Museum and Atomic Bomb Dome Memorial World Heritage Site is a sobering and often emotional experience. If time allows, seek out a quiet spot among the trees to reflect on the experience before returning to the hustle and bustle of the city.

Travel: Hiroshima to Matsuyama

・Take a taxi from Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park to Hiroshima Port (Approx 15 minutes)
・Choose from the regular (Approx 2 hours 40 minutes) and high speed ferry (Approx 1 hour 10 minutes) to travel across the Seto Inland Sea to Matsuyama.
・Take the limousine bus to Matsuyama city center (Approx 20 minutes to Matsuyama Station and 45 minutes to Dogo Onsen)

Matsuyama

The ferry journey to Matsuyama, passing through Kure and the narrow Seto Strait, is a pleasure in itself. Try to opt for one of the five daily
Sea Paseo departures to enjoy the trip on one of the well appointed Sea Paseo cruisers.

Located on the western edge of Shikoku, Matsuyama is a city blessed with a host of cultural and historical landmarks waiting to be discovered. Start with a trip to the iconic Matsuyama Castle, an impressive hilltop castle with panoramic views of the city.

10 minutes by streetcar ride is Dogo Onsen – one of Japan’s oldest hot spring resorts and the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s film Spirited Away. The original hot spring onsen is still in operation and open to the public. They also offer guided tours around the facility, including a look at the special bath constructed exclusively for the emperor’s private use. Next to the onsen, you can enjoy a glass of locally brewed Dogo Beer while soaking your feet in a foot bath.

Eclectic Ishiteji Temple is one of the 88 temples on the famous Shikoku Ohenro Pilgrimage route and is only a short distance from Dogo Onsen. As you go around Shikoku, you will undoubtedly spot pilgrims with their distinctive straw hats, white robes and walking stick trekking between temples. Visiting Ishiteji Temple is a way to experience a tiny part of this vast journey that attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

Accommodation: Yamatoya Besso

Nestled in the heart of Matsuyama, Yamatoya Besso is an elegant ryokan hotel steeped in Japanese tradition and hospitality. The ryokan's rooms are built entirely out of Japanese cypress creating a calming atmosphere. The attentive staff will welcome you and attend to your every need during your stay. You can also indulge in the culinary delights of Yamatoya Besso, where kaiseki meals are skillfully crafted with the finest local ingredients.

URL: https://yamatoyabesso.com