Japan's Inland Sea , Setouchi Setouchi, Which Is Celebrated As
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Japan's Inland Sea, Setouchi Spectacular Seto Inland Sea A vast, calm sea and islands as far as the eye can see. The Seto Inland Sea, which is celebrated as "The Aegean Sea of the East," is blessed with nature and gentle light. It has a beautiful way of life, and the culture created by locals is still alive. Art, activities, beautiful scenery and the food of this place with a warm climate are all part of the appeal. Each experience you have here is sure to become a special memory. 2 3 Hiroshima Okayama Seto Inland Sea Hiroshima is the central city of Chugoku The Okayama area has flourished region. Hiroshima Prefecture is dotted as an area alive with various culture with Itsukushima Shrine, which has an including swords, Bizen ware and Area Information elegant torii gate standing in the sea; the other handicrafts. Because of its Atomic Bomb Dome that communicates Tottori Prefecture warm climate, fruits such as peaches the importance of peace; and many and muscat grapes are actively other attractions worth a visit. It also grown there. It is also dotted with has world-famous handicrafts such as places where you can see the islands Kumano brushes. of the Seto Inland Sea. Photo taken by Takemi Nishi JAPAN Okayama Hyogo Shimane Prefecture Prefecture Prefecture Fukuoka Sea of Japan Seto Inland Sea Airport Kansai International Airport Setouchi Hiroshima Area Prefecture Seto Inland Sea Hyogo Hyogo Prefecture is roughly in the center of the Japanese archipelago. Hiroshima It has the Port of Kobe, which plays Yamaguchi Port an important role as the gateway of Prefecture Kagawa Prefecture Japan. It also is home to plentiful tourist attractions such as Himeji Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and several hot spring areas. Kobe beef, one of the three major brands of wagyu beef, is a delicacy. Yamaguchi Tokushima Prefecture Yamaguchi is surrounded by ocean, mountains and rivers and is characterized by its climate, which is comfortable throughout the year. Its Ehime Prefecture Kochi natural scenery, which includes some Prefecture 1,500 kilometers of coastline, is a cut above. The prefecture has Kintaikyo Bridge, one of the three most famous bridges in Japan, and other tourist attractions, and its fugu (pufferfish) is famous as a winter dish. Ehime Kagawa Tokushima The Ehime area has the Nishiseto This is an area with many islands, It has lots of tourism resources Expressway, one of Japan's leading including Naoshima and Teshima, including the Naruto Strait, which cycling roads, and the area draws which are famous for art. It also has one of the largest eddying attention from cyclists around the is home to the tasteful Ritsurin currents in the world, and the Iya world. Ehime contains many places Garden. Kagawa is also famous Valley, which captivates everyone where visitors can encounter history, for its Sanuki udon, which is so who sees its overwhelming including Dogo Onsen, a hot spring famous it attracts tourists from natural scenery. The traditional with a history stretching back some throughout Japan. The prefecture Awa Dance Festival, which teems 3,000 years, and the streetscapes of is even sometimes referred to as with 1.3 million tourists, is a Uchiko, which still look like they did "Udon Prefecture." must-see. the Edo and Meiji periods. “Red Pumpkin” ©Yayoi Kusama, 2006 Naoshima Miyanoura Port Square Note: See Page 26 for information on getting there. Photo taken by Daisuke Aochi 4 5 Spring Shiude Mountain in Kagawa Prefecture Autumn The vine bridges of the Iya Valley When you think of spring in Japan, the first thing that In the summer in the Seto Inland Sea area, Autumn leaves that change color as the temperatures Even in the Seto Inland Sea area, which has comes to mind is cherry blossoms. There are multiple humidity is low and there are many sunny days. In get lower are a distinctively Japanese sight of beauty a relatively warm climate, snow sometimes famous places for viewing the cherry blossoms in each this season that is perfect for sightseeing, there to rival the cherry blossoms in spring. The Seto accumulates in the winter. If you're lucky, you may prefecture along the Seto Inland Sea. They range from is plenty to do, including a traditional festival that Inland Sea area with its many tall mountains with even be able to see snowy landscapes as beautiful a spot atop a slightly elevated mountain overlooking draws a million people and art-themed events. a temperature differential from the lowlands is full as a painting in sightseeing spots. Taking a stroll at the sea to spots in town reachable on foot from major There are also spots where you can see beautiful of autumn leaf scenes you will find yourself pulling night is another thing to look forward to in winter, stations. In some of them the cherry blossoms are islands and activities that allow you to experience your camera out for. After you appreciate the autumn when historic temples are floodlit and there are illuminated at night, creating dreamy scenes. nature. leaves, be sure to enjoy the delicious foods of autumn. lighting displays in famous places. Summer Winter 6 Tokushima Prefecture's Awa Dance Festival The Kintaikyo Bridge in Yamaguchi Prefecture 7 WORLD HERITAGE HIROSHIMA Itsukushima Shrine Itsukushima Shrine was built more than 1,400 years ago. Because of its long history, not to mention its many national treasures and cultural assets, it is known as an old shrine that represents Japan both in name and in reality. Itsukushima Shrine's 16 meter tall torii gate and large, vermilion shrine building sit atop the sea's surface, a rare location, adding to their splendidly graceful appearance. The shrine was registered as a World Heritage site in 1996 as a masterpiece expressing human creative talent. 8 9 WORLD HERITAGE HIROSHIMA Atomic Bomb Dome HYOGO Himeji Castle The Atomic Bomb Dome is the ruins of the Himeji Castle is a structure from the beginning Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, of the Edo period with white lime plaster castle which was almost completely destroyed when an walls and four castle towers large and small. It atomic bomb was dropped and exploded violently was registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site during World War II, leaving just the framework because "it represents the culmination of Japanese and outer wall. As a UNESCO World Heritage site castle architecture in wood," and it was positively created with the wish that such a tragedy will "never evaluated because its grand castle towers, and its again" happen, it is one of the bombed buildings that many gates, bridges and mud walls are preserved serves as a reminder of the terrible disaster. A park as they were in the past. You can still see the castle was created in the surrounding area, as well as the as it looked in the past by entering the castle tower Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. and by viewing the splendid central pillar. 10 11 ART KAGAWA Naoshima Island TOKUSHIMA OTSUKA MUSEUM OF ART Naoshima is a hilly island where time passes at a This is one of the most popular art spots in Asia. Full- leisurely pace. Everywhere you look there are the size ceramic-board reproductions of famous Western works of internationally active artists, and the whole paintings in the collections of famous art museums in 25 island is steeped in an artistic ambiance. One of the countries are on display here. Surprisingly, it has about best-known works of art in Naoshima is the enormous 1,000 of these reproductions. They are worth seeing, red pumpkin on a dock at Miyanoura Port. including the three-dimensional recreation of Sistine “Red Pumpkin” ©Yayoi Kusama, 2006 Naoshima Miyanoura Port Square Chapel's Michelangelo's ceiling and "Last Judgement" Photo taken by Daisuke Aochi taking up an entire room. This is a photo of a work displayed at OTSUKA MUSEUM OF ART. OKAYAMA Ohara Museum of Art HYOGO This museum on a plot of land in Kurashiki Bikan Hompukuji Temple historical quarter has a collection that is highly rated Hompukuji Temple is an old temple of ancient and in Japan and abroad. All the works are worth going honorable origin built more than a millennium ago that out of your way to see, including Monet's "The Water also gets attention as an art spot. One of its buildings, Lilies" and El Greco's "The Annunciation." Mizumido (Water Temple), was designed by architect Tadao Ando, and its modern design is much talked about. Standing on a slightly elevated hill with the Bay of Osaka spreading out before it, it implements the unique Photo courtesy of Ohara Museum of Art concept of placing the main building beneath a pond. 12 13 CUISINE Fugu (pufferfish) Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture, has been known since antiquity as a fishing town, and a variety of fish species are unloaded there throughout the four seasons. And 80 percent of Japan's natural Japanese pufferfish and grass puffers are sold and preprocessed here. At markets in Shimonoseki, visitors can eat fugu prepared by chefs who specialize in it. Citrus fruit The majority of the domestically grown lemons distributed in Japan are shipped from Hiroshima Prefecture. Mikan production thrives in Ehime Prefecture, and the fruits are prized for use in sweets and other dishes. The Seto Inland Sea region takes great care about the safety of its fruit, which can be grown there because of its relatively warm climate even in winter. Sanuki udon Udon is one of the representative comfort foods of Japan, consisting of noodles kneaded from wheat flour, often served in a seafood-based soup.