Last Updated: Aug 9, 2024

Beyond Hiroshima

The Hidden Treasures of San’in & San’yo

This story was originally published on japan.travel and has been syndicated here on Medium

Most first-time visitors to Japan default to following what’s often referred to as the Golden Route. Running all the way from Tokyo in the east to Hiroshima in the west, the route includes most of the mainstream attractions, and while there are indeed many great locales on this well-trodden path, there’s so much more to see and do in Japan.

Luckily, stepping off the Golden Route isn’t difficult. For instance, those who make it as far as Hiroshima and the popular island of Miyajima are already on the doorstop of the San’in and San’yo regions — the north and south areas respectively of Chugoku. This relatively sparsely populated area of Japan boasts national parks of stunning beauty and variety, including Daisen-Oki National Park and San’in Kaigan National Park in the north and Setonaikai National Park in the South.

Whether you’re on the hunt for natural beauty or some cultural draws, the San’in and San’yo regions more than deliver. So, if you ever find yourself in Hiroshima, consider adding any of the prefectures mentioned here to your itinerary!

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