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Japan regions - Chugoku
The regions of Chugoku are: Tottori, Shimane,
Okayama, Hiroshima,
and Yamaguchi
Tottori
Beautiful contrast between the long coastline and mountainous area
Japan's largest sand dunes, Tottori-sakyu
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Tottori Prefecture is situated in the northeastern part of the
Chugoku region(the southwestern end of Japan's main island). This
prefecture abounds with scenery that change expression from season
to season, formed by a long coastline that stretches from east to
west, narrow flatlands, and mountainous area represented by Mt.
Daisen.
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Seasons of fresh greenery in spring and tinted autumnal leaves in
autumn are breathtakingly beautiful. You can enjoy this scenery
from the windows of the train that runs on the San-in Honsen Line
along the coastline.
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Many ancient ruins from around 400 BC to 300 AD have been found mainly
in the flatlands, such as Umano-yama Tombs, telling us of a long history
of exchanges Tottori had with the Korean Peninsula and China.
Noted scenic spots are Tottori-sakyu Sand Dunes, Japan's largest (about
16 kilometers long and about 2.4 kilometers from north to south); sand
dunes formed by the deposit of volcanic ash on the Sendai-gawa river blown
roughly from the Sea of Japan; Hakuto Coast, the site of Japanese myths
about the "White Rabbit of Inaba"; and Daisen-Oki National Park.
Also of note are castle towns like Tottori and Kurayoshi. Here, too, is
Misasa-onsen Hot Spring historically known as one of the leading spas
in this region for its high radium content. Skiing at Mt. Daisen in winter
is another feature of Tottori. Tottori hosts visitors in all seasons.
Shimane
Narrow plains and a long coastline
Full of must-see spots including national parks and cultural monuments
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Shimane is situated on the western tip of Honshu Island (the main
island of Japan), and faces the Korean Peninsula over the Sea of
Japan. Trade with the continent and China thrived in olden times,
and this region was once the leading edge of culture.
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The Chugoku Mountain Range extends from east to west,
and rivers flow down northwards from the mountains, carving out
cool, pleasant valleys before running into the sea. The long coastline
changes rhythmically, as cliffs and boulders give the coastline
a rugged appearance, before giving way to gentle sand dunes. First-time
visitors get a strange feeling of nostalgia from the atmosphere
of little fishing villages by the inlets and small towns nestled
in the valleys.
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Shimane is full of must-see places, starting with the Daisen-Oki National
Park that contains the Oki Islands, Shimane-hanto Peninsula and Mt. Sanbe-san,
Hiba-Do-go Taishaku Quasi-National Park and West-Chugoku Mountain Quasi-National
Park. Other essential sights are cultural monuments such as the Izumo-Taisha
Grand Shrine, Matsue, named after the beautiful city Matsue-fu (Songjiang)
by a district near Lake Taihu in China, which it is said to resemble,
and the old castle town of Tsuwano reminiscent of olden times.
Okayama
Little rainfall and mild climate
Scenic views of the islands in the Seto Inland Sea and the Seto-ohashi
Bridge
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Okayama is situated in the southeastern Chugoku region (the southwest
end of Japan's main island) and faces the Seto Inland Sea. The mild
climate and little rainfall make Okayama ideal for grapes, peaches
and other fruit plantations. The Chugoku Mountain Range extends
in the north, the Kibi Heights spreads on the south of the mountains
beyond the Tsuyama Basin, and the Okayama Plain faces the Seto Inland
Sea in the south.
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Okayama is endowed with abundant natural beauties,
including the islands in the Seto Inland Sea, the Seto-ohashi Bridge
that spans Honshu (the main island of Japan) and Shikoku Island,
Mt. Washu-zan that overlooks them, and the Hiruzen Heights in the
Daisen-Oki National Park.
Other must-sees are Okayama Castle noted for its
unique black exterior, the Kibitsu-jinja Shrine that has a national
treasure sanctuary and worship hall as well as the important cultural
property Kita-zuishin-mon Gate, and many other historic sites and
historical structures.
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The Koraku-en Garden, one of the three major gardens in Japan, offers
a beautiful sight of its garden and the view of the Okayama Castle. There
is also Kurashiki Tivoli Park, created to resemble the world's first theme
park, the Tivoli Park in Denmark.
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The Hiroshima guide is on a separate page. more..
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Yamaguchi
Various islands on the Seto Inland Sea
Little Kyoto of the San-in region that still embraces storehouses with
walls covered with square tiles jointed with raised plaster
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Yamaguchi is situated on the westernmost tip of the Japanese main
island. Because of its geographical location and ocean current,
it has long had cultural exchanges with the Korean Peninsula.
Boyo Islands that string out between Yamaguchi and Ehime belong
to Seto-Naikai National Park. Various islands on the moderate inland
sea and coast of various curves, white sand, and green pine trees
are mingled among terraced fields and houses creating attractive
scenery.
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Hagi that overlooks the Japan Sea is a castle town
established in the early 17th century and also known as "Little
Kyoto" of the San-in region (The Japan Sea Coast), and the
city still embraces ancient paths and storehouses with namako, walls
covered with square tiles joined with raised plaster.
Yamaguchi City is situated in the center of the prefecture. Since
it imitated Kyoto, the then capital of Japan in the mid-14th century,
it was called "Kyoto of the West" and prospered. Every
summer, the Yamaguchi Gion-matsuri Festival that echoes Kyoto's
Gion-matsuri Festival is held.
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Shimonoseki that is situated on the westernmost tip of the prefecture
faces Kyushu's Moji Port with the Kanmon Strait in between, and is connected
by the 780-meter long Kanmon Tunnel.
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