As awareness grows of the impacts of over-tourism, travellers are looking for ways to travel more ‘slowly’ in destinations, seeking experiences that allow them to engage with local culture on a deeper level and develop more meaningful connections with their surroundings. Japan’s Setouchi region – a collective of seven prefectures surrounding the Seto Inland Sea – is the ultimate ‘slow travel’ destination in Japan offering a wealth of unique experiences, from exploring its distinctive natural beauty and learning about local arts and crafts to visiting rare historical sights. Here are some of the top slow travel highlights of the Setouchi region.
Visit Eastern Setouchi for Samurai Castles and ‘Japan Red’ Townscapes
In the Takahashi area in Okayama Prefecture, you’ll discover a rare historic castle that, depending on the time of year you visit, can appear like it’s floating in a sea of clouds – symbolising the area’s Samurai culture. Bitchu Matsuyama Castle dates back to 1240 and is highly regarded for its architectural style and historical value. In addition to Bitchu Matsuyama Castle, visitors can also explore two Samurai residences, one zen garden and five museums. If you’re visiting from autumn and through winter, you’ll be amazed by the spectacular ‘sea of clouds’ which envelop the castle making for a rather mysterious sight.
The mining town of Fukiya is also a must-see for any visitor to the Takahashi area, known as the birthplace of Japan Red because of the town’s copper mining history and production of the red bengara colour pigment from locally sourced iron oxide. Creating Fukiya’s unique red townscape, bengara can be seen on many of the town’s houses for decoration or to protect the wooden structures, but the pigment is also used across the country for crafts, dyeing clothes, and for the familiar red you’ll find in the architecture of Japan’s shrines and temples.
Fukiya Furusato Village, Okayama Prefecture.
Tour the art island of Ikuchijima and enjoy an immersive overnight stay
Unlike any other art gallery you’ve visited, the peaceful island of Ikuchijima and neighbouring Takanejima on the Seto Inland Sea in Hiroshima Prefecture are home to a collection of 17 free to visit open-air sculptures which are inspired by their individual locations and scattered around Setoda Town. Ikuchijima is one of six islands along the famed Shimanami Kaido expressway and is also known to be one of the country’s top producers of lemons with colourful lemon field terraces cascading down many of the island’s slopes.
For a truly immersive experience on the island, stay overnight at the one-of-a-kind Bonapool complex that combines accommodation for residents and travellers, social spaces, workspaces, and cooking facilities. With incredible views of the Seto Inland Sea, Bonapool offers a range of room types from private twin and double rooms to dormitory rooms, while providing a place to meet locals and other travellers.
A visit to Overview Coffee Setoda Roastery, located in front of Setoda Port, is also a great place to enjoy freshly roasted coffee while appreciating the island’s long history as one of Japan’s major salt producers. While it now specialises in the production of “regenerative organic coffee” to tackle the impacts of traditional farming practices on global warming, the roastery is situated in a renovated 140-year-old salt storehouse which is open for visitors.
Experience eco-tourism in Ehime Prefecture’s Kamijima Town
Kamijima Town in Ehime Prefecture is spread across 25 small islands in the Seto Inland Sea which makes it the ideal destination to enjoy an abundance of adventurous activities in a scenic natural environment. With around 3,000 residents, Yuge Island is home to almost half of Kamijima’s population and offers a diverse range of eco-friendly activities including sea kayaking, yacht sailing, camping, and cycling, as well as swimming from the white sandy beach on the east side of the island.
Other highlights of Kamijima include Soubeegama pottery studio which offers guests experiences in natural ceramic production methods right in front of the ocean. Meanwhile, you can appreciate the tranquillity of Yuge Island’s natural environment with a stay at the Yuge no Yado Inn which is a charming old-fashioned style guesthouse set in a renovated 100-year-old house, only a 5-minute walk to the sea.
Visitors can explore the best of the Setouchi Region by choosing from one of 23 ‘Setouchi Journeys’, where curated routes take travellers on three to five-night journeys across the region. Find out more about the different routes and itineraries here.
For itineraries that showcase the areas and experiences mentioned in this story, see Samurai Castles, Gardens, Townscapes and Culture in Eastern Setouchi and A Four-Day Tour of Setouchi’s Art Islands, Dogo Onsen and the Shimanami Kaido.
