6-Day Travel Around Kansai and Chugoku, Japan

6-Day Travel Around Kansai and Chugoku, Japan, Discover the Most Beautiful Hiroshima, Okayama and Osaka.

The Kansai region of Japan is rich in cultural and historical relics and has several famous cultural heritage cities. It is also renowned internationally for its delicious cuisine and fine wines, making it one of the most popular tourist destinations in Japan. This 6-day trip will take us to explore the Kansai and Chugoku region, visiting the three famous tourist cities of Osaka, Hiroshima and Okayama. Our first stop will be Okayama, then we will head west to Hiroshima and finally return to Osaka, the second largest city in Japan.

Even if you have traveled to Japan before, the delicious food and beautiful scenery of Kansai will offer you some new discoveries if you visit again.

Itinerary Sketch

Tour Highlights

1. Discover Okayama Castle, one of the oldest castles in Japan.

2. Step back into the Edo period in the ancient city of Kurashiki.

3. Taste fruit ice cream in the “Fruit Kingdom”.

4. Visit the "Art Museum of Bridges" in Onomishi.

5. Eat and play to your heart's content in Osaka!

Itinerary Overview

From the classical city of Okayama that has witnessed the passage of history, to Hiroshima that was reborn with vitality after the war, and then to the diverse and rich Osaka, this will be a colorful journey.

Certainly, from Kyoto to Hiroshima, there are still many places worth visiting in the entire Kansai and Chugoku region. We are very willing to customize a professional itinerary for you based on your preferences and personal choices.

Day 1   Land in Osaka, Drive to Okayama.

After clearing customs at Kansai Airport in Osaka, we officially start our journey in the Kansai region. Our first stop was Okayama, the central city of Western Japan. Located in the middle of famous tourist destinations such as Kyoto, Osaka, and Hiroshima, Okayama serves as a transportation hub to these major attractions, offering great convenience. Due to its relatively low annual rainfall and warm climate, Okayama is known as the "Land of Clear Skies". Moreover, thanks to its natural endowment, it is also regarded as the "Fruit Kingdom" of Japan.

Okayama City: Sightseeing and Dining in A Historical City.

Okayama City is located in the southern part of Okayama Prefecture and is the seat of the prefectural government. The city center features Korakuen, one of Japan's three most famous gardens, and Okayama Castle. After the Setonaikai Bridge was opened to traffic, the Okayama metropolitan area, along with the surrounding urban areas, formed the Eastern Setonaikai Economic Zone.

Okayama Korakuen is the most famous Japanese garden in the city and also serves as the natural stage for Okayama Castle. Its most distinctive feature is the extensive use of grass, which is not common in Japanese gardens, reflecting the dry and bright climate and local customs of the Setonaikai region. It has been awarded the highest three-star rating by the renowned French travel guide, the Michelin Green Guide. Along with Mito Kairakuen and Kanazawa Kenrokuen, it is one of Japan's three major gardens and a must-visit destination.

Okayama Castle, one of the oldest castles in Japan, is a flatland castle with a terraced moat. It was built during the Shōhei period (1346 - 1369). The imposing and magnificent multi-story keep was constructed in 1597. The keep's wall panels are black, thus it is also known as the "Black Castle". The most attractive activities here are the free kimono experience and the distinctive Bizen ware experience.

Day 2   Kurashiki City: A Perfect Blend of History and Modernity.

Rows of traditional Japanese white-walled storehouses and residences stand side by side, seamlessly integrating history with modern life. The serene and charming scenery leaves a lasting impression. Stroll through the streets in a kimono, savor Japanese cuisine, and immerse yourself in Japanese culture in Kurashiki City.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historic Quarter has well-preserved residences and shops with white walls and black tiles from that time and has been designated as an important traditional building group of the country. The once prosperous scene remains as it was. Strolling through the street is like going back to the Edo period. The district preserves the streetscape from the Edo period to the Meiji and Taisho periods after the foundation of the country. The tourist information center is also converted from an old building, retaining the traditional white-walled Japanese architecture and the ancient Western-style buildings.

A boat trip on the Kurashiki River is a must-do when visiting the city. The beautiful willows along both banks never cease to amaze. The boatmen are dressed in traditional costumes, making you feel as if you are in a painting. While taking the boat ride, you will also experience the small boats used by the transportation workers and materials on the river in the past. There is a height difference of about 2 meters between the people on the boat and those walking on the road. The view from this perspective is exactly the same as the street scenes seen by the people in ancient times. From the waterway to the perspective, it is a complete restoration of the past, a 100% time travel experience. Don't miss the charm of the Japanese water town.

The Ohara Museum of Art, established in 1930, is the first private museum in Japan to focus on Western art. It houses masterpieces from the Barbizon School, Impressionism and modern Western art, including El Greco's "Annunciation" and Monet's "Water Lilies". In addition, it also has significant works in the history of modern Japanese art after the Meiji period, such as Kishida Ryusei's "Dance of the Virgin". Works by modern masters of craftsmanship and ancient Chinese, Egyptian and Eastern art also attract many art lovers to visit.

Coming to Okayama, the pioneer of fruit cultivation in Japan and known as the "Fruit Kingdom", you will find not only a variety of fresh fruits but also a wide range of fruit ice creams made from them. In the Bikan Area, there are several coffee shops transformed from ancient residences, where you can enjoy these unique parfait sundaes made with local seasonal fruits. The sweetness is beyond imagination. In this sunny country, savoring the fruit ice cream that has absorbed the essence of the sun is the best reward for a day of strolling through the city.

Day 3  Onomishi: A Filming Location for A Cycling Movie.

Onnomichi is sandwiched between the beautiful and steep mountains and the vast Setonaikai Sea, with very little flat land. It is known as the "Town of Slopes". The unique landscape and the ancient atmosphere of the old streets are loved by many people, and as a result, many literary works, films, TV dramas and animations have been created with Onomichi as the background. The entire town is not large and is very suitable for strolling along the streets. Walking through these scenes that have appeared in various works is a special kind of pleasure.

Looking up at the clear sky, the cable car that runs above the city sparkles in the sunlight, tempting tourists to give it a try. The cable car that connects the city blocks of Onomichi and the representative scenic spot of Onomichi, Senkoji Park, takes about 3 minutes for the entire journey and can accommodate 30 people each time. From a high altitude, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Senkoji Temple, take in the charming cityscape of Onomichi and the multi-island beauty of the Setonaikai Inland Sea, and on a clear day, you can even see the mountains of Shikoku in the distance. In just three minutes, there is endless fun.

From the main hall of Senkoji Temple, which is built on the mountainside, you can have a panoramic view of Onomichi's cityscape and the islands in the Setonaikai. Both the main hall and the bell tower, which is in the style of Ryugujo, are symbols of Onomichi, and the Yuryama and Miezuwa rocks here are definitely worth a stop to admire.

Surrounding the Senkoji Temple is the Senkoji Park. The night view from the observation deck on the mountain top has been selected as one of the top 100 night views in Japan. The changing seasons in the park present a unique beauty, extremely romantic, making it a popular dating spot in the Kansai region.

Shimanami Kaido, the Setonaikai Bridge Route, stretching approximately 70 kilometers from Onomichi City in Hiroshima Prefecture to Imabari City in Ehime Prefecture, is a series of bridges connecting six islands. It is thus known as the "Art Museum of Bridges". The most distinctive feature of this sea route is that it can be traversed on foot or by bicycle, and it has been selected by CNN as one of the "World's 7 Classic Cycling Routes".

Day 4  Hiroshima: A Water City, Reborn Full of Vitality.

From Onomichi come to Hiroshima City, the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture. It is a designated city by the Japanese government and one of the top ten cities in Japan. Hiroshima is known as the "Water City" because six beautiful rivers flow through the city.

The famous scenic spot, Shukkeien, located in the city center, was a villa garden built for Asano Nagaakira, the lord of Hiroshima city, during the Edo period. It is popular for its style of a strolling garden of the feudal lords of that time. Built in 1620, Shukkeien was modeled after the West Lake in China and features miniature landscapes of many famous scenic spots, allowing visitors to catch a glimpse of China's charm as it was 400 years ago.

The interior of Hiroshima Castle is a museum dedicated to the history of Hiroshima and the culture of samurai families. Through photos and video tapes, it briefly describes the history of Hiroshima from ancient times to the construction of Hiroshima Castle and up to the Meiji era. In addition to the exhibition introducing Hiroshima's culture, there are also models of samurai in the same proportion as real people and merchant houses. The third and fourth floors are respectively the exhibition rooms of swords and special theme exhibition rooms, and the fifth floor is the observation deck.

Besides exhibiting historical artworks and handicrafts, Hiroshima Castle is also a famous cherry blossom viewing spot, attracting many cherry blossom viewers every spring.

Hiroshima is the first city in the world to be bombed by a nuclear weapon, the atomic bomb. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park, also known as the Atomic Bomb Explosion Dome, was bombed by the US military with an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. Almost all the buildings near the explosion center were flattened, but only this dome remained standing and became the only building left in the center of the atomic bomb explosion in Hiroshima. Through the efforts of many people, this site has been well preserved and has remained in the state it was in after the atomic bomb attack.

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is not only a symbol of the most destructive force ever created by mankind in history, but also embodies the aspiration of people all over the world for peace and the ultimate complete elimination of nuclear weapons, expressing the common yearning of all humanity for peace.

Hiroshima's "Hiroshima-yaki" is different from Osaka-yaki. It is made by adding cabbage, pork slices, tempura scraps, fried noodles, fried eggs and special sauce on a thin pancake. It is hearty and delicious. It is the soul food of the people of Hiroshima and is highly favored.

Day 5  Osaka: An Ocean of Shopping, Delicious Food and Joy.

Osaka is the second largest city in Japan, while preserving its rich historical relics, it is also the economic center of Japan, presenting the most advanced modern aspect. When you first arrive in Osaka, you can immediately sense its prosperity and vitality.

If you are fond of aquariums, you mustn't miss the Osaka Aquarium Kaiyukan. Here you can see the huge whale sharks swimming in the "Pacific Ocean" tank. For lunch, you can go to the nearby restaurant in Osaka to enjoy local cuisine.

The Tempozan Ferris Wheel is located in the Port Village of Tempozan Mountain, beside the aquarium. Standing at a height of 112.5 meters, this large-scale Ferris Wheel has 60 observation windows and is a highly remarkable entertainment facility. It takes 15 minutes for it to complete one rotation. From the high altitude, one can enjoy a unique perspective of the city.

Since 1970, the Amerika-mura has become a gathering place for young people in Osaka. Various second-hand clothing stores, grocery shops, cafes, record stores, and art galleries are all present here. Every weekend, flea markets and various performances are often held here. It is a place full of youthful vitality and individuality. When walking on the streets, one can often see Osaka girls wearing complete cosplay maid outfits, which has become a beautiful sight in the local area.

Shinsaibashi, as the largest shopping area in Osaka, is bustling from morning till night. It developed around the Shinsaibashi Shopping Street with arcades as its core. Here, there are various large department stores, century-old shops, and various small stores catering to the common people. The cobblestone-paved sidewalks, British-style street lamps and rows of brick-built buildings in street have a high-class style and are called the European Village.

Dotonbori has always been one of the most popular places in Osaka and is also the birthplace of the so-called "Eat yourself full" food culture. There are numerous restaurants of all sizes along the riverbank, and huge billboards attract people who come to taste the delicacies. In Dotonbori, there is a quiet back street, known as "Hozenji Temple Alley", which is frequented by many famous people in Osaka.

Osaka is known as the kitchen of Japan, and Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori can be regarded as the true back kitchen of Osaka. In Shinsaibashi and Dōtonbori, you can enjoy snacks from all over Japan. The saying "Eat yourself full in Osaka" is no empty talk.

Day 6  End the journey and leave Osaka.

Today this trip to Japan is completed, say Sayonara to Japan!

Your private driver will take you to the airport on time depending on your scheduled flight.