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| Western
Honshu |
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The main attractions of Western Honshu
can be found along the coasts, particularly the Inland Sea
Coast (Sanyo) and the Japan Sea
Coast (Sanin). The shiny white walls of
Himeji Castle dominate the city of Himeji. Also
known as the ‘White Heron Castle’,
it is the best-preserved and most stunning castle in Japan.
The attractive city of Okayama is famous for its
black castle and the Korakuen Stroll Garden,
thought to be 1 of the 3 most attractive in the country. Nearby
is the pottery town of Bizen and
beautifully preserved Kurashiki with its historic
merchants’ quarter, now housing many museums and craft galleries.
Further west, Hiroshima hit by the world’s
1st atomic bomb during World War II but has risen from the ashes
to become a thriving cosmopolitan city. The Peace
Memorial Park and Museum
commemorate the bombing. Nearby is the striking island of Miyajima,
its popular red Shinto torii gateway appears to
float on the sea at high tide. Itsukushima Shrine,
the cable car up the central mountain for panoramic views and the
tame deer are all popular attractions.
Iwakuni is famous for its 5-arched bridge while Hagi,
situated on the western Japan Sea Coast, is well known for its pottery
and will fascinate history buffs. The sand dunes of Tottori,
ancient Izumo Taisha Shrine and the well-known
coastal panorama of Amanohashidate are the most
famous sites along this northern coastline. |
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