Full of Spectacles! Let’s go to WEST JAPAN! Vol.2

Magazine

ReleaseSeptember 10, 2019

index

The West Japan region is home to various charms of Japan from fashionable town perfect for shopping to scenic spots of the sea and mountains. Places in the region are easily accessible by railways from Kansai International Airport, a gateway to West Japan. Many discount passes are also available.
Why don’t you travel to West Japan and find your own favorite,
such as unique natural scenery, history, culture, food, etc.?

Hokuriku Area

The Hokuriku Ares is filled with places where the entire family from old to young can experience attractive aspects of Japan!

We recommended!
Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass (7-day Unlimited ride）
Kansai-Hokuriku Area Pass：大人15270円
Purchasing in Japan: 16,290 yen
For more details
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/kansai_hokuriku/

【Ishikawa Pref.】

Wagashi Making Workshop in Kanazawa

写真提供：金沢市

With old streetscapes, Kanazawa is sometimes referred to as “Little Kyoto.” As chanoyu (Japanese tea ceremony) has long been active in the area, many famous wagashi (Japanese confections) were created and handed down to today. Ishikawa Local Products Center offers wagashi making workshops, where you can easily make wagashi under the guidance of a professional.

Varies depending on the date, Open 365 days (Closed every Tuesday from Dec. to Feb.)
1,500 yen (500 yen shopping coupon included)
JR Kanazawa Sta. → 20 min by Kenrokuen Shuttle Bus (get off at “Kenrokuen Shita, Kanazawa-jo” bus stop)

【Fukui Pref.】

Tojinbo Cruise

Consisting of a series of cliffs continuing for 1 km that were created by erosion of raging waters of the Japan Sea, Tojinbo is a geologically unique place. A cruise tour, which takes about 30 minutes, is recommended to see the magnificent rocky cliff from the ocean.

Cruise: 9:00–16:00 *9:00–15:30 from Nov. to Mar.
Cruise not offered on Dec. 29–Jan. 31
Cruise: 1,400 yen
JR Fukui Sta. → 50 min (Echizen Railway) → Mikuni Sta. →15 min by bus

Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

This museum is located in Fukui Prefecture, where many fossils of dinosaurs have been unearthed. Various exhibitions, including a dynamic exhibition of skeletons of dinosaurs and a diorama display with real-sized dinosaur models, which really look alive, make you feel like you were back to time immemorial with the dinosaurs.

9:00-17:00 (admission until 30 min before closing),
Closed on 2nd and 4th Wednesdays (or the following day if it falls on a holiday), New year holidays
Permanent Exhibition 720 yen (until Sep. 30)
JR Fukui Sta. → 60 min (Echizen Railway) → Katsuyama Sta. → 15 min by bus

【Toyama Pref】

Kurobe Gorge Torokko Train

Kurobe Gorge has Unazuki Onsen, which is known as “hot spring for beautiful skin.” Would you like to get on a torokko train that runs through the V-shaped gorge, which is said to be the deepest in Japan? Surrounded by wilderness, you can get a great view, especially during autumn foliage season. When the train is running on an iron bridge, take a look down at the bottom of the gorge out through the train window and you will get a thrill by feeling as if you are in mid-air.

Closed from Dec. to mid-Apr.
Varies depending on travelling distance
JR Kurobe-Unazuki Onsen Sta. → Shin-Kurobe Sta. → 25 min (Toyama Chihou Railway) → Unazuki-Onsen Sta.

Sanyo Area

Take a ride on Shinkansen to look for photogenic scenery!

We recommended!
Osaka-Hakata ‘Setouchi Area Pass’（5-day Unlimited ride）
Purchasing outside Japan: 17,310 yen
Purchasing in Japan: 18,330 yen
For more details
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/setouchi/areapass/

【Okayama Pref.】

Okayama Korakuen

This is a large garden created by the domain lord of Okayama about 300 years ago. Colorfully ornamented with seasonal flowers, the garden offers various events, such as “Dreamy Garden,” a special night-time opening for a limited time in spring, summer and autumn, as well as illumination.

7:30–18:00 (Mar. 20–Sep. 30), 8:00–17:00 (Oct. 1–Mar. 19), Special night-time opening (autumn): until 20:30
410 yen
JR Okayama Sta. → 30 min on foot

【Hiroshima Pref.】

Itsukushima-jinja Shrine

写真提供：広島県

Itsukushima-jinja is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and famous for its huge red torii that stands in the sea. The whole Miyajima Island has been worshipped as a god since ancient times, and the current shrine buildings on the sea are said to have been built in the latter half of the 12th century. At dusk, the sunset-illuminated shrine is mysterious and a must-see.
6:30–18:00 (varies depending on the season)
300 yen
JR Hiroshima Sta. → 30 min → JR Miyajimaguchi Sta. → Miyajimaguchi Pier→ 10 min by ferry → Miyajima Ferry Terminal → 10 min on foot

【Yamaguchi Pref.】

Motonosumi-jinja Shrine

This shrine is one of the “Japan’s 31 most beautiful places” that were chosen and announced by CNN, an American television news channel. A total of 123 torii gates are lined from the sheer beach up along the slope.
From sunrise to sunset (no entrance allowed during night)
JR Asa Sta.→60 min →JR Nagatoshi Sta. → 10 min → JR Nagato-Furuichi Sta. → 20 min by taxi

Highly-recommended “Yamaguchi Zekkei Mankitsu Bus” tour
A tour bus picks you up at Shin-Yamaguchi Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, takes you to Motonosumi-jinja Shrine as well as Tsunoshima, which is famous for the great view with the bridge stretching over the ocean, and drops you off back at Shin-Yamaguchi Station.

*This tour is offered only on Sat, Sun, and holidays until Mar. 31, 2020.
*Application required 5 days before the tour （for details, please visit:http://www.ishin-bus.jp/）

San’in Area

The San’in area has lots of attractive things and places where you can enjoy “beauty” and art.

We recommended!
Sanyo-San’in Area Pass（7-day Unlimited ride）
Purchasing outside Japan: 19,400 yen
Purchasing in Japan: 20,400 yen
For more details
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/pass/sanyo_sanin/

【Tottori Pref.】

Tottori Sand Dunes

This is one of the largest coastal sand dune areas in Japan, with 16 km east to west, 2.4 km north to south. The huge sand hill standing about 47 meters high is worth seeing, and you can enjoy various activities in the dunes.

JR Tottori Sta. → about 20 min by bus

The Sand Museum

Located near Tottori Sand Dunes, this is the first sand-themed museum in the world. Each one of the sand statues created based on the theme of “travel around the world in sand” is a fragile and beautiful art work of sand.

9:00-18:00 (Open until 20:00 on Saturdays. Entrance until 30 min before closing), Open 365 days (closed from January to April)
600 yen
JR Tottori Sta. → 20 min by bus

Mizuki Shigeru Road
Sakaiminato, the birthplace of Shigeru Mizuki, a famous manga artist who created “GeGeGe no Kitaro,” features “Mizuki Shigeru Road,” where you can find statues of the yokai monsters and fantasy creatures created by him here and there in various forms. Saturated with the world of yokai, the town has lots of fun contrivances that can be enjoyed even at night.

JR Yonago Sta. → 45 min → JR Sakaiminato Sta.

©GOSHO AOYAMA/SHOGAKUKAN

Located at the hometown of Gosho Aoyama, the creator of the popular manga series “Detective Conan,” this facility teaches you about his background as well as how he produced his work and why people are attracted by his work, in a “mystery-solving” style.

9:30–17:30 (Admission until 30 min before closing)
700 yen JR Yonago Sta. → 1 hr → JR Yura Sta. (Conan Sta.) → 20 min on foot or 5 min by taxi

【Shimane Pref.】

Adachi Museum of Art

The Dry Landscape Garden

This art museum is known not only for its art collection, including Japanese-style paintings, but also for its beautiful Japanese garden. The garden, especially when seen from inside the museum through a window, is just like the sheet of a drawing, with the window frame serving as the picture frame.

9:00-17:30 (until 17:00 from October to March), Open 365 days (New Hall has closed days)
2,300 yen
JR Yonago Sta.→ 10 min → JR Yasugi Sta. → 20 min by free shuttle bus

Izumo Taisha Shrine

Izumo Taisha Shrine is one of the biggest shrines in Japan, said to be a place where all the gods from all over Japan get together once a year for a meeting. The main building is designated a National Treasure. Don’t forget to see how overwhelmingly huge and beautiful the O-shimenawa (a special huge rope made with rice straw, used for spiritual purification) is!

6:00–20:00
JR Okayama Sta. → 3 hr → JR Izumoshi Sta. → 25 min by bus

→Full of Spectacles! Let’s go to WEST JAPAN! Vol.1

For more details about discount passes and the online reservation service.
https://www.westjr.co.jp/global/en/ticket/

Hello Kitty Shinkansen
Shinkansen service between Shin-Osaka and Hakata.
You can board the train with JR-WEST RAIL PASS!
https://www.jr-hellokittyshinkansen.jp/

*The information herein is as of September 2019.