The West Japan region is known to have many unique and attractive spots everywhere. It is an additional appeal to visitors that they can access various places within the area by rail and/or ferry. Here are recommended spots as well as activities in West Japan, which can be accessed more conveniently and cheaply with a JR-WEST RAIL PASS! For details about ticket deals and passes, access:
The area is famously known as the “Fruit Kingdom” for its abundant fruit production nurtured by the gentle climate warmed by the Seto Inland Sea.
Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter
Kurashiki is a town between Osaka and Hiroshima. In the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, traditional white walled buildings, early-modern Western style architecture, and willow trees lining the riverside, blend Japanese and Western styles together into a sight of incomparable beauty. Historic buildings here have been renovated to preserve their structural essence while being reborn as unique interior shops, cafes, and galleries. From renting a kimono to riding a rickshaw, there are so many ways to fully enjoy the atmosphere of traditional Japan.
・Kurashiki Town Coupon
Coupons good for local sweets in the Bikan Historical Quarter, or to enter art galleries and museums. Let’s make the most of your trip!
Built around 1597, with its distinct painted black walls, the castle earned the moniker “Crow Castle.” Reopened in November 2022, the ancient structure has now become a place to experience and learn history through hands-on exhibits. All who step inside these walls are sure to be captivated by the power of the fortress.
Adult (15 years old and above) 400 yen
Access
JR Okayama Sta. → 5 min by tram → Shiroshita stop → 10 min walk
Explore the works of Yumeji Takehisa, a painter, poet and designer born in Okayama, who represents the “Taisho Roman” (the modern European art style Romanticism blended with the traditional Japanese culture in the early 20th century). Boasting one of the best collections of his works, over 100 paintings are permanently exhibited. Close to Okayama Korakuen Garden, black “oniwaban” (ninja) cat Kuronosuke and café/shop “art café Yumeji” are also popular.
Adult (18 years old and above) 800 yen
Access
JR Okayama Sta. → 5 min by tram → Shiroshita stop → 15 min walk
Business hours
9:00-17:00 (Admission until 16:30)
Regular holiday
Monday (If Monday is a national/substitute holiday, the museum will close the following day), Dec. 28-Jan. 1
A shopping complex at JR Okayama Station. From Okayama’s favorite souvenirs to sweets and gourmet foods, the wide range of shops makes this an ideal place to stop by on your trip!
Founded in Okayama, this popular Japanese sweets shop is now expanding overseas. Kitchoan preserves traditional production methods to create beautiful Japanese sweets for each of the country’s four seasons. The shop’s standout product “Natural Series” are confections that illustrate the appearance, shape and flavor of the seasonal fruits including muscat and peach, just as they are.
The Jeans Museum & Village in Kojima, the home of jeans Japanese jeans, is a facility full of the charm of jeans. You can “learn”, “buy” and “experience” jeans, and purchase a wide range of items including standard jeans, T-shirts, and clearance products!
The “Have Fun in Okayama” Pass allows you to tour sightseeing facilities in Okayama City and Kurashiki City at a reasonable price. Choose whatever three sightseeing spots catch your eye.
The Atomic Bomb Dome, Hiroshima Castle, and even Mount. Misen in Miyajima are visible on clear days from the 50-m high rooftop observatory called Hiroshima Hills. Since visitors may re-enter through the day, you can enjoy the subtly shifting view from day to night. Murals by Hiroshima artists grace the walls near cafes serving local specialties, and souvenir shops. Visitors can also add their own folded origami crane to the top of the Orizuru Wall (Wall of Origami Cranes).
Popular restaurants serving Hiroshima’s local dish, okonomiyaki, come together here. Choose from a wide range of dishes, whether traditional Hiroshima style or modern variations. With 12 shops lined up on one floor, take a look around to find your favorite.
Among the vast array of attractive Hiroshima foods, goods, traditional crafts and other local products here, you may stumble upon something surprising at this plaza. Check it out at the beginning or end of your Hiroshima adventure.
Access
Among the vast array of attractive Hiroshima foods, goods, traditional crafts and other local products here, you may stumble upon something surprising at this plaza. Check it out at the beginning or end of your Hiroshima adventure.
The Hiroshima City shared bicycle system, “Peacecle,” has roughly 140 ports in the city, including around Hiroshima Station and Orizuru Tower, so it’s easy to hop on an electric bicycle. A one-day pass provides great flexibility to move around the city to enjoy sightseeing at your own pace.
One-day pass: 1,527 yen (purchased at the Peacecle counter)
Setouchi Sea Line makes your sightseeing trip around Hiroshima Bay more convenient. Its One-Day Free Pass offers unlimited rides on high-speed boats and ferries on all five routes, including from Hiroshima Port to Miyajima and Hiroshima Port to Etajima, for one day!
The port town of Tomonoura has long prospered as a hub of domestic and international trade with an atmosphere symbolic of the Seto Inland Sea. The history and culture of the 17th to 19th centuries is still alive here, symbolized by the stone lighthouse Joyato. The beauty of the townscape has made it a favorite filming location for numerous movies, and as the setting for anime works. In this historic area, Taichoro, once used as a reception hall, offers a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea once praised as the best in Japan. Elsewhere, just five minutes by ferry from Tomonoura ferry port, Sensuijima is an uninhabited island beloved for its mysterious natural scenery.
Hofu Tenmangu Shrine is said to be the first of countless Tenmangu Shrines throughout Japan that enshrine the god of learning. There is also a tea room, Hoshoan, where you can enjoy a cup of matcha green tea with Japanese sweets gazing out upon the seasonal scenery.
Tea room Hoshoan: 500 yen (includes matcha green tea and sweets; admission to the garden is free);
History Museum: Adult 500 yen
Access
JR Hofu Sta. → 15 min walk
Business hours
6:00-20:00 (Tea room Hoshoan 9:30-16:00, History Museum 9:00-16:30）
After ruling the region as feudal lords for centuries from the 17th century, the Mohri Family created this Japanese garden in the modern era. Bringing together the best horticultural techniques of the age, the garden is considered a masterpiece of exquisite harmony between natural and man-made beauty. Part of the estate is called the Mohri Museum, where works of art handed down by generations of the Mohri Family are on display.
Adult 400 yen (Garden only. Mohri Museum requires separate admission.)
・Hofu admission pass “Shicchoru Ca”
This pass presents great value with admission to four historic sites included, such as Hofu Tenmangu Shrine (Tea Room Hoshoan or Historical Museum) and Mohri Garden.
Access
JR Hofu Sta. → 6 min by bus → Mohri Hontei Iriguchi stop
A landmark of the Kanmon Strait that runs between the islands of Honshu and Kyushu. The 30th floor observatory (143 m high) in the 153-m-tall tower holds the world’s first spherical glass wall, providing the chance to enjoy a truly 360-degree panoramic view of the Kanmon Strait and the Seto Inland Sea.
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