Setouchi and San’in

Western Setouchi and San’in Tour

enquire now

6

days

Â¥328,000

starting price

6

People max.

Hiroshima

starting place

Overview
Pricing
Itinerary
Highlights
Inclusion
Gallery

Overview

This tour visits the major sights of Yamaguchi, Shimane, and Hiroshima prefectures, focusing on the small historic cities of each region. The samurai of this area were instrumental in overthrowing feudalism in Japan, and their heritage can still be felt today. You travel in a private vehicle with a guide, staying in characterful local accommodation. You experience the different atmosphere and food of the Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea regions, and the mountainous region that lies between them.

Who is this tour for?

This tour is for people who want to experience the little-known but beautiful historic towns of western Japan.

Price

From

  • Â¥498,000 / person with 2
  • Â¥398,000 / person with 3
  • Â¥358,000 / person with 4
  • Â¥328,000 / person with 5
enquire now

Itinerary

  • You meet your guide and driver at Hiroshima Station, and drive to Sandankyō Gorge, with its stunning waterfalls, caves, and hollows along the valley floor. Then you drive to Tsuwano in Shimane Prefecture, a beautiful traditional castle town overlooked by the dramatic ruins of its castle. Tonomachi Dōri recalls the town life of the samurai. You spend the night in Tsuwano. Dinner (included) is at your accommodation.

    Included: Dinner

  • After breakfast, you leave your hotel and drive to Hagi in Yamaguchi Prefecture, a castle town whose young men played a decisive role in overthrowing the Shogunate. Shōin Shrine and its museum honouring Yoshida Shōin tell the story of one brave youth who gave his life to free Japan from feudalism. You stay in Hagi. Dinner (included) is at your accommodation. 

    Included: Breakfast, Dinner

  • After breakfast, you leave your hotel and drive to Nagato where you take a boat to visit Ōmi Island in Hagi Geopark with its dramatic rock formations and coastal caves. Then you head to the nostalgic spa town of Nagato Yumoto Onsen where you stay. Dinner (included) is at your accommodation.

    Included: Breakfast, Dinner

  • After breakfast, you leave your hotel and drive up to Akiyoshidai, an extensive karst area, and explore this limestone area. Then you head underground to the Akiyoshi caves, an integral part of the karst. Your next stop is Yamaguchi city where you visit the Zen temple Rurikō-ji with its impressive pagoda reflected in a large pond, and Xavier Memorial Church, built in commemoration of the 400th anniversary of St. Francis Xavier visiting Yamaguchi. Then you drive to Yanai where you stay. Dinner (included) is at your accommodation.

    Included: Breakfast, Dinner

  • After breakfast, you leave your hotel and drive to Yanai, a traditional town with Edo period buildings. Here you visit the Sakawa soy sauce brewery and learn about the fermentation process. Then you drive to Iwakuni and stroll over the beautiful Kintai Bridge below Iwakuni Castle. From here you head into Hiroshima Prefecture and take the ferry to the island of Miyajima where you visit Itsukushima Shrine with its iconic red torii gate in the sea. You drive to Hiroshima city, where you stay. This is where you say goodbye to your driver. Dinner (not included) is at a local restaurant.  

    Included: Breakfast

  • After breakfast, you leave your hotel and take the tram to the Hiroshima Peace Park and Atom Bomb Dome. The tour ends at Hiroshima Station.

    Included: Breakfast

Highlights

Sandankyō Gorge

Sandankyō Gorge

Sandankyō is a 16 km long gorge along the Shibaki River in Akiōta, Hiroshima, with cliffs and cascading waterfalls reminiscent of Chinese landscape paintings.

Tsuwano

Tsuwano

Tsuwano is a small town in Shimane, in a valley with impressive castle ruins and well-preserved samurai district.

Hagi Castle

Hagi Castle

The ruins of Hagi Castle are located at the seashore of Hagi city on the Sea of Japan at the delta of the Abu River. The castle was built on a low mountain, Mt. Shigetsu, at the edge of the delta.

Hagi

Hagi

Despite its relatively isolated location, Hagi had a remarkable impact on Japanese history at the end of the feudal period and the early modern period.

Ōmi Island

Ōmi Island

A scenic island in the Sea of Japan with dramatic rock formations and a history of coastal whaling.

Nagato Yumoto Onsen

Nagato Yumoto Onsen

Nagata Yumoto Onsen is a hot spring resort near the Japan Sea coast with a history going back over 600 years. Today it's enjoying a little renaissance.

Akiyoshi Plateau and Caves

Akiyoshi Plateau and Caves

Akiyoshidai is a huge karst system in the middle of Yamaguchi Prefecture. The plateau consists of uplifted reef limestones formed in the Palaeozoic age.

Yamaguchi City

Yamaguchi City

Yamaguchi was the home of the powerful Ōuchi and Mōri clans who influenced national policy for centuries. The city once rivalled Kyōto for the sophistication of its culture.

Yanai

Yanai

Yanai is a traditional merchant town with an Edo-period atmosphere. It's known for its quaint goldfish lanterns and goldfish-themed festival.

Sakawa

Sakawa

This charming little town has Kōchi’s oldest brewery, buildings dating back to the Edo period, and a fine samurai residence.

Iwakuni

Iwakuni

Iwakuni still retains its atmosphere as an Edo period castle town, while its location makes it highly representative of the western Setouchi region.

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine is an ancient Shintō shrine on Miyajima with an iconic torii in the sea.

Miyajima

Miyajima

Miyajima is a beautiful sacred island near Hiroshima with an iconic torii in the sea.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park is a sprawling memorial site located in Hiroshima, Japan, dedicated to commemorating the victims of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.

Atom Bomb Dome

Atom Bomb Dome

The A-Bomb Dome is the ruin of the former Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall, built in 1915.

Included

    • Guide
    • Transport
    • Museum entry tickets
    • Meals
    • Basic insurance

Excluded

    • Travel to and from Shikoku
    • Dinner on day 5
    • Drinks
    • Comprehensive personal insurance

Related Tours

  • Gonokawa rafting smiling paddlers

    Miyoshi Rafting & Onsen

    🕒 2 Day(s)
    Have a taste of adventure paddling down the river in Miyoshi, and stay at a hot spring hotel in the mountains. Enjoy delicious food served with locally produced sake, wine, and beer.

    From ¥64,000

  • Kominka-outside

    Unique Accommodation of Shikoku

    🕒 8 Day(s)
    Discover Shikoku through its most charming stays, kominka, ryokan, and hidden gems, on a relaxed, self-paced journey blending scenic highlights, cultural visits, and warm local hospitality across all four prefectures.

    From ¥338,000

  • Minakuchi Brewery shop

    Setouchi Sake Breweries

    🕒 3 Day(s)
    Visit two very different cities on either side of the Seto Inland Sea, and explore the cultural and gastronomic heritage of the Setouchi area.

    From ¥107,000

  • Mt. Kiro observatory Kurushima Straits bridge

    Shimanami & Tobishima Cycling

    🕒 5 Day(s)
    Cycle the Shimanami and Tobishima Kaidō routes on e-bikes, guided by locals, with scenic stays, island history, and optional marine activities in Setouchi’s calm waters.

    From ¥336,000

  • Temple_70_Motoyama-ji_4

    88 Temple Pilgrimage and Mt. Kōya

    🕒 18 Day(s)
    Complete the full 88-temple Shikoku Pilgrimage efficiently by private vehicle, ending at sacred Mt. Kōya, with varied accommodations and a focus solely on temple visits across all four regions.

    From ¥663,000

  • Kumamoto-Mt.-Aso-Kusasenri-and-smoke

    Northern Kyūshū Tour

    🕒 9 Day(s)
    This experience combines cultural discovery and natural wonders, offering guided visits, volcanic scenery, hot springs, and comfortable travel through Kyūshū.

    From ¥468,000