While we haven’t explored much of Japan’s Chūgoku region (中国地方) region before, this trip made up for that. We started with a few days based in Hiroshima (広島), using it to make day trips to Miyajima Island (宮島) and Iwakuni (岩国). We’ll then head on to Iwami Ginzan and Hagi.

For obvious reasons, Hiroshima is a modern city. Six rivers run through the city dividing the city into multiple delta islands. Tree-lined, car-free paths run along the water, giving it a relaxed and livable feel. An hour ride by train from Hiroshima is the historic island of Miyajima, a very sacred place for the Japanese Shinto religion, Even now cemeteries and burials are forbidden on the island. A short bullet train ride bring you to Iwakuni is a historic castle town famed for its iconic 17th-century, five-arched wooden bridge. The ruling samurai class lived on one side of the bridge and the merchant class on the other side.