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Located in west central Honshu,
the Kinki region is Japan's second most important in terms of industry.
The ancient capital of Kyoto is in Kinki. So, too, are the cities of
Osaka and Kobe (one of Japan's most important ports), which form the
center of commerce for western Japan. Rice and citrus-fruit production,
lumbering, and fishing are allimportant to the region's economy.
Kyoto, the capital of Japan and the residence of emperors from 794 to
1868, is famous for its temples, shrines, and other historic sites, and
is a virtual storehouse of officially designated National Treasures and
Important Cultural Properties. As a noted tourist resort, Kyoto attracts
millions of tourists every year, not only from around Japan but also
from foreign countries.
Osaka is the financial center of western Japan. It is an industrial
center as well, especially for chemicals, machinery, steel, and metal.
Osaka is also important because it is a base connecting Tokyo and Kyushu
by Shinkansen (bullet train). Both the Tokaido Shinkansen and the Sanyo
Shinkansen depart from and arrive at Shin-Osaka station (with the
exception of some trains going from Tokyo through to Hakata, Kyushu or
Hiroshima).
Offering yet another of the 3 most beautiful views of Japan,
Amanohashidate is a sandbar in northeastern Kyoto Prefecture. It is
noted for the beauty of its more than 6,000 gnarled pine trees.
The term Kansai refers to an area centering roughly on the cities of
Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. While Kinki has well-defined borders and is an
official geographical designation, Kansai is used in a cultural and
historic context, and in contradistinction to Kanto. People living in
this region are said to speak with a Kansai accent, for example.
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Tottori |
Beautiful contrast between the long coastline and mountainous area
Japan's largest sand dunes, Tottori-sakyu
Tottori Prefecture is situated in the northeastern part of the Chugoku
region(the southwestern end of Japan's main island). This prefecture
abounds with scenery that change expression from season to season,
formed by a long coastline that stretches from east to west, narrow
flatlands, and mountainous area represented by Mt. Daisen.
Seasons of fresh greenery in spring and tinted autumnal leaves in autumn
are breathtakingly beautiful. You can enjoy this scenery from the
windows of the train that runs on the San-in Honsen Line along the
coastline.
Many ancient ruins from around 400 BC to 300 AD have been found mainly
in the flatlands, such as Umano-yama Tombs, telling us of a long history
of exchanges Tottori had with the Korean Peninsula and China.
Noted scenic spots are Tottori-sakyu Sand Dunes, Japan's largest (about
16 kilometers long and about 2.4 kilometers from north to south); sand
dunes formed by the deposit of volcanic ash on the Sendai-gawa river
blown roughly from the Sea of Japan; Hakuto Coast, the site of Japanese
myths about the "White Rabbit of Inaba"; and Daisen-Oki National Park.
Also of note are castle towns like Tottori and Kurayoshi. Here, too, is
Misasa-onsen Hot Spring historically known as one of the leading spas in
this region for its high radium content. Skiing at Mt. Daisen in winter
is another feature of Tottori. Tottori hosts visitors in all seasons.
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Shimane |
Narrow plains and a long coastline
Full of must-see spots including national parks and cultural monuments
Shimane is situated on the western tip of Honshu Island (the main island
of Japan), and faces the Korean Peninsula over the Sea of Japan. Trade
with the continent and China thrived in olden times, and this region was
once the leading edge of culture.
The Chugoku Mountain Range extends from east to west, and rivers flow
down northwards from the mountains, carving out cool, pleasant valleys
before running into the sea. The long coastline changes rhythmically, as
cliffs and boulders give the coastline a rugged appearance, before
giving way to gentle sand dunes. First-time visitors get a strange
feeling of nostalgia from the atmosphere of little fishing villages by
the inlets and small towns nestled in the valleys.
Shimane is full of must-see places, starting with the Daisen-Oki
National Park that contains the Oki Islands, Shimane-hanto Peninsula and
Mt. Sanbe-san, Hiba-Do-go Taishaku Quasi-National Park and West-Chugoku
Mountain Quasi-National Park. Other essential sights are cultural
monuments such as the Izumo-Taisha Grand Shrine, Matsue, named after the
beautiful city Matsue-fu (Songjiang) by a district near Lake Taihu in
China, which it is said to resemble, and the old castle town of Tsuwano
reminiscent of olden times.
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Okayama |
Little rainfall and mild climate
Scenic views of the islands in the Seto Inland Sea and the Seto-ohashi
Bridge
Okayama is situated in the southeastern Chugoku region (the southwest
end of Japan's main island) and faces the Seto Inland Sea. The mild
climate and little rainfall make Okayama ideal for grapes, peaches and
other fruit plantations. The Chugoku Mountain Range extends in the
north, the Kibi Heights spreads on the south of the mountains beyond the
Tsuyama Basin, and the Okayama Plain faces the Seto Inland Sea in the
south.
Okayama is endowed with abundant natural beauties, including the islands
in the Seto Inland Sea, the Seto-ohashi Bridge that spans Honshu (the
main island of Japan) and Shikoku Island, Mt. Washu-zan that overlooks
them, and the Hiruzen Heights in the Daisen-Oki National Park.
Other must-sees are Okayama Castle noted for its unique black exterior,
the Kibitsu-jinja Shrine that has a national treasure sanctuary and
worship hall as well as the important cultural property Kita-zuishin-mon
Gate, and many other historic sites and historical structures.
The Koraku-en Garden, one of the three major gardens in Japan, offers a
beautiful sight of its garden and the view of the Okayama Castle. There
is also Kurashiki Tivoli Park, created to resemble the world's first
theme park, the Tivoli Park in Denmark.
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Yamaguchi |
Various islands on the Seto Inland Sea
Little Kyoto of the San-in region that still embraces storehouses with
walls covered with square tiles jointed with raised plaster
Yamaguchi is situated on the westernmost tip of the Japanese main
island. Because of its geographical location and ocean current, it has
long had cultural exchanges with the Korean Peninsula.
Boyo Islands that string out between Yamaguchi and Ehime belong to
Seto-Naikai National Park. Various islands on the moderate inland sea
and coast of various curves, white sand, and green pine trees are
mingled among terraced fields and houses creating attractive scenery.
Hagi that overlooks the Japan Sea is a castle town established in the
early 17th century and also known as "Little Kyoto" of the San-in region
(The Japan Sea Coast), and the city still embraces ancient paths and
storehouses with namako, walls covered with square tiles joined with
raised plaster.
Yamaguchi City is situated in the center of the prefecture. Since it
imitated Kyoto, the then capital of Japan in the mid-14th century, it
was called "Kyoto of the West" and prospered. Every summer, the
Yamaguchi Gion-matsuri Festival that echoes Kyoto's Gion-matsuri
Festival is held.
Shimonoseki that is situated on the westernmost tip of the prefecture
faces Kyushu's Moji Port with the Kanmon Strait in between, and is
connected by the 780-meter long Kanmon Tunnel.
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