Love in Kansai, Chugoku and Shikoku (7 days Tour Itinerary without Car)

For the first timers to Japan, most of the peoples first priority to visit major cities like Tokyo or Osaka, but if you are a repeat visitor, it is recommended to visit Kansai, Chugoku and Shikoku region. 

It's very easy to travel between Kansai region and Tokyo by shinkansen (Bullet Train) or by a highway bus. In this article, I will share our 7 days tour itinerary without car, starting our journey from Tokyo. At a glance, we covered the following places.

1. Day#1: Love in Kansai (Lake Biwa, Shiga, Kansai)
2. Day#2: Love in Kansai (Kobe city area including Kobe Port/ Meriken Park/ Kobe Harborland)
3. Day#3: Love in Kansai and Chugoku (Himeji Castle, Kansai/ Tottori Sand Dunes, Chugoku)
4. Day#4: Love in Shikoku (Ritsurin Park/ Naoshima in Kagawa Prefecture)
5. Day#5: Love in Chugoku (Hiroshima and Miyajima)
6. Day#6: Love in Shikoku (Angel Road/ Shodoshima)
7. Day#7: Love in Chugoku (Kurashiki Bikan/ Okayama University/ Okayama Castle)

Day#1: Love in Kansai (Shiga)
 

On the first day, we traveled to Kyoto from Tokyo by highway night bus at the end of April, 2021 (Golden week holidays). We reserved our bus tickets from Bus Hikaku Nabi (バス比較なび) (Cost: 2800 yen, one way). We reached Kyoto in the early morning and took our breakfast in the convenient store. Then, we went to Otsu Port Marina by train from Kyoto Station to Biwako-Hamaotsu Station to spend some times in the largest freshwater lake in Japan called Lake Biwa. Then, we took Lake Biwa's most famous sightseeing cruise "Michigan" (Cost: 2800 yen, Otsu Port to Otsu Port, 80 minutes cruise) and enjoyed the spectacular scenery of Lake Biwa. 

 

Michigan Cruise

You can also enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants or a live music performance inside the ship. 

 

The spectacular view of Lake Biwa (It was a rainy day)

 You can enjoy that live music performance in our YouTube channel Love in Japan.

 

 

After enjoying Michigan Cruise Ship, we went to Shirahige Shrine, which distinguish feature is a floating Torii Gate. Shirahige means "White Beard", this shrine blesses visitors with a long life. Most of the visitors flock to this location to enjoy dreamlike scenery of sunrise and sunset with shining lake surface. We went there by a train to Omi-Takashima Station (Kosei Line) and by a 2.6 km lakeside walk. In Omi-Takashima station, we found a big monument of Gulliver and Lilliput (Omi-Takashima Gulliver Monumnet), you may know this famous story. 

 

Omi-Takashima Gulliver Monument

The beautiful Shirahige Shrine

 

In the evening, we started our journey to Kobe as we took our hotel in Kobe by train (From Omi-Takashima to Kyoto Station and from Kyoto station to Kobe Station). We reserved our hotel (APA Hotel Kobe-Sannomiya Ekimae) near Kobe-Sannomiya. We stayed 2 nights there and enjoyed the Kobe city area and surroundings.

Day#2: Love in Kansai (Kobe)

On the second day, we enjoyed Kobe city area and surroundings. 

Kobe (神戸, Kōbe) is the capital of Hyogo Prefecture and one of Japan's ten largest cities. Located between the sea and the Rokko mountain range, Kobe is also considered one of Japan's most attractive cities.

In the early morning, we took our breakfast in the convenient store and visited Ikuta Shrine which is just beside our hotel. 'Ikuta' comes from the word 'Akuta', signifying a place full of vitality and life force. The deity here is also linked to marriage, and recent years have seen the shrine attract visitors in particular.

Ikuta Shrine, Kobe

Next, we went to Kobe Harborland (神戸ハーバーランド) by walk which is a shopping and entertainment district between JR Kobe Station and the waterfront of Kobe's port area. The district offers a large selection of shops, restaurants, cafes and other amusements, which, together with the romantic evening atmosphere, have made it a popular spot for couples and tourists alike. 

Kobe Harborland, Harbor Street

The most prominent shopping complex in Kobe Harborland is Umie which consists of three parts: Mosaic, South Mall and North Mall.

Umie, Kobe

Next, we went to Kobe Port and enjoyed the beautiful port area and a Kobe Port Tower by walk. Kobe has been an important port city for many centuries. Its port was among the first to be opened to foreign trade in the 19th century alongside the ports of Yokohama, Nagasaki, Hakodate and Niigata.

Kobe Port

Kobe Port Tower

We took our dinner at Steakland Kobe (ステーキランド 神戸) and tried Kobe Beef.

Steakland Kobe (ステーキランド 神戸)

Kobe Beef is a prized Japanese delicacy and probably the most widely-known regional specialty food in Japan. Kobe Beef is probably the best known type of wagyu outside of Japan, there are many other breeds, such as Matsuzaka and Yonezawa Beef, that are equally or even more famous among Japanese gourmets.

The yummy Kobe Beef and Wagyu Beef Steak at Steakland Kobe
Dinner Course: Wagyu Beef Steak Set 180g and Kobe Beef Steak 180g

Kobe Beef is usually served as steaks. One of the best ways to enjoy Kobe Beef is at a teppanyaki restaurant, where a chef grills the meat on an iron plate in front of his guests. Prices vary on the establishment, but you can expect to pay a few thousand yen per hundred grams of beef, while a full meal at a teppanyaki restaurant typically costs between 5,000 to 30,000 yen per person. You can watch a video of Teppanyaki Restaurant in our YouTube Channel Love in Japan.

At night, we again went to Kobe Port area and enjoyed the night view of Kobe City. We walked through several streets: Sannomiya Hondori, Kobe Motomachi, Higashimon street, Ikuta Road and so on.

Sannomiya Hondori, Kobe

Kobe Motomachi

Kobe Higashimon Street

Ikuta Road, Kobe

We also visited Kobe China Town, which is also called Nankinmachi (南京町). It is a compact Chinatown in central Kobe and a center of the Chinese community in the Kansai Region. The area was developed by Chinese merchants who settled near Kobe Port after the port was opened to foreign trade in 1868. As the Chinatown developed, it became known as Nankinmachi after Nanjing, the former Chinese capital. Nankinmachi is a popular tourist attraction and shopping and dining district. Two main streets run through the district, meeting each other at a small plaza in the center. They are packed with shops, restaurants and food stands that sell popular items such as steamed buns (manju), ramen, tapioca drinks and various other Chinese dishes.

China Town, Nankinmachi (南京町), Kobe

After enjoying Kobe city night walk, we went back to the hotel and took a good sleep.

Day#3: Love in Kansai and Chugoku (Himeji, Tottori)

On the third day, we checked out from the hotel and started our journey to Himeji Castle by train from Sannomiya station to Himeji Station and it took around 45 minutes. From Himeji station, we took a taxi to Himeji castle. Himeji (姫路) is most famous for its magnificent castle, Himeji Castle, widely considered to be Japan's most beautiful surviving feudal castle. The castle is designated both a national treasure and a UNESCO world heritage site. Himeji is the second largest city of Hyogo Prefecture after Kobe. It can be reached in less than one hour from Osaka or Kyoto and is also a popular stopover on journeys along the Sanyo Shinkansen.

The beautiful Himeji Castle

We spent around one hour in the Himeji Castle and then started our journey to Tottori by bus. The interesting thing is, there was a direct bus (Cost: 2500 yen, one way) to Tottori Station from Himeji Castle (Himejijo Otemon mae) and it took around 2 hours and 15 minutes. You can find the timetable of the bus from here:

Bus Timetable for Tottori from Himeji Castle (We took the bus of 10:32 am)

Bus for Tottori, from Himeji Castle

We reached at Tottori Station around 12.40 pm and took a bus to Tottori Sand Dunes. 

Tottori Station

The Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘, Tottori Sakyu) are the largest sand dunes in Japan and Tottori's most famous tourist attraction. Located just outside the city center, they span roughly 16 kilometers of coast along of the Sea of Japan and are up to two kilometers wide and 50 meters high. 

Coast side view

They are part of the Sanin Kaigan National Park. The sand dunes were created over thousands of years, as sand from the nearby Sendaigawa River was washed out to sea and eventually redeposited along the coast by the ocean's currents. 

Tottori Sand Dunes

You can also enjoy camel ride there.

Camel

The most adventurous thing is paragliding or sandboarding (a variation of snowboarding) which are offered by local companies. Views over the dunes can be enjoyed from the observation deck of the Sakyu Center, which is connected with the sand dunes by a chair lift. After enjoying some times in the sand dunes, we took a meal at Sakyu Center.

Next, we went to the The Sand Museum by walk, a unique museum that displays large sand sculptures by artists from around the world. In the past, sand exhibitions were held outdoors and in temporary structures, but in 2012 the sand museum moved into its own permanent building.

The Sand Museum, exhibits Czech Republic and Slovakia

Exhibitions usually change annually and last from mid April to early January of the following year. Every exhibition has its theme, typically a country or region. In 2020, the theme of the exhibition was the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which established diplomatic relations with Japan 100 years ago. Due to the coronavirus, the exhibition was extended for one more year until January 3, 2022.

Inside the Sand Museum, Tottori

In the evening, we went to the Tottori Staion by bus and started our journey to Okayama by train, as we reserved our hotel in Okayama for the next 4 days. 

Okayama Station

Day#4: Love in Shikoku (Takamatsu, Naoshima)

On the fourth day, we decided to visit Shikoku area. So, in the early morning, we started our Journey to Ritsurin Park by a train from Okayama Station and it took around 1 hour and 30 minutes. 

Ritsurin Garden

Ritsurin Koen (栗林公園) is a landscape garden in Takamatsu City, built by the local feudal lords during the early Edo Period (Entrance Fee: 410 yen). It is considered one of the best gardens in Japan and often suggested that Ritsurin Koen deserves a spot on the list of the "three most beautiful gardens of Japan" alongside Kanazawa's Kenrokuen, Mito's Kairakuen, and Okayama's Korakuen.

Ritsurin Garden

Next, we went to Takamatsu Castle (高松城, Takamatsujō) by taxi, also known as Tamamo Castle, which was built in 1590 adjacent to the Seto Inland Sea (Entrance Fee: 200 yen). It is one of the few Japanese castles built along a waterfront, and features saltwater moats that draw directly from the sea.

Takamatsu Castle (高松城, Takamatsujō)

Next, we went to Takamatsu Port, which is a 25 minutes walking distance from the castle. From Takamatsu Port, we ride a Ferry to go to Naoshima Island. It took around 50 minutes to reach at Naoshima Island (Cost: 520 yen, One way).

Every time I used to capture a manhole, because it is nicely painted in Japan. 

Ferry to Naoshima Island

Naoshima (直島) is an island in the Seto Inland Sea that is known for its modern art museums, architecture and sculptures. Part of Kagawa Prefecture, the island with its Mediterranean atmosphere, sandy beaches and sunny weather. Much of Naoshima's art was installed by the Benesse Corporation, which oversees art museums, installations and sculptures both on Naoshima and on neighboring islands. Benesse's museums were designed by the well known Japanese architect Ando Tadao and include the Chichu Art Museum, Lee Ufan Museum and all the buildings of the Benesse House.

View from Takamatsu Port

You can go inside Red Pumpkin and pop out your head from the pumpkin and take a picture. The view from inside the pumpkin gives you an experience of the original atmosphere of Naoshima.

Red Pumpkin, Naoshima

In the evening, we go back to the Takamatsu Port by Ferry and then from Takamatsu Port to Okayama Station. We took our dinner at Sushiro and then go back to hotel. 

Day#5: Love in Chugoku (Hiroshima)

On the fifth day, we visited Hiroshima by bus from Okayama Station to Hiroshima Bus Center. It took around 2 hours and 40 minutes (Cost: 3000 yen, one way).

Express Bus to Hiroshima

Hiroshima Bus Center

Hiroshima (広島) is the principal city of the Chugoku Region. This city is probably most famous for being devastated by a nuclear attack at the close of World War II. After the war, great efforts were taken to rebuild the city. 

After reaching Hiroshima, at first we visited one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Atomic Bomb Dome and it's surrounding memorial park by walk. The Atomic Bomb Dome, also known as the Hiroshima Peace Memorial, is what remains of the former Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. When the bomb exploded, it was one of the few buildings to remain standing, and remains so today. 

Atomic Bomb Dome

Every year on August 6, a ceremony is held at the park to commemorate the victims of the atomic bomb in 1945. Thousands write messages of peace on paper lanterns that are lit at sunset to float down the river past the iconic remains of the Atomic Bomb Dome. Anyone can join the lantern ceremony.

Atomic Bomb Dome Surroundings

Next, we went to Peace Memorial Park (平和記念公園, Heiwa Kinen Kōen) which is one of the most prominent features of the city. Its trees, lawns, and walking paths are in stark contrast to the surrounding downtown area.

Peace Memorial Park

Before the bomb, the area of what is now the Peace Park was the political and commercial heart of the city. For this reason, it was chosen as the pilot's target. Four years to the day after the bomb was dropped, it was decided that the area would not be redeveloped but instead devoted to peace memorial facilities.

Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum

The park's main facility is the Peace Memorial Museum. Consisting of two buildings, the museum surveys the history of Hiroshima and the advent of the nuclear bomb. Its main focus though is on the events of August 6: the dropping of the bomb and its outcome in human suffering. 

Inside Peace Memorial Museum

Next, we went to Miyajima by a direct boat from Hiroshima Peace Park. It took around 45 minutes and cost: 2200 yen (one way), 4000 yen (round trip), 1/2 connections per hour. You can find the timetable from below:

Hiroshima to Miyajima Boat Timetable

Boat Ticket Counter for Miyajima

On the way to Miyajima

Miyajima (宮島) is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. It is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views.

Giant Torii Gate, Miyajima

The official name of this island is Itsukushima. However, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for "shrine island". This is because the island is so closely related to its key shrine, Itsukushima Shrine, in the public's mind. Like the torii gate, the shrine's main buildings are built over water.

Itsukushima Shrine

Itsukushima Shrine

Miyajima is a romantic place, best enjoyed by staying overnight at one of the island's ryokan. In the evening the area becomes much quieter and more peaceful. There are also wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. In the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.

With Deer, Miyajima

Itsukushima Shrine involves the water over which it is built, it is good to be aware of the timings of the tides during one's visit. At high tide the shrine and its gate appear to float above the water, and this is certainly the time at which they are most picturesque. At low tide, the water drains out of the bay. This is when visitors can take the opportunity to walk out and see the gate from up close.

A deer visit food shop in search of food. 

In the afternoon, we went back to the Hiroshima Peace Park and then went to Hiroshima Castle by a taxi.

Hiroshima Castle

Hiroshima Castle (広島城, Hiroshimajō), also called the Carp Castle, is a good example of a castle built on a plain in the center of a city as opposed to hilltop and mountaintop castles. Its main keep is five stories tall, and its grounds are surrounded by a moat. Also within the castle's precincts are a shrine, some ruins and a few reconstructed buildings of the Ninomaru (second circle of defense).

Hiroshima Castle

After visiting Hiroshima castle, we went back to Okayama by Express bus. 

Day#6: Love in Shikoku (Angel Road, Shodoshima)

On the sixth day, we decided to spend the whole day in an island, which is in Shikoku region. To explore Shodoshima, we went to Takamatsu station from Okayama station by train. Then, we went to Takamatsu port by walk (7 minutes). From Takamatsu port, ferries depart to Tonosho Port on Shodoshima (700 yen, one way, 60 minutes). 

Ferry to Shodoshima

Enjoyed the Ferry ride to Shodoshima

After reaching Tonosho Port, we went to Kashima beach by a taxi. 

Kashima Beach

The view from this beach was really awesome. During our visit to Shodoshima in May, the weather was little bit cold.

Kashima Beach

We enjoyed Kashima Beach

After enjoying kashima beach, we went to the Angel Road, a sandbar connecting three small islands to Shodoshima. Twice a day during low tide visitors can walk along the sandbar, and it is said that couples who cross the sandbar hand in hand will find happiness together. Some people write their romance related wishes on small wooden plaques (ema) and hang them onto a tree branch for the wishes to become true.

Angel Road

Angel Road

We spent a splendid afternoon in the Angel Road. In the evening, we started our journey to Okayama. In our Ferry ride, we enjoyed the beautiful sunset.

Sunset from Ferry (Way to Uno Port)

The next day was the last day of our tour. So, we packed our bag and baggage after arriving the hotel in Okayama.

Day#7: Love in Chugoku (Okayama)

As this was our last day, we decided to spend our time in Okayama. In the early morning, we checked out from the hotel and we took our breakfast. Then, we went to Okayama station to keep our baggage in the locker and started journey for Kurashiki by train. Kurashiki was not far from the capital of Okayama city. The canal area is a ten minute walk from Kurashiki Station.

Kurashiki Station

Inside Kurashiki Station

Kurashiki (倉敷) has a preserved canal area that dates back to the Edo Period (1603-1867), when the city served as an important rice distribution center. In fact, the name "Kurashiki" can be roughly translated as "town of storehouses" in reference to the rice storehouses.

Kurashiki Bikan

Many of Kurashiki's former storehouses have been converted into museums, boutiques and cafes. The Ohara Museum is the most impressive of Kurashiki's museums, exhibiting a large collection of works by famous Western artists. The Gangukan (Japanese Folk Toys Museum) exhibits folk toys from all over Japan from the Edo, Meiji, and Showa periods. The museum features about 10,000 toys made in various regions of Japan from the 1600s to the present. 

Gangukan (Japanese Folk Toys Museum)

Before leaving Kurashiki, we went to Yuurin-An (有鄰庵) to try their delicious and cute Shiawase Pudding (Happy Pudding). Not only is the pudding yummy and cute at Yuurin-an, but it’s also said that: ‘if you can still remember what your pudding looked like a year after you had it, it’ll bring you good luck!’ When you order the Shiawase Pudding, you’ll get to pick which happy face on the pudding you’d like to eat. (each face is different).

Shiawase Pudding (Happy Pudding)

Next, we went to Okayama University from Kurashiki Station by train. Most of the time, we used to visit universities in Japan as the University area is really beautiful in Japan. 

Okayama University

We explored the university area and then went to Okayama Castle by bus. Okayama Castle (岡山城, Okayamajō), also known as "crow castle" due to its black exterior, was built in 1597 (Entry Fee: 300 yen, Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle set: 560 yen). The original castle was destroyed in the last year of World War 2, but a reconstruction was made in 1966. The castle is located on the Asahi River, which was used as a moat. 

Asahi River alongside Okayama Castle

Inside the six-story castle keep are exhibits relating to the history and development of the castle. Furthermore, there is a pottery studio where visitors can craft Bizen-yaki, a type of pottery local to Okayama Prefecture (advance reservations recommended). There is also a corner for visitors to dress up in kimono and a small restaurant.

Kimono Corner inside Okayama Castle

Next, we went to Korakuen (後楽園, Kōrakuen) Garden which is located just across the Asahi river (Entry Fee: 400 yen, Okayama Korakuen Garden and Okayama Castle set: 560 yen). It is a beautiful landscape garden and Okayama's main attraction. Along with Kanazawa's Kenrokuen and Mito's Kairakuen, Korakuen is ranked as one of Japan's three best landscape gardens.

Landscape of Okayama Korakoen Garden

Enjoyed Koi Fish at Okayama Korakoen Garden

In the evening, we head towards Okayama station by train and took our bags from the locker. At 10 PM, we started our journey to Tokyo by night bus.

This is the end of our Kansai, Chugoku and Shikoko tour using public transport. In japan, public transport is very convenient so that you can travel anywhere in Japan without a car. Hope you enjoy this article.