The Seto Inland Sea is a body of water encircled by three of Japan's four main islands: Honshu, Kyushu, and Shikoku. Known for its calm waters and consistently fine weather, the Seto Inland Sea is a popular destination for sightseeing, with many historically and culturally important places, as well as an abundance of unspoiled natural beauty.

Hiroshima, the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture and the largest city in the Seto area, is today home to over 1 million people - a feat many, if not most, thought was impossible after the city was leveled by an atomic bomb on August 6, 1945. Though it's a populous city and the center of industry in the region, the pace of life is distinctively more relaxed than larger metropolitan areas like Tokyo or Osaka. Nonetheless, Hiroshima is indeed a big city, and there are many places to go and things to do in and around Hiroshima. Here are a few:

Miyajima

Just outside Hiroshima in the Inland Sea is the small island Miyajima. The island is most famous for Itsukushima Shrine, whose large red torii gate sits out in the bay and appears to float in the water when tides are high. The shrine itself also sits on stilts and is surrounded by the sea at high tide. At low tide, visitors can actually walk out to the gate to get a different view of the shrine. Don't miss the Noh theater stage attached to the shrine and the incredibly steep ornate bridge towards the back of the complex.

Hiroshima Peace Park and Museum

Hiroshima was almost completely destroyed late in World War II when a nuclear bomb was detonated over the city on August 6, 1945. The loss of life was tragically great, and the damage to the city was staggering, with very few buildings around the city center left standing. The Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park was established in hopes of promoting peace throughout the world and the abolishment of nuclear weapons. The sprawling, verdant park, occupying an area close to the very center of the destruction, is a testament to the resilience and resolve of the city. At one end of the park, a mere 150 meters from the hypocenter of the blast, is what was once the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall and is now known as the A-Bomb Dome. The gutted shell of the Dome, untouched since the bombing, stands in stark contrast to the vibrant colors of the park and the modern development of the surrounding area. There are several installations throughout the park including the Children's Peace Monument, the Peace Bell, and the Flame of Peace which will be kept burning until the world is free of nuclear weapons.

At the opposite end of the Peace Park from the A-Bomb Dome is the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. The museum features numerous exhibitions about the bombing of Hiroshima, the history of nuclear weapons, and the stories of people affected by the bomb. Besides pictures and models, there are many relics on display, such as a watch that stopped at the moment the bomb was dropped, roofing tiles that became fused due to the blast's extreme heat, and even preserved tissue samples from a few of the victims.

Hiroshima Hondori

The attractions of Hiroshima are not all historical in nature. The Hondori area (literally, "Main Street") is the main shopping and entertainment district of Hiroshima City. Brimming with shopping arcades, department stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars, hitting Hondori at least once is a must.

Also located along the Seto Inland Sea neighboring Hiroshima Prefecture is Honshu's westernmost prefecture, Yamaguchi. Known as the "Kyoto of the West", Yamaguchi features some historically and culturally significant sites.

Yamaguchi City and Hofu City

Yamaguchi City is home to the Buddhist temple Rurikoji with its famous five-storied pagoda which is considered one of Japan's most beautiful. Also in Yamaguchi City is a very special garden, Sesshutei, on the grounds of Joeji Temple. The garden, named after its designer, was created by famous Japanese painter Sesshu in the image of one of his landscape paintings.

In Hofu, close to Yamaguchi City, there is Tenmangu Shrine, which is dedicated to a deity of learning. At the foot of the shrine's staircase is a beautiful teahouse complex and garden where visitors can experience the Japanese tea ceremony. Also in this area is the Mori Museum and Garden is the elegant former estate of the influentialand prosperous Mori Clan who once ruled over Yamaguchi. The building itself, having been visited by two different emperors, is quite impressive, and the large, beautiful garden features cherry blossoms in the spring and vibrant red and yellow leaves in the fall. An interesting piece of trivia: this mansion was one of the first houses in Japan to have glass windows!

Suo-Oshima and Okikamuro Islands

Just over an hour from Hiroshima City by car is the island of Suo Oshima Island located off the coast of Yamaguchi in the Inland Sea. Suo-Oshima and its smaller neighbor, Okikamuro Island, have a fascinating bond with Hawaii. During a difficult time for both the Japanese islands and what was then the nation of Hawaii, many Japanese emigrated from Suo-Oshima and Okikamuro to live and work in Hawaii. The Museum of Japanese Emigration to Hawaii chronicles this shared history and operates a database tracking Japanese families who immigrated to Hawaii.

Hiroshima City Area   Downtown Hiroshima   Hiroshima Suburbs   Miyajima Island

Yamaguchi Prefecture   Yamaguchi City / Yuda Onsen   Hofu   Suo-Oshima

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