A 3-Day Itinerary from Fukuoka: Explore the Best Photogenic Spots in Hiroshima and Okayama

Fukuoka Airport, located in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City, is one of Japan's leading air gateways. It is close to the city center and easily accessible by subway, just 5 minutes from Hakata Station. It has domestic and international terminals, and many international routes are in service, mainly to Asia. With over 20 million passengers a year, it plays an important role in the local economy and tourism as Kyushu's largest airport.

Hakata Station is the largest terminal station in Kyushu, located in Hakata Ward, Fukuoka City. JR Kyushu's limited express trains, Shinkansen, and subways all stop here, making it a key transportation hub. The station building houses many commercial facilities where you can enjoy shopping and dining. There is also a tourist information center and cultural facilities, making it a lively place where many people come and go as the gateway to Fukuoka.

Hiroshima Station

From Hiroden Miyajimaguchi Station, walk to the ferry terminal. The ferry is operated by two companies, JR West Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Kisen, and the fare for both is 200 yen one way. It takes about 10 minutes to get to Miyajima by ferry.

This imposing shrine was founded in the 16th century and its famous, iconic vermilion torii gate appears to float above the water at high tide.

Miyajima's symbol is the large torii gate that appears to be floating in the sea at high tide. Momijidani Park, a famous spot for viewing autumn leaves, is located about a six-minute walk from Itsukushima Shrine, and the scenery around the vermilion-painted Momiji Bridge is not to be missed. There are also many wild deer to see, so taking photos of them with the autumn leaves is sure to make a great shot.

The Miyajima Ropeway operates in a unique way in Japan, connecting and operating two types of ropeways: a circulation type and a crossing type.

National Natural Monument

It has a unique vegetation where coniferous trees and primitive plants remain in their natural state.
Various types of vegetation can be seen on Mt. Misen, including temperate zone plants, northern temperate zone plants such as conifers, and primitive plants.
The area designated as a World Heritage Site is 431.2 hectares, including the building of Itsukushima Shrine, the sea in front, and the Misen primeval forest in the background.

Registered as a World Heritage Site is the cultural heritage of Itsukushima Shrine, the sea in front, and the natural heritage of Misen Primeval Forest.

Completed in December 2013, the Misen Observatory was designed using cedar wood to blend in with the scenery of Miyajima. You can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view from the rooftop, and on a clear day you can see all the way to the mountains of Shikoku. The huge and oddly shaped rocks crowded together around the observation deck are also famous as power spots, offering a mystical view. In 2015, the "View from Misen Observatory" received three stars in the Michelin Green Guide Japon.

The main street where you can enjoy Miyajima specialties and souvenirs

Miyajima's Momijido Main Store is a long-established store that serves the specialty momiji manju. Since its establishment, it has continued to preserve the traditional taste and is loved by tourists and locals alike. The momiji manju is a masterpiece that highlights the carefully selected ingredients and the craftsmanship of the artisans. The popular "fried momiji" is a momiji manju wrapped in a crispy batter, and you can enjoy its warm and fragrant texture.

Itsukushima Shrine, Miyajima in Aki, a world cultural heritage site where the beauty of dynasty culture is still alive.
Miyajima's ryokan "Itsukushima Iroha" welcomes travelers with its nostalgic rooms, Setouchi delicacies, hot springs in the sky, and heartfelt natural hospitality, while cherishing the spirit of a traditional Japanese warehouse. It is a healing inn. Please spend a peaceful and irreplaceable night on the island of the gods.

This is the ferry terminal on the Miyajima side. The ferry is operated by two companies, JR West Miyajima Ferry and Miyajima Matsudai Ferry, and the fare for both is 200 yen one way.

This is the ferry terminal on the mainland side.

Shimose Art Museum is an art museum that opened in Otake City, Hiroshima Prefecture in 2023. The mirror glass entrance building reflects the beautiful surrounding scenery, captivating visitors. Eight colorful movable exhibition rooms are arranged in a water basin on the sea side, and were designed by architect Shigeru Ban, inspired by the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. You can also enjoy a space where nature and art coexist in harmony, such as the entrance with its cypress pillars, the "Emile Gallé Garden," and the Ocean View Terrace, where you can view the beauty of the Seto Inland Sea's many islands.

Onomichi Station, the main entrance to Onomichi City, is close to the city and the sea from Shin-Onomichi Station on the Sanyo Shinkansen line, and the area around the station offers beautiful views of the Seto Inland Sea. There is also a hotel on the second floor of the station.

This is a sweets shop with a retro atmosphere in Onomichi. The popular "Onomichi Pudding" is made with local ingredients and has a smooth texture and lemon sauce, making it a double treat. The containers and packaging with cute illustrations are also one of its attractions. The handmade sweets are known for their simple and warm taste, making the most of the flavor of the ingredients.

The Mount Senkoji Ropeway is a tourist attraction in Onomichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, where you can enjoy beautiful scenery. The ride takes about three minutes from the foot of the mountain to Senkoji Park at the top of the mountain, offering a spectacular view of the Seto Inland Sea and the townscape of Onomichi. At the top of the mountain, you can visit Senkoji Temple and the Literary Path, a spot where you can enjoy a stroll through the scenery of the four seasons and a sense of history.

From the 63-meter-long observation deck, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the Onomichi Strait and the cityscape of Japan Heritage. There is also an elevator connected to the ropeway's summit station, so it is safe for strollers and wheelchairs. The long and narrow observation deck is a famous spot where you can enjoy the magnificent view of the Seto Inland Sea islands from any point.

Senkoji Temple is located 140 meters above sea level, halfway up Mount Daiho, overlooking Onomichi Port. The main hall, built as if clinging to the cliff, is also known as the "Red Hall," and from the temple grounds you can see a magnificent view of Onomichi.

Head left towards Ushitora Shrine, the oldest shrine in Onomichi, and you'll come to a narrow alleyway that continues on both sides for about 200 meters. Along this road, you'll find cafes and bars that have been renovated from old houses, accessory shops, art museums, gardens, and more, with unique "lucky cat stones" hidden here and there. Cats can be seen peeking out from the bushes and over the walls, making for a magical stroll that feels as if you've wandered into a cat world.

This popular Onomichi ramen restaurant is a 10-minute walk from JR Onomichi Station towards the shopping district. They use homemade flat, curly noodles that are left to sit for several days, so they stay chewy until the very end. The soup is made with fresh small fish from the Seto Inland Sea, including anchovies, and pork and chicken bones, and is combined with the richness of back fat to create a mellow, nostalgic flavor.

Located in downtown Kasaoka, close to the reclaimed land of Kasaoka (Kasaoka Bay Farm Roadside Station), this is a hideaway spot for adults where you can stay the night and enjoy lunch.
You can enjoy a quiet time gazing at the Japanese garden while savoring a Japanese-Western fusion kaiseki lunch and dessert.
We recommend this place as it is convenient for both business and sightseeing, whether you are on a long-term business trip or travel.
The rooms have a Japanese feel with modern Western accents, and include a cypress bathtub and washroom, so you can take a relaxing bath while looking at the garden.
The rooms face the Japanese garden, face south, and are spacious, making them a great place to relax.

A vast flower field adjacent to the roadside station, Kasaoka Bay Farm. From March to April, 10 million rapeseed flowers bloom, creating a yellow carpet of flowers. From late April to May, you can enjoy the impressive sight of 10 million poppies, in summer 1 million sunflowers, and in autumn 30 million cosmos flowers. The view from the observation deck is said to be amazing. You can enjoy the large-scale flower field throughout the four seasons.

[Beautiful white-walled townscape filled with history and art] The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter offers a quaint landscape with white-walled warehouses, sea cucumber walls, and rows of willow trees. The townscape created by traditional buildings and the retro-modern scenery along the Kurashiki River continue to fascinate people from all over the world. It is lined with stylish shops selling Kurashiki brands such as Kurashiki Canvas and Kurashiki Denim, as well as cafes in renovated townhouses, and is crowded with tourists all year round. There are many cultural facilities such as the Ohara Museum of Art and Ivy Square, so you can spend a whole day walking around this area.

Japan's first private Western art museum was established in 1930 (Showa 5) by Magosaburo Ohara, a businessman who contributed to the cultural development of Kurashiki. The main building displays many famous Western masterpieces, including El Greco's ``The Annunciation,'' Claude Monet's ``Water Lilies,'' Renoir, and Gauguin. The museum also houses approximately 3,000 works of art, including ancient Egyptian art, modern Western art, and modern and contemporary Japanese art.

[About the Ohara Museum of Art building]
The designer, Kazue Yakushiji, joined the Kurashiki Silk Textile Co., Ltd., whose founder, Magosaburo Ohara, was the president, and as Ohara's right-hand man, he worked on many buildings related to the company and the Ohara family.
The huge pillars at the entrance look like marble at first glance, but they are actually made of reinforced concrete, and are made by mixing stone powder with mortar and using plastering techniques.
No photography allowed inside the building

This is a complex that stocks daily necessities from Kurashiki, such as Kurashiki canvas, masking tape, and tailored suits made from denim fabric. There is also a cafe and a memorial room for the Hayashi family, who made great efforts in the development of Kurashiki, and the balcony on the third floor offers a panoramic view of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter.

You can enjoy parfaits, crepes, gelato, juices, etc. made with plenty of seasonal fruits.

The Kurashiki River was once bustling with riverboats loaded with supplies. There are sightseeing riverboats in operation that allow you to enjoy the atmosphere. The view of the white-walled townscape as you sit on the boat as it moves slowly gives you a unique look that can only be achieved by sailing on a riverboat.

The premises, which are eye-catching with red bricks covered with ivy, are home to the Kurabo Memorial Hall, a workshop where you can experience pottery, and a hotel.

[About the Kurashiki Ivy Square building]
The main factory of Kurashiki Spinning Works (currently Kurabo Industries) was renovated into a complex facility including a hotel, and can be said to be a pioneer in the conversion of factory buildings.
Ivy, planted during the factory era to control temperature, has become a symbol of Ivy Square.
The site is lined with brick buildings and other facilities that make use of textile mill buildings, and the modernization heritage of the Meiji era has been preserved and used, allowing you to feel the passage of time.
Architect/Year of completion: Shintaro Urabe/1974
Regarding tours and photography: Tours of the facility are possible.

Mitsui Outlet Park Kurashiki is one of the largest outlet parks in the Chugoku-Shikoku region, with shops selling women's, men's, children's fashion, sports and outdoor goods, accessories, and miscellaneous goods. It is located in front of the north exit of Kurashiki Station on the JR Sanyo Main Line, making it very convenient as you can walk from the station. You can freely go back and forth between Kurashiki Mirai Park and Ario Kurashiki, play with your children in between shopping, enjoy meals, and enjoy a relaxing day of leisure. It is also about a 15-minute walk from the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, one of the prefecture's top tourist spots, so we recommend planning a trip that combines sightseeing and shopping.