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The Chugoku (Western Honshu) District

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Day 1 – Four hours west of Tokyo or an hour west of Osaka, Okayama is a major stop on the Tokaido-Sanyo Shinkansen Line. En route, stop off in Himeji for a tour of Japan's loveliest castle. Spend the night in Okayama.

Day 2 – Take in Okayama's sights. Don’t forget Okayama Castle, which is deliberately painted black to contrast with white Himeji Castle. Another must-see is the nearby Korakuen Garden, considered one of Japan's most beautiful landscaped gardens. Depart Okayama for a night in one of Okayama Prefecture's six International Villas, beautifully constructed and situated in rural communities.

Day 3 – Take the train to Kurashiki, 26 kilometers (16 miles) west of Okayama. This is one of Japan's most photogenic towns. Stroll along the willow-lined canal of its famous historic district, stopping in at the Ohara Museum of Art, the Kurashiki Folkcraft Museum, and the Japanese Rural Toy Museum. Spend the night here.

Day 4 – Take the Shinkansen one hour west to Hiroshima and spend a couple of sobering hours at Peace Memorial Park. Afterward, take a 45-minute train to Miyajima, a scenic island in the Seto Inland Sea with the famous Itsukushima Shrine.

Next Page: Shikoku Island

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