🌄 7-9 Day Setouchi Inland Sea Travel Guide 🌄

Day 1: Arrival in Okayama or Takamatsu Whether starting from Tokyo or Osaka, take a train to Okayama or Takamatsu to begin a three-day island-hopping journey. We chose Osaka to Okayama, and from there, we'll hop islands before heading to Takamatsu. Day 2-4: Island Hopping 🗺️ Itinerary: Naoshima: Red Pumpkin → "Home" Project → Chichu Art Museum → Yellow Pumpkin Teshima: Teshima Art Museum → Island cycling passing Place for sea dreamer, Archive of the Heart's Voices round trip Shodoshima: Angel Road → Olive Park → 24 Eyes Film Village → Kankakei Gorge → Shodoshima Great Buddha ⚠️ Note: Each island is worth at least a day, especially Naoshima with its many exhibitions and Shodoshima with its vast area. If you try to combine Teshima with any other island in one day, the experience may suffer; Chichu Art Museum and Teshima Art Museum require advance online reservations. You can schedule these before deciding the order of island hopping. Museum reservations and ferry timetables can be checked on the "Benesse House Museum" official website. Day 5: Other Attractions in Kagawa Prefecture 🗺️ Itinerary: Ritsurin Park (must-visit) → Sanuki Zoo Park (must-visit) → Marugame City (eat udon and visit Marugame Castle) → Parents' Beach / Sky Bird Sanctuary ⚠️ Note: Ritsurin Park is in Takamatsu city. If staying in Takamatsu, you can visit early in the morning for 2 hours, then head to Sanuki Zoo Park for half an hour, drive to Marugame City for lunch or afternoon tea, then to Parents' Beach / Sky Bird Sanctuary for sunset seaside photos, and finally drive to Matsuyama. Day 6: Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture 🗺️ Itinerary: Matsuyama Castle → Dogo Onsen Shopping Street, Dogo Onsen Main Building, Isaribi Shrine, etc. → Ginten Street → JR Shiozaki Station ⚠️ Note: Visit Matsuyama Castle early in the morning, then head to Dogo Onsen area with many sightseeing spots to explore at leisure. If time permits and the weather is good, or if you're a railway enthusiast, visit JR Shiozaki Station; otherwise, it can be skipped. Day 7: Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture 🗺️ Itinerary: Onomichi Shopping Street → Walk/Cable car up to Senkoji, Observation Deck, visit Onomichi City Museum of Art (if time permits) → Walk down the Cat's Path → Return to the shopping street for food and souvenirs ⚠️ Note: Onomichi ramen is very famous. It's best to avoid peak meal times to reduce waiting in line. You can stay in Onomichi for the night or drive to Fukuyama, where there are more accommodation options. Day 8: Castle Hop, Passing through Kobe/Return to Osaka 🗺️ Itinerary: Fukuyama (can visit Fukuyama Castle) → Okayama (can visit Okayama Castle, Korakuen) → Himeji Castle (must-visit) → Kobe/Osaka ⚠️ Note: If time is tight, skip Fukuyama Castle and Okayama Castle, focusing on Korakuen and Himeji Castle. Himeji Castle is truly beautiful, and Okayama Korakuen, one of the three Michelin-starred Japanese gardens, is also worth a visit. #NationalDayTravelDiary #UnforgettableScenery #JapanTravel #JapaneseTourism #SetouchiInlandSea #Naoshima #Teshima #Shodoshima #Onomichi #HimejiCastle #TravelGuide