r/JapanTravelTips • u/SiepieJR • 6h ago

Recommendations Roadtrip recommendations for wider Hiroshima area?

We're renting a car in Hiroshima to explore the surrounding areas this fall. It'll be for roughly a week after visiting Tokyo, Osaka and Hiroshima itself, so we're looking for a more calmer and rural side of Japan. We wouldn't mind if it's just quiet villages and a whole lot of nothing, as our main goal is to experience the Japanese day to day life, but if there are any hidden gems then we'd love to know about them. Things like scenic roads/views, cool villages, historical landmarks or even just nice Ryokans or Izakayas.

We're roughly planning to do a loop from Hiroshima to the northern coast (Matsue, Hagi) and coming back to Hiroshima through the inland. Any advice that would be roughly on that route would be much appreciated.

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u/SereneDimlights 4h ago

Iwakuni just across the border into Yamaguchi prefecture has a very iconic bridge (Kintaikyo Bridge) and abeautiful park area with ice cream shops that sell all kinds of weird flavors (Wasabi, Garlic, etc.). There's also a great little hike (or ropeway if you prefer that) up to the top of the mountain nearby where Iwakuni Castle stands with a great view over the town/city.

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u/SiepieJR 21m ago

Thank you!

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u/Opposite-Status-5553 4h ago

You didn't mention how many days you plan to drive. If I were you, I would drive towards Onomichi, cross the Setonaikai National Park and explore Shikoku before coming back across to Okayama. Shikoku is famously less-travelled by tourists, and the island itself was not connected to the mainland until 1988. This means that you get to see a well preserved rural way of life without all the tourists. Also, the railway network is relatively less developed, which means that a car is actually the best way to explore the island.

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u/ellyse99 1h ago

Was going to suggest the same but seems OP wants the other coast of Honshu instead

Fukui, Tottori, Komatsu?

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u/SiepieJR 22m ago

Ah you're right, I forgot to mention: We'd have a car around 10 days. We've booked a beautiful house a bit north of Hiroshima for some proper down time for about 4 nights, hence the preference to go to Matsue as that would be more on the way. Would you say it would really be way better to go to Shikoku?