Road trip on Japan's coastal roads

Today, you enjoy a relaxation day in Nara.

Located approximately 40 minutes from Kyoto, this city was one of the first Japanese capitals in the 8th century and is home to several monuments inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

On site, you head towards the imposing Tōdai Temple, which stands in the heart of a park where many deer roam.

You can then plan a stop at the Isuien Japanese garden or at the shrine-mausoleum of the powerful Fujiwara family, Kasuga-taisha.

Back to Kyoto

In the evening, you can discover teppanyaki. This dinner formula is based on cooking performed by the chef directly on a heated plate, where various ingredients are seared, including Kobe beef. You can watch the preparation while enjoying the meal.

Today, after taking possession of your rental car, you head towards the coast in the direction of Amanohashidate.

This strip of land, which you can cross on foot or by bike, is perfect for a pleasant walk and offers the possibility of swimming. It is considered one of the three most beautiful landscapes in Japon.

To appreciate the panorama, you can gain height from the Amanohashidate Viewland observatory or Kasamatsu park. Among the other points of interest are the Chion-ji temple to the south and the Motoise Kono Shinto shrine to the north.

It is recommended to continue to the small fishing village of Ine, known for its typical houses, the funaya. These illustrate Japanese architecture adapted to constrained terrain, on a narrow strip of land situated between the sea and the mountains.

First step of the day: the ancient feudal city ofIzushi, nestled in a remote countryside corner and whose castle ruins immerse us in the atmosphere of the samurai era.

The streets of the city center are full of points of interest: sake brewery, "dragon lantern" Oryutoro, Shinkoro, the town's traditional wooden clock, but especially its Eirakukan kabuki theater, built in 1901 and which we can visit.

You arrive in the hot spring resort of Kinosaki, where Japanese people have been coming for centuries to take advantage of the natural resources from underground and relax with friends or family in the onsen, public baths recognized for their properties.

Beyond the stroll in yukata (light kimono) and geta (wooden sandals) from one bath to another, along the Otani River bordered by weeping willows and cherry trees, Kinosaki-onsen has several other points of interest. You will discover gastronomy focused on seafood and crab, mountains accessible by cable car, games reminiscent of old-fashioned fairs, the Temple Osenji as well as the straw marquetry museum.

You conclude your discoveries in a Les Ryokan, traditional Japanese inns, traditional Japanese inn, where you dine and spend the night in the local way, on futons laid out on tatami mats.

You head east towards the shores of Lake Shinji, towards the city of Matsue.

Nicknamed the "City of Water", Matsue developed around its castle, built in the early 16th century and considered one of the last authentic Japanese castles.
Its founder, the lord Horio Yoshiharu, received these lands from the shogun Tokugawa as a reward for his bravery. A strategist, he designed the city to encourage commerce while ensuring its defence, thanks to a network of moats, canals and zigzagging alleys.

In Matsue, you discover varied cultural and tourist heritage. Among the sites of interest, you can take a ride in a Japanese gondola on the canals, visit the samurai district and the Buke-Yashiki house, the Meimei-an tea house, the Yushien garden, as well as Adachi Art Museum

You continue along the coast and make a stop in the village of Iwami-Ginzan, in a peaceful setting.

Surrounded by nature conducive to biking exploration, the site is known for its ancient silver mine, presented as the most important in the country, which once produced one-third of the world's silver.

The mine and its natural environment are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Upon arrival in Hagi, you discover a city marked by the samurai era. A fishing port with preserved architecture, Hagi was a former samurai fiefdom and played, through the powerful Mori clan, an important role in the Meiji Restoration.

Besides its samurai district, you can also discover its potter's district, known throughout the country, as well as the Meirinkan School of the Hagi era, now transformed into a museum and formerly frequented by the samurai and feudal elite.
For a moment of relaxation, you can visit Hagi Beach, appreciated for its setting.

About forty kilometers west of Hagi, on the coast, the Motonosumi Inari is one of the shrines dedicated to the goddess Inari, illustrating the deep roots of Shinto tradition. The site stands out for its natural setting facing the sea.

You head inland. About an hour's drive away is Asia's largest limestone cave, the Akiyoshido Cave, stretching 10 km long. In the heart of the lush Akiyoshidai Park, it features stalactites and pools that compose a remarkable natural landscape.

Upon arrival in Fukuoka, on the island of Kyushu, you return your rental vehicle and then settle into your hotel.