Winter Sun and wellness go hand-in-hand. This winter and spring, follow 23 Setouchi Journeys multi-day itineraries and immerse yourself in wholesome offerings in Japan’s Setouchi region!
Inspired by the country’s well-known wellness traditions from shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) and qi spots to Kon Mari, the destination offers plenty of activities and attractions that inspire travellers to reconnect with themselves and their inner peace.
Setouchi DMO is inviting visitors to explore a slice of Japan at a more leisurely pace. The destination, formed by seven prefectures including Okayama, Kagawa and Hiroshima, has launched a series of 23 curated thematic itineraries – Setouchi Journeys, lasting between 3-5 nights, designed to introduce travellers to slow travel and to encourage them to explore fascinating highlights rich in centuries-old culture, iconic Japanese cuisine, and idyllic island landscapes.
The Setouchi Region is located in western Japan and surrounds Japan’s largest inland sea. To access the region from the UK there are direct flights to Tokyo from London Heathrow with British Airways and Japan Airlines, from there it is a 4.5 – 5 hour journey via Shinkansen to stations in the region including Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima and Shin-Yamaguchi.
Experience a Sake-Brewing Inspired Wellness Ritual Amid Nature’s Bounty in Mitoyo City!
Chichibugahama Beach in Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefuncture is a popular bathing spot, best known for a dazzling natural phenomenon, the Mirror of the Heavens, ocurring at low tide when tide pools and the sky blends into each other seamlessly in a still evening.
As above, so below, travellers who dare to climb to the summit 352 metres above sea level at the top of Mt Shiude will be rewarded with the phenomenal view of being amid hydrangeas in summer and cherry blossoms in the spring.
For a unique cultural immersion book a stay at the Mitoyotsuru TOJI, a private guesthouse in a Sake Brewery that was founded in 1877. Guests are invited to ‘Brew a New You’ following a wellness ritual that mimics the sake-making process. The experience includes husking (undressing), rinsing in a steaming bath, fermenting in bath salts made from sake lees in the Grand Brewing Bath that’s still fed by the same mountain-sourced groundwater, soaking in converted barrels, relaxing in the sauna, and then ageing, or getting a good night’s sleep! Guests can also sample various sakes during their stay.
Rejuvenate at Dogo Onsen, Japan’s oldest hot spring resort
Combining fitness with proper pampering, pay a visit to Dogo Onsen Honkan in Matsuyama in this 5-day curated itinerary through Seto inland sea, completed this July after an elaborate five-year restoration,
Visitors can expect to unwind with a sacred Japanese ritual in this symbolic bathhouse, the main attraction of the wider Dogo Onsen area which dates back around 3,000 years. The bathing experience here is fed by 18 naturally flowing hot springs whose soothing alkaline waters are ideal for skin care, alongside the many other therapeutic benefits of balneotherapy. In this main bathhouse there are two public bath options – the main Kami no Yu (Bath of the Gods) and the smaller Tama no Yu (Bath of the Spirits), with four bathing courses to follow in separate male and female areas.
After a refreshing onsen, you can relax in a traditional yukata robe, tour the Yushinden, the Japanese Imperial Family’s private bathroom, with calming sounds of the Toki Taikodrum from the building’s turret, which has been around since 1894.
The area includes two additional smaller bathhouses, temples, a Park set in the grounds of the former Yuzuki Castle and a Sky Walk where visitors can enjoy a footbath with a view.
Cycling holiday through Shimanami Kaido sea road
The Shimanami Kaido is a scenic cycle route that opened in 1999 connecting Onomichi city in Hiroshima prefecture and Imabari in Ehime and has been cited as one of the best cycling spots in the world. Traversing six islands in the Seto Inland Sea, known for their Mediterranean climate, quiet fishing villages and temples and each offer something a little different – from Oshima’s pirate history and the 700 Buddha statues on Innoshima, to Ikuchijima’s lemon groves and the fruit-forward craft beers and thalassotherapy of Omishima.
The route can be enjoyed in either direction with bike rentals available from either Shimanami Rental Cycle at Onomichi Port or Imabari Central Cycling Terminal in Imabari city and there are around 140 cycle oases along the route offering rest stops and guest houses.
For experienced cyclists the whole route can be completed in around four hours, however, most people take at least two days before returning to their starting place by ferry.
Ominichi Port is open between 7am-7pm (March to November) and 8am-6pm (December to February). Imabari Central Cycling Terminal is open between 8am-8pm (March to November) and 8am-6pm (December to February).