The Chugoku Region is located in the western part of Japan's main island Honshu. It is commonly subdivided into the heavily urbanized and industrialized Sanyo region along the Seto Inland Sea coast and the much less developed, rural Sanin region along the Sea of Japan coast.
Hiroshima has been the principal city of the Chugoku Region for hundreds of years. After its construction in the 16th century, Hiroshima Castle was the most formidable fortification for miles. Today, Hiroshima is a vibrant city and home to over a million inhabitants.
When the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the city became known worldwide for this unenviable distinction. The destructive power of the bomb was tremendous and obliterated nearly everything within a 2 km radius. One of the few buildings that remained standing afterwards has been preserved; known today as the A-Bomb Dome, it is a monument to the bomb's dreadful power.
After the war, great efforts were taken to rebuild the city. Predictions that the city would be uninhabitable proved false. Destroyed monuments of Hiroshima's historical heritage, like Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden, were reconstructed. In the center of the city a large park was built and given a name that would reflect the aspirations of the re-born city: Peace Memorial Park.
Despite the legacy of the bomb, Hiroshima has very much become a modern city. The downtown area is filled with places to shop, eat, and otherwise enjoy oneself. Another testament to Hiroshima's vitality is the Mazda Motor Corporation, which is based in the city. Mazda has a large factory outside the city center that offers visitors a museum as well as a look at its cars being assembled.
Miyajima is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. Miyajima is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on top of the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views.
While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for "shrine-island". This is because the island is so closely related to its shrine, Itsukushima Shrine, in the public's mind. Like the torii gate, the shrine's main buildings are built over water.
Miyajima is a romantic place, best enjoyed by staying overnight at one of the island's ryokan. There are many day tourists, but in the evening the area becomes much quieter and peaceful. There are wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. In the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.
Kurashiki is a city in Okayama Prefecture, a few kilometers west of Okayama City.
During the Edo Period, Kurashiki was a center for storing rice harvested in the surrounding, fertile regions. Literally meaning something like "storehouse town", Kurashiki was direcly administered by the Edo shogunate for its economically strategic importance.
Several dozens of storehouses (kura) can still be found along a picturesque, tree lined canal in the historic city district, Kurashiki's main tourist attraction.
Hiroshima has been the principal city of the Chugoku Region for hundreds of years. After its construction in the 16th century, Hiroshima Castle was the most formidable fortification for miles. Today, Hiroshima is a vibrant city and home to over a million inhabitants.
When the first atomic bomb was dropped over Hiroshima on August 6, 1945, the city became known worldwide for this unenviable distinction. The destructive power of the bomb was tremendous and obliterated nearly everything within a 2 km radius. One of the few buildings that remained standing afterwards has been preserved; known today as the A-Bomb Dome, it is a monument to the bomb's dreadful power.
After the war, great efforts were taken to rebuild the city. Predictions that the city would be uninhabitable proved false. Destroyed monuments of Hiroshima's historical heritage, like Hiroshima Castle and Shukkeien Garden, were reconstructed. In the center of the city a large park was built and given a name that would reflect the aspirations of the re-born city: Peace Memorial Park.
Despite the legacy of the bomb, Hiroshima has very much become a modern city. The downtown area is filled with places to shop, eat, and otherwise enjoy oneself. Another testament to Hiroshima's vitality is the Mazda Motor Corporation, which is based in the city. Mazda has a large factory outside the city center that offers visitors a museum as well as a look at its cars being assembled.
Miyajima is a small island less than an hour outside the city of Hiroshima. Miyajima is most famous for its giant torii gate, which at high tide seems to float on top of the water. The sight is ranked as one of Japan's three best views.While officially named Itsukushima, the island is more commonly referred to as Miyajima, Japanese for "shrine-island". This is because the island is so closely related to its shrine, Itsukushima Shrine, in the public's mind. Like the torii gate, the shrine's main buildings are built over water.
Miyajima is a romantic place, best enjoyed by staying overnight at one of the island's ryokan. There are many day tourists, but in the evening the area becomes much quieter and peaceful. There are wild deer on the island that have become accustomed to people. In the day the deer wander around the same sites as the tourists, and in the evening they sleep along the walking paths.
Kurashiki is a city in Okayama Prefecture, a few kilometers west of Okayama City.
During the Edo Period, Kurashiki was a center for storing rice harvested in the surrounding, fertile regions. Literally meaning something like "storehouse town", Kurashiki was direcly administered by the Edo shogunate for its economically strategic importance.
Several dozens of storehouses (kura) can still be found along a picturesque, tree lined canal in the historic city district, Kurashiki's main tourist attraction.
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