The Chugoku region is located between Seto inland Sea and Sea of Japan. This historical and traditional cultural region has many historical related sightseeing spots. World heritage, natural and national treasures. We’ll show you 5 recommended events such as Autumn leaves of Japanese garden, the biggest modern art of Japan at Tottori sakyu (sand dunes), festival, 150th Year Commemorative Special Exhibition Ryōma Sakamoto who is a historical hero many Japanese like him.
Event to enjoy nature
1. ＜Okayama＞Autumn leaves at Okayama – Korakuen: Middle of November – Beginning December 2017
Okayama Korakuen is one of the Three Great Gardens (Others are Kenrokuen in Kanazawa and Kairakuen in Mito) of Japan. About 300 years ago, Ikeda Tsunamasa, daimyo (feudal lord) ordered to create this garden for relaxation. They have scenic spots such as “ Chishio-no-mori groves” where you can enjoy autumn leaves of maple. ”Chishio” means to dye a cloth many times. This year you can enjoy beautiful autumn leaves especially at the end of November or beginning of December. Across the garden path are the “Benzaiten-do Shrine “and “Inari Shrine”.Besides “Enyo-tei House” which being used as a place to receive the daimyo (Japanese feudal lord) when he visited Korakuen. “Noh Stage and Eisho”” Renchi-ken Rest House” where you can see a view full of undulations. Don’t miss to see 240 pine trees.
Schedule
・Date： October 1 – March 19
・Hours：8:00-17:00（entry by 16:45）
No closing days
Access & address
・Place：Okayama Korakuen
・Nearest station：JR Okayama Station 25 –minute walk
FromJR Okayama Korakuen guchi(east exsit) bus terminal platform 1
city bus 10-15minutes
FromJR Okayama Station tram to Higashiyama 4 minutes get off at
“Shiroshita” 10-minute walk
FromＪＲ Okayama Station about 10 minutes by taxi (about 1.8km)
・Address： 1-5 Kourakuen Okayama Kita-ku, Okayama
・Map
Admission & reservation
Admission：Adults(ages 15-64*) 400yen * except for junior high & high school students
Children (ages 6-14) free of charge
Senior（65+） 140yen
No reservation required
Official website
2.＜Yamaguchi＞Autumn leaves at Mōri Gardens: Middle of November – Beginning December,2017
Source: flickr
In 1916, the residence was built for Mōri who became daimyō (a feudal lord) of the Chōshū Domain under the Tokugawa shogunate. On the ground of 8,400㎡, filled with cypress trees and circular style garden which is designated as the scenic spot of Japan. This garden is one of the nicest spots for autumn leave viewing in west of Japan. When you enter the main gate,
you see a tunnel created by the beauty of the autumn leaves. Even if you don’t enter the garden, you can enjoy the wonderful colorful view. Especially we’ll recommend you “kagami-momiji (you see autumn leaves on the stream or pond just like mirror effect.)”autumn leaves combined with Japanese style housing” ”roadside tree of autumn leaves.” A part of the house is used as a museum. You can see national treasures, important cultural property and in total more than 20,000 of historical materials – like arts and crafts at this museum.
Schedule
・Date: the best season for autumn leaves
Middle of November – Beginning of December
Opened daily
・Time: 9:00-17:00 (Entrance until 16:30)
・Special exhibition” national treasure” November 1 – December 3
Access & Address
・Place：Mōri Gardens
・Nearest station：From JR Sanyo Line Hōfu Station ,Bocho bus “To Amidaji temple”
6 minutes get off at “Mōri hontei iriguchi(Mōri main house entrance)”
6- minute walk
・Address：1-15-1 Tatara , Hōfu , Yamaguchi
・Map
Admission & reservation
Admission: Adults 400 yen / elementary school & junior high school students 200yen
No reservation required
Official website
Modern art event
3. ＜Tottori＞Tottori sakyu(sand dune) illusion2017: December, 9 – December 24, 2017
Source: flickr
Tottori Sakyu Illusion 2017- this popular event will be held for the 15th time this year. The illusion of this year is related to the theme “world trip with sand/America” of the sand museum. You can enjoy scenes of America that illuminated with about 300,000 of lights. The illumination of cute animals welcomes you. This period of the year is cold so you can drink warm drinks at “CUPBER” . You can also buy original goods. Don’t place any signs in the sand nor using a drone.
Schedule
Date: Saturday, December,9– Sunday, December ,24, 2017
Time：17：30 – 21:00
- Participatory event: Quiz 【(temporary name) gold rush】
- Stage events : Every weekend, groups or individual persons can join the Tottori sakyu illusion performance
- Opening ceremony for lighting (December,9, start at 17;00)
Closing ceremony for the illumination festival
And more
Access & address
・Place： Around Tottori sakyu parking lot
・Nearest station：FromJR Tottori Station,
Nihon Kotsu/ Hinomaru Bus, “To Tottori sakyu” 22 minutes,
last stop nearby
・From Tottori airport about 20 minutes by taxi
・Address： 2164-661Fukubechoyuyama Tottori, Tottori
・Map
Admission & reservation
Tottori sakyu parking fee
motorcycle：200yen / car：500 yen / minibus：1,000yen
After 7:00 free of charge
In front of the “The Sand Museum” parking lot : free of charge
Sakyu Center: free of charge
No reservation required
Official website
Traditional festival
4. Izumo Taisha Shrine Kamiari Festival: November,28 and December , 2 & 4, 2017
Source:出雲観光ガイド
Izumo Taisha Shrine dedicated to the god Ōkuninushi which is seen as the god of marriage / god of luck. The main hall which is built in 1744 is in the Taisha style, the oldest style of building shrines and it is designated national treasures of Japan. The 10th month of Japanese old calendar all the Gods from the nation gather in Izumo. It is called “Kannazuki “because all Gods are away from their lands, but it is called” Kamiaritsuki “ here in Izumo. The gods have a meeting called ”kamubakari”. During this period of“ Kamiaritsuki “,”Kamimukae festival” “Enmusubi Grand Festival” and in a total five festivals are held. It’s called ” Kamiari Festival” .
Especially “Enmusubi Grand Festival” which held 2nd-4th December at the main gate is very popular. You need a reservation. Prayer fee 5,000 yen.
Schedule
・Date；” Kamiari Festival” night of November,27 – December,4
“Enmusubi Grand Festival” December 2 & 4.
・Time： December 1 “ Extraordinary Enmusubi Grand Festival” 10:00 A.M
December 2 “Enmusubi Grand Festival” 10:00 A.M.
December 3 “Extraordinary Enmusubi Grand Festival” 10:00 A.M
December 4 “Enmusubi Grand Festival” 10:00 A.M.
Access & address
・Place：Izumo taisha shrine
“Enmusubi Grand Festival” is held at the main shrine
・Nearest station：Ichibata Railway” Izumo Taisha-mae Station” 7-minute walk
・JR “Izumoshi Station” 25 minutes by bus
・Address：Izumo taisha shrine office
195 Taishacho Kizukihigashi, Izumo-shi, Shimane, 699-0701
・Map
Admission & reservation
Visit free
No reservation required
Official website
http://www.izumooyashiro.or.jp/
A traditional cultural event to experience and to learn about history
5. ＜Yamaguchi＞150th Year Commemorative Special Exhibition Ryōma Sakamoto: “Shimonoseki ,view from Ryoma ‘s eyes”
Source: Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation
Ryōma Sakamoto. He is one of Japan’s most favorite and famous historical hero. About 160 years ago Japan was under the period of national isolation for more than 200 years. America forced the opening of Japan and trade through a series of unequal treaties. Ryōma was a person who was against the “Tokugawa bakufu” (Military regime of feudalism) and tried to return the regime to the emperor. One of his achievements that he settled a relationship between Choshu (present Yamaguchi prefecture) and Satsuma (present Kagoshima prefecture) to tie up and create an anti-Tokugawa shogunate, it called” Satsuma-Chōshū Alliance “. That brought the power back to the Emperor and the reconstruction of the Japanese monarchy. For Ryōma Sakamoto. ”Shimonoseki” is a place where he planned the Satsuma-Chōshū alliance and new plan. You can see images and photo’s where Ryōma Sakamoto lived.
Schedule
・Date: October 14 – December,10, 2017
Closed on Mondays
・Open 9:30 – 17:00 (no entry after 16:30)
Access & Address
・Place：Shimonoseki city museum of history
・Nearest station： From JR Shimonoseki Station by bus 25 minutes get off
” Jōkamachi Chofu” 10-minute walk
・Address：2-2-27 Chofukawabata Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi
・Map
Admission & reservation
General 500yen / University students 300yen
No reservation required
Official Website
If this got you interested in experiencing deep local culture first hand, we, MagicalTrip provide unique night tours with a friendly local guide in Japan. You’ll get to go to local Izakaya bars to enjoy authentic food and drinks, why don’t you give MagicalTrip’s Bar Hopping Food Tours.