Welcome back to SETOUCHI

Craving a post-lockdown adventure? Escape the crowds on an island-hopping experience that will relax the mind and send the heart racing…

With hot springs, secluded bike trails and bridge-connected islands that appear to float, the region of Setouchi in the Seto Inland Sea offers crowd-free adventures immersed in nature. Here are three reasons to visit when you’re ready to travel again…

1 Soothe the soul

If you’re looking to unwind after a stressful year, then there’s no better way than to immerse yourself in an indoor onsen (hot spring) or open-air rotenburo.

Do as the locals do and scrub yourself clean before climbing into the steaming water, then bathe in the nude in 40°C mineral water. Your toes will tingle at first, but you’ll soon become accustomed to the heat and your muscles will relax.

At Kinsuikan, a traditional ryokan (inn) on Miyajima Island, you can soak in the onsen at dusk before going for a stroll dressed in a yukata (cotton kimono) and geta (wooden sandals). Walk the lantern-lit path to the red torii gate in front of Itsukushima Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and suddenly the stresses of daily life back home will feel another world away.

You can escape into the past at Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, which inspired the animation Spirited Away. At 3,000 years old, it’s Japan’s oldest onsen, with an exterior resembling a castle and an interior featuring traditional scenes made from porcelain tiles.

Rotenburos crank the relaxation stakes up another level. Depending on the time of year, snowflakes or cherry blossom may drop on your head and you can watch and listen to the birds in the surrounding forest.