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.
Esta historia es de la edición March/April 2021 de Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
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Esta historia es de la edición March/April 2021 de Wanderlust Travel Magazine.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
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Vermont, USA
The Wanderlust team relocated to New England for part of this issue, as we explored a lush state filled with outdoor escapes, historic towns... and lashings of maple syrup
Unique North America
See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens
