My turn to ask for some help...

I have about 5 days for some travel in Japan, and I would like to visit the area around Hiroshima and Tottori. I really am interested by Hiroshima and Miyajima, which I have never visited, and by the Nihonkai, perhaps Kinosaki Onsen. Apart of that, I have no idea what is the most interesting to see...

So if you have any suggestion for an itinerary, I would be very interested...

Thanks,

sanji

Between Hiroshima and Totori it is necessary to visit the edges of the lake Shinji with the towns of Matsue and Izumo (two night). Miyajima is one of the places of the most sympathetic in Japan. It is necessary to spend a night there to visit the island.

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Entre Hiroshima et Totori il faut visiter les bords du lac Shinji avec les villes de Matsue et d'Izumo.
Miyajima est l'un des endroits du Japon le plus sympa. Il faut y passer une nuit pour visiter l'île.

Thanks for the tips!

I also enjoyed reading your new post on Bitchu Takahashi. As comprehsensive as usual!

This will help me to plan my trip there. I just need to find some (nice) onsen (with great views) to add to my itinerary


sanji

Dear sanji-san,

Hiroshima and Miyajima are more than worth to go, I really think it's a must-see in Japan.

I don't really have any specific tips about this region (Hiroshima and Miyajima), everything is pretty straightforward... You can check my blog for these two destinations :

Hiroshima : http://tinou81.wordpress.com/2004/04/01/haruyasumide-kagoshima-a-sapporohiroshima/
Miyajima : http://tinou81.wordpress.com/2004/04/01/haruyasumide-kagoshima-a-sapporomiyajima/

A typhoon caused heavy damages to Itsukushima shrine in october 2004... Don't know if it's been restored since then...

I came back yesterday from my 1-week "off the beaten track" trip. It was great, and I will prepare several guides... when some time will be available

I indeed loved Hiroshima & Miyajima. Wish I had seen your pages before, I missed them. But I can confirm that the tori and the shrine in Miyajima are completely restored.

Why not posting some of your pictures & texts here, tinou-san

I also had the great opportunity to visit less popular places:
- Sensuijima, recommended by fredayu, it really worth the trip - I overnighted there;
- Matsue was indeed very nice, and the castle incredible;
- Misasa Onsen, close to Daisen, is the most radioactive onsen in Japan - a great experience;
- Tottori sand dunes - it is packed with tourists, but really fun;
- Kinosaki Onsen - a fantastic onsen town on the Nihonkai with 7 public baths; and I visited all of them the same evening!

Not to mention stops in Okayama, Fukuyama, Kurashiki, Onomichi, etc...
Thanks to you guys, this trip was really fantastic. That's what the forum is for...

sanji wrote: › - Tottori sand dunes - it is packed with tourists, but really fun;

Is it really? Such a pity...

I'm actually dreaming of travelling with local train, using seishun 18 kippu, between Shimonoseki and Kyoto, not along the south line through Yamaguchi, Hiroshima and Himeji, but along the north coast facing Sea of Japan (or East Sea) through remote Shimane-ken and Tottori... I would really to taste remoteness here...

sanji wrote (View Post): › I also had the great opportunity to visit less popular places: - Misasa Onsen, close to Daisen, is the most radioactive onsen in Japan - a great experience;

Is it safe to go there?

Well, Misasa Onsen is one of the most radioactive hot spring in Japan, reaching a maximum of 683 Mache or 9361 Bq/L. There are more radioactive springs in Japan, but their waters are cooler than 25 degrees Celsius.

The World Health Organization (WHO) fixes the following limit for drinking water : 258.9 Bq/L. The EU fixes that same limit, for private wells, at 1000 Bq/L. Which means that Misasa Onsen is normally not producing drinkable water.

On the other hand, studies shows that the rate of cancer in Misasa Onsen is not increased compared to other places in Japan, so there is no clear sign of danger for the people living there. Radioactive springs are also popular in Europe, and much more radioactive springs are found there (like in Badgastein, Austria).

sanji