Stretching across Japan's tranquil inland sea, the Setouchi region is a tapestry of islands and coastal retreats where history, nature, art and living traditions intertwine.

From ancient archaeological sites to world-class contemporary design, Setouchi offers travellers a wealth of experiences beyond the country's better-known cities.

Setouchi is comprised of seven diverse prefectures – Ehime, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kagawa, Okayama, Tokushima and Yamaguchi – that border the Seto Inland Sea. Each is well-connected to Japan's other major cities by air, road and rail. Among the region's many highlights are the islands of Ieshima, Iwaishima, Naoshima and Shōdoshima.

Ieshima Islands: Legends and living heritage:
The Ieshima Islands in Hyogo prefecture trace their history back 20,000 years. Archaeological finds include Paleolithic stone tools and the ancient Engishiki records of Ieshima Shrine. Once home to imperial horse ranches, the islands are steeped in stories of Japan's earliest civilisation. Today, Ieshima is celebrated for serene seascapes, spiritual traditions, and festivals such as the Tenjin Festival, alongside sites like the Chinkandō Burial Mound.

Iwaishima: A sacred island of poetry and tradition
Off Yamaguchi prefecture's southern tip lies Iwaishima, celebrated in Japan's oldest poetry collection, the Manyoshu. Revered as sacred since ancient times, this fishing island preserves a traditional way of life in its stone-lined alleys and centuries-old fences. The spirit of the island thrives in the Kamimai ritual dance, a sacred performance held every four years that has been passed down for over a millennium. Seasonal sights, including terraced rice fields, cherry blossoms and gentle coastal paths, offer a chance to slow down and glimpse spiritual Japan.

Naoshima: Where art meets nature

Internationally renowned as Japan's 'art island,' Naoshima blends cutting-edge creativity with tranquil landscapes. A highlight is Sana Mane, a glamping retreat of geodesic dome tents overlooking a private beach. At its centre is Sazae, an organic solid-wood sauna with a striking shell-shaped exterior. Guests can enjoy outdoor dining with Okayama Wagyu beef and fresh local produce. Prices start from £230 per villa per night for two with a sauna and dining plan (as at September 2025).

Also in the Kagawa prefecture is Kyukamura Sanuki Goshikidai, a hotel that reopened in March 2025 after extensive renovation. It offers hillside views of the island-studded Inland Sea. Its 400-square-metre terrace with a reflecting pool is inspired by the 'mirror-sky' of Chichibugahama Beach. Guests can relax in the Sky Bath with sweeping panoramas or stay in new Setouchi Terrace premium suites launched in May 2025. Nearby, visitors can explore the iconic movie set of the 1954 film, Twenty-Four Eyes, a Japanese classic. Prices start from £147 per night for two sharing a Japanese-style mountain-view room (as at September 2025).

Shōdoshima: Japan's living fermentation culture

The island where the movie Twenty-Four Eyes was set and known as the Soy Sauce Island, Shōdoshima has been a hub of soy sauce production since the Edo period. The island still preserves the craft of kioke shikomi shoyu — fermentation in wooden barrels, an increasingly rare practice worldwide. With over 1,100 barrels still in use, the island represents a true 'living fermentation culture.' Visitors to Hishio no Sato (Soy Sauce Village) can tour Meiji-era breweries, sample richly aromatic soy sauce and watch traditional brewing in action, all while enjoying a photogenic historic townscape.

How to get there

For air travellers, each prefecture has a convenient domestic airport with connections to international airports in Osaka and Tokyo, as well as other airports throughout Japan. Some Setouchi airports have direct international flights from certain Asian cities including Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Taipei. The airports of Setouchi are Yamaguchi Ube Airport and Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport in Yamaguchi, Okayama Momotaro Airport, Hiroshima Airport, Matsuyama Airport (Ehime), Tokushima Awaodori Airport, Takamatsu Airport (Kagawa) and Kobe Airport (Hyogo).

For rail travellers, express trains and the Tokaido/Sanyo Shinkansen (bullet train) serve Setouchi, stopping at Shin-Kobe, Himeji, Okayama, Hiroshima, and Shin-Yamaguchi. Many trains are covered by the Japan Rail Pass or the JR Setouchi Area Pass. Some bus and ferry services, trams in Okayama, and the Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus (Meipuru-pu) are also covered by the passes. Express trains to Setouchi include Super Hakuto from Kyoto, which stops at Osaka, and several stations in Hyogo including Kobe and Himeji.

You can also travel with Japan Bus Lines, or drive. By car, departing from Osaka, the Hanshin Expressway is a convenient way to start your journey. The expressway runs through Kobe, where you can connect with National Route 2, which continues through Okayama, Hiroshima and Yamaguchi, then on to Kyushu. With typical Japanese efficiency, most rental cars in the country have an ETC card installed to pay expressway tolls wirelessly.

From ancient shrines to experimental architecture, soy sauce breweries to sacred ritual dances, Setouchi's islands invite travellers to embrace 'island time.' Each destination blends nature, heritage and creativity, a rare invitation to experience Japan at its most authentic and inspiring.

More information:

Authentic Japan: Setouchi - Setouchi Official Travel Guide

Original text © 2025 Breaking Travel News

Title picture: Kengo Itou/Pixabay

Iwaishima photo: BrackWorry/Wikimedia Commons

Other photos courtesy of Pexels and Unsplash creators