Top Reasons to Go to Western Honshu

Photogenic Icons: Beside Miyajima, the O-torii rises from the Inland Sea. An hour from Matsue is the austere Izumo Taisha, a Shinto shrine reputed to ensure marital happiness.

Fabulous Seafood: Great seafood abounds: oysters in Hiroshima (kaki); anago (conger eel) in Miyajima; uni-don (sea urchin over rice) in Hagi; mamakari (a sardine-like fish) in Kurashiki and Okayama; and little black shijimi clams in Matsue.

Lessons of the Past: Although Atomic-Bomb Dome in Hiroshima is held in great reverence, the city has embraced the future with its energetic multinational vibe.

Gardens: Okayama is home to one of Japan's top three gardens, the spacious and dazzling Korakuen, which surrounds the stunning black U-jo, or "Crow Castle."

The People: The people here are among the friendliest and most unhurried in Japan. Foreigners may garner stares, but locals go above and beyond to help puzzled tourists.