Discovering the hidden charms of Hiroshima, Matsuyama, Tokushima and more
Photos: Weekender
I never seem to tire of Japan, no matter how often I step foot into its maze of skyscrapers, shrines and pop cultural hangouts.
This time round, I found myself discovering the Setouchi area in the heart of autumn, where we luxuriated in a poetic dreamscape of fall foliage.
The region consists of a national park, calm inland seas and beautiful islands, in addition to historical buildings and cultural sites.
Escaping the hustle and bustle of Tokyo, we plunged into the quieter gems of the country — exploring the likes of Miyajima, Hiroshima, Imabari and more.
To explore Setouchi like a local, be sure to tick these 14 activities off your checklist:
5. Watch the sunset from Matsuyama Castle
Hold on tight as the chairlift whisks you from the ground and up, up away to Matsuyama Castle.
Situated on a steep hilltop, the site is one of Japan’s 12 castles to have survived the post-feudal era since 1868.
As you walk through the winding castle grounds, keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful foliage and bird’s eye view of Matsuyama city.
One can only imagine how breath-taking the castle would be during the cherry blossoms season.
1 Marunouchi, Matsuyama, Ehime Prefecture 790-0008, Japan
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