Chugoku: Top 10 Luxury Accommodations Near Popular Tourist Attractions

Shimane Prefecture

Shimane Prefecture is located in the northern part of the Chugoku region. It’s surrounded by beautiful natural scenery and boasts a coastline stretching for 1,027 kilometers from east to west, as well as vast mountain ranges. Shimane is also a popular foodie destination thanks to its fresh seafood, delicious rice, and traditional sweets.

Shimane is home to many tourist spots, including Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, said to be the best place in Japan to pray for luck in romance, and the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine, the remains of the first mine in Asia and, as of 2007, a registered World Heritage Site. You’ll also find beautiful historic townscapes in the area.

Inishie no Yado Keiun

Located a 15-minute walk from the popular Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine, Inishie no Yado Keiun is a modern inn that beautifully mixes together Japanese and Western decor. It has a sophisticated atmosphere and offers the kind of luxury that you can’t just find anywhere.

We recommend getting a premium guestroom with a private outdoor natural hot spring bath. Only premium room guests can enjoy a hot spring bath any time they like! Get ready to feel the wind on your face and let the hot waters of your private onsen wash all your troubles away.

Dinner consists of a course meal featuring a variety of sumptuous ingredients such as high-quality Shimane beef and local seafood from the Sea of Japan. Be sure to pair these exquisite dishes with a glass of sake from Izumo, said to be the birthplace of Japanese alcohol.

Kasuien Minami

This inn allows you to enjoy the waters of Tamatsukuri Onsen, a beloved hot spring with a history going back 1,300 years. Also known as “God’s hot water,” the spring is said to beautify the skin and improve your health. Various types of rooms are available, including Japanese style, Western style, and Japanese-Western style. Each boasts a unique, chic design. Some rooms are also equipped with their own onsen baths where you can enjoy the inn’s divine waters in private.

Another highlight of the inn is its exquisite food made from local seasonal ingredients. You’ll get to enjoy many unique dishes here, including carefully selected cuts of Shimane beef grilled into steaks and the local cuisine of Matsue City.

The inn boasts a garden that came in at fifth place in a 2017 ranking by the Journal of Japanese Gardening, an American publication dedicated to the art of Japanese gardens. It is a popular photo spot, so be sure to snap a few commemorative pictures there if you decide to stay at the inn. At night, the entire garden is illuminated, offering a completely different (but equally beautiful) scenery than during the day.

Tottori Prefecture

Located in northeastern Chugoku, Tottori Prefecture enjoys a mild climate and beautiful seasonal weather. It is known as one of Japan’s leading agricultural production areas with thriving rice, vegetable, and fruit farming industries.

Tottori Prefecture is probably best known for its sand dunes. Formed over many years, the Tottori Sand Dunes are works of art woven from sand. They change with the passage of time and the seasons, creating a view like no other.

Another Tottori highlight is Mt. Daisen, the highest peak in the Chugoku region, which came in at third place in the NHK's “Japan's Famous Peaks Ranking.” The mountain offers something different each season, from abundant verdure in spring and summer to colorful foliage in autumn and snowy landscapes in winter.

Sakaiminato Yunagi no Yu Onyado Nono

Onyado Nono sits 30 minutes from Yonago Airport by public transport. Due to its convenient location and large range of famous spots nearby, it is perfect for travelers looking to do some sightseeing. The guestrooms and interior feature an unfinished wood design that makes Onyado Nono feel like a relaxing oasis of peace amidst the hustle and bustle of city life.

One of the highlights of the inn are its open-air baths using natural hot spring water. You can dip into them from 3:00 pm to 10:00 am the next morning - perfect after a whole day of traveling and sightseeing. The spacious outdoor baths offer spectacular views of the Sakaiminato cityscape with the Sea of Japan in the background, making for an even more relaxing time. The baths are also available to day visitors.

Misasakan

Misasakan boasts a history going back 850 years. It offers everything from standard Japanese-style rooms to large rooms that can accommodate up to seven guests, as well as themed rooms with ensuite hot spring baths, so you can choose the room that best suits your needs!

The inn’s biggest attraction is its access to the waters of Misasa Onsen. Various baths fed directly from the hot spring are available here, including one in the middle of a tranquil garden, a large open-air bath that can be reserved for private use, and a footbath. Relax and allow the soft Misasa waters to gently envelop your body and soul.

A special type of bath filled with 200 rose flowers is available to female guests every day between 3:00 pm and 10:00 pm, allowing them to relax amidst a sea of floral fragrances.

The first thing you’ll see upon entering the inn is a magnificent Japanese garden, which offers different but always beautiful scenery depending on the season, and is also illuminated at night. Be sure to enjoy its charms while staying at the inn, perhaps from the inn’s cafe over a cup of tea.

Hiroshima Prefecture

Overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, Hiroshima Prefecture experiences little rainfall throughout the year and enjoys a mild climate even in winter, making it a pleasant place to live. It ranks first in Japan in terms of lemon and oyster production.

One of the most popular tourist destinations in Hiroshima is Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima, a registered World Heritage site. The sight of its torii gate floating above the surface of the sea is so beautiful that it is now considered one of the three most famous views in Japan.

Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto

Miyajima Grand Hotel Arimoto is the closest available accommodation to Itsukushima Shrine on Miyajima. Its most popular type of guestroom is a mixed Japanese-Western style suite with a private open-air bath offering some the most luxurious views of the famous World Heritage Site.

Nowhere else will you be able to enjoy the beauty of Miyajima from the comfort of your own private room.

In addition to rooms overlooking Itsukushima Shrine, the hotel also offers mixed Japanese-Western style rooms with can’t-miss views of Mt. Misen, the island’s majestic sacred mountain covered with a primeval forest.

The guestrooms were designed by Kyoto craftspeople in the traditional Japanese "sukiya" style, characterized by a floor plan that makes the most of the surrounding scenery and the use of natural materials to achieve a sense of harmony with nature. If you decide to stay at the hotel, spare a moment to admire this unique architectural style.

Migiwatei Ochi Kochi

This luxurious inn offers guestrooms with ocean views and ensuite open-air hot spring baths. The wooden deck baths allow guests to enjoy the elegance of hot springs while feeling the relaxing sea breeze on their faces.

The rooms emanate warmth with their Japanese-style design, and are equipped with Simmons mattresses and various amenities. You can easily tell that the utmost attention has gone into every little detail.

The inn’s commitment to perfection can also be found in its food, which is made from delicious seasonal ingredients, including specially-selected fish from the Seto Inland Sea, which spreads out just outside the inn. You can ask the cook to prepare the fish however you want.

Yamaguchi Prefecture

Overlooking both the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea, Yamaguchi Prefecture is home to many large fishing ports. The port of Shimonoseki is particularly known for its hauls of pufferfish, accounting for 80% of Japan's total production.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Yamaguchi is Motonosumi Inari Shrine, known for its row of 123 torii gates that stretches for more than 100 meters, creating a dazzling sight. It is said that if you are able to throw money into the offering box placed atop the main large gate, your wish will come true.

There's also Hagi City, which was built around Hagi Castle under the orders of Terumoto Mori, a military commander who had a strong connection to the area. The beauty of the white-walled townscape has earned it the title of a World Heritage Site (as a part of the Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution).

Otani Sanso

The water used at this inn comes straight from Nagato Yumoto Onsen, a hot spring with a 600-year-long history. Each guestroom offers a different view of the surrounding scenery, from green mountainsides to the nearby river where you can relax and enjoy the gentle wind on your face.

The highlight of Otani Sanso is getting to soak in the waters of Nagato Yumoto Onsen, with a total of 11 different types of baths available on the first and second floors. The men's and women's baths are switched at different times of the day, so you can sample every type of hot spring bath that this inn has to offer.

The inn is located near the Sea of Japan and at the foot of the Chugoku Mountains, making it one of the best places to enjoy both seafood and mountain delicacies. Guests can choose from a variety of meal plans, including courses made from seasonal ingredients, "teppanyaki" griddle dishes, and "yakitori" grilled chicken skewers.

Iwakuni Kokusai Kanko Hotel

Iwakuni Kokusai Kanko Hotel overlooks the wooden Kintai Bridge, one of the three most famous bridges in Japan. The surrounding area attracts many tourists all year round with its seasonal beauty, offering cherry blossoms in spring and fireworks during the summer nights. If you decide to stay at the hotel, definitely get a room with a view of the Kintai Bridge.

You can also enjoy the view of the Kintai Bridge from the inn's hot springs, which are enshrouded by mist in the morning and illuminated at night. Both views are spectacular and a can’t-miss part of a stay at the hotel. As is the view of Iwakuni Castle, built by the first lord of the Iwakuni Domain.

During dinner, you’ll enjoy the local cuisine of Iwakuni, especially Iwakuni-zushi, a gorgeous type of pressed sushi that’s like an edible work of art. Other delicacies include "ayu" sweetfish caught via cormorant fishing, which is a traditional summer scene around the Kintai Bridge.

Okayama Prefecture

Okayama Prefecture has long been an important transportation hub for the Chugoku and Shikoku regions. The area is also known as the cradle of Japanese culture and has contributed to Japan’s various industrial and economic developments.

Okayama Prefecture is popularly known as the “Land of Sunshine” because it experiences very little rainfall when compared to the rest of the country. The southern part of Okayama offers views of the islands of the Seto Inland Sea, while the northern part is home to lush green mountains and popular hot spring resorts.

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the prefecture is Okayama Korakuen, one of the three most famous gardens in Japan, which was completed around the year 1700.

The Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, which served as a center for marine and river trade in the mid-17th century, is another one of Okayama’s can’t-miss tourist spots. The elegant streets and white-walled warehouses that still retain the atmosphere of days past allow visitors to experience Okayama’s history as they stroll through the area.

Ryori Ryokan Tsurugata

Located in the heart of the Kurashiki Bikan Historical Quarter, Ryori Ryokan Tsurugata is a traditional "ryokan" inn established within a merchant's house built in 1744. It still retains many of the original structure’s historic pillars and floors, which help transport guests back in time.

The inn’s largest available room, called “Achi,” has its own expansive garden offering stunning views like a 400-year-old pine tree.

At Ryori Ryokan Tsurugata, you can enjoy sukiyaki stew made with Japanese beef or specialty chazuke (dish where tea or broth is served over rice) made with sea bream fillets dipped in sesame sauce. In addition to lunch and dinner, we also recommend dessert time. The inn serves up Japanese sweets between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm.

Okutsuso

This registered tangible cultural property boasts a history going back more than 90 years. At Okutsuso, you can enjoy soaking in hot spring waters that come straight from the source, without being heated, mixed with other water, or circulated in any way. The water at Okutsuso gushes out at a surprising rate of 247 liters per minute.

Another perk of staying at Okutsuso is that they offer detached villa rooms for those who desire extra privacy.

Guests can choose from up to nine different courses during mealtime, including ones consisting of seasonal ingredients, a variety of regional dishes, and shabu-shabu using Japanese Black beef. Most of the ingredients come from Okayama and Okutsu, and all the dishes are cooked right at the inn.

Discover the Chugoku Region in Style and Luxury

We hope that you’ve enjoyed our carefully curated selection of the most luxurious accommodations in Chugoku. Experience the height of the region's culture and history, and let the nostalgic atmosphere soothe your body and soul. If you ever find yourself planning a trip to the Chugoku region, please use this article to find a place to stay that’s perfect for you.