Western Honshū Getting there & around

Getting there & away

The shinkansen (bullet train) along the San-yō coast is the fastest way to travel in the Chūgoku region from the east or west. Along the San-in coast, express trains will limit train changes and shorten travel times by up to half. Between the San-yō and San-in coasts it’s often quicker to go by bus, but most services are not covered by the Japan Rail Pass. The San-in coast is great to explore by car – Rte 9 is the only major road. An alternative is to take the Chūgoku Expressway, which runs the full length of Western Honshū more or less equidistant from the north and south coasts. Attractions along this route are limited, so it’s a quick way to get to Kyūshū or Central Honshū.