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70-475: The sea around the island ( Seto Inland Sea ) and all of the island are within Setonaikai National Park . The north side of the mountain is covered by primeval forest which is protected by Hiroshima prefecture. The foot of the mountain has Momijidani-Kōen ( 紅葉谷公園 , Maple Valley Park ) . According to the website of Miyajima Tourist Association, Mount Misen was visited by Kūkai in

140-474: A German curriculum, the school changed to The Primary Years Programme (PYP) in 2002. Today, Deutsche Schule Kobe/European School provides curriculum in three languages: German, English, and Japanese. In 1913, Canadian Methodist Academy opened its doors to sixteen children. The school, renamed Canadian Academy in 1917, served children of missionary parents from grade one through high school and offered boarding facilities for students from throughout Asia. Today,

210-740: A cruise on the Setuchi. The eastern end of the Sea is now famous for the Setouchi Triennale set up in 2010 with the next event happening in 2022. Some of this takes place on the island of Naoshima , known colloquially as the art island, and the home of several permanent museums. At the far eastern extremity, as the Sea meets the Pacific Ocean, are the Naruto whirlpools that can be reached by sight-seeing boats. The Shiwaku Islands are

280-476: A defined group numbering 28 that can be reached by ferry boat from Marugame . Here Richard Henry Brunton built one of his lighthouses that can still be seen, and the grave of Frank Toovey Lake , a young midshipman in his survey party has become famous. In the central area of Seto Inland Sea is Mount Ishizuchi on Shikoku . It is the highest mountain in western Japan and the highest mountain in Shikoku . In

350-629: A local seaport on the Seto Inland Sea, and some of them were actually built. The Ministry of Railroads, later the Japanese National Railways and then Shikoku Railway Company , ran some train ferry lines between Honshū and Shikoku including the line between Uno Station (Tamano) and Takamatsu Station (Takamatsu). When the Great Seto Bridge was finished and began to serve the two coastal areas, that ferry line

420-521: A main transport line between its coastal areas, including what is today the Kansai region and Kyushu . It was also a main transport line between Japan and other countries, including Korea and China. Even after the creation of major highways such as the Nankaidō and San'yōdō , the Seto Inland Sea remained a major transport route. There are records that some foreign emissaries from China and Korea sailed on

490-501: A missionary homeschooled her son, his best friend and another student in their home. The next year, the home turned into Kyoto Christian Day School and a full-time teacher was hired. The school was renamed Kyoto International School in 1966. Today, the school serves students from two to fourteen years old. The school has been accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) since 1992 and authorized by

560-568: A number of smaller ones that pass between islands or connect the Seto Inland Sea to other seas or the Pacific . Almost 3,000 islands are located in the Seto Inland Sea. The largest island is Awaji-shima , and the second largest is Shōdo-shima . Many of the smaller islands are uninhabited. Over 500 marine species are known to live in the Seto Inland Sea. Examples are the ayu , an amphidromous fish, horseshoe crab , finless porpoise , and great white shark , which has occasionally attacked people in

630-506: A part of Hiroshima Prefecture ) clans were two of the more famous suigun lords. In the 12th century, Taira no Kiyomori planned to move the capital from Kyoto to the coastal village of Fukuhara (today Kobe ) to promote trade between Japan and the Song dynasty of China. This transfer was unsuccessful, and soon after Kyoto became the capital again. Later, the Battle of Yashima took place off

700-634: A part of Kobe ) and Akashi for two years. In medieval literature, because of the Genpei War , the Seto Inland Sea is one of the important backgrounds of The Tale of the Heike , particularly in its latter part. In the Western world, Donald Richie wrote a literary nonfiction travelogue called The Inland Sea relating a journey along the sea, beginning from the East at Himeji and ending at Miyajima in

770-457: A part of Wakayama Prefecture , was appointed the Setonaikai National Park ( 瀬戸内海国立公園 , Setonaikai Kokuritsu kōen ) on March 16, 1934, as one of three oldest national parks in Japan. Itsukushima Shrine , on the island of Itsukushima in the city of Hatsukaichi , is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous Japanese sites outside Tokyo and Kyoto . Shōdoshima , nicknamed

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840-576: A part of the Ritsuryō reforms of the seventh and eighth centuries, the provinces of Yamato , Yamashiro , Kawachi , Settsu , and Izumi , were established by the Gokishichidō . These provinces were collectively referred to as Kinai or Kinki. The Kansai region lays claim to the earliest beginnings of Japanese civilization. It was Nara , the most eastern point on the Silk Road , that became

910-668: A result. In April 2016, Kinki University ( 近畿大学 , Kinki Daigaku ) changed its English name to Kindai University . Keizai sangyō-kyoku ( 経済産業局 , Kinki Bureau of Economy ) uses "Kansai" in English notation, and Kinki Unyukyoku ( 近畿運輸局 , Kinki Transport Bureau ) also uses "Kansai" in English notation since 2015. In addition, the Kinki shōkō kaigi-sho rengō-kai ( 近畿商工会議所連合会 , Kinki Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association ) changed its name to "Kansai Chamber of Commerce and Industry Association" on July 22, 2015. In

980-522: A small population increase beginning around 2010. International schools have served expatriates in the Kansai region since 1909. Outside of Tokyo and Yokohama, Kansai has the largest number of international schools. In 1909, Deutsche Schule Kobe was founded to serve German, Austrian and German-speaking Swiss expatriates, traders and missionaries living in the Kobe area. After a long history of teaching

1050-546: A strong sense of humor. Kantō people, on the other hand, are perceived as more sophisticated, reserved and formal, in keeping with Tokyo's history and modern status as the nation's capital and largest metropolis." Kansai is known for its food, especially Osaka, as supported by the saying "Kyotoites are ruined by overspending on clothing, Osakans are ruined by overspending on food." ( 京の着倒れ、大阪の食い倒れ , Kyō no Kidaore, Ōsaka no Kuidaore ) . Popular Osakan dishes include takoyaki , okonomiyaki , kitsune udon and kushikatsu . Kyoto

1120-624: Is 105 m (344 ft). Hydrologically, Seto Inland Sea is not a true inland sea , being neither an epeiric body of water like Hudson Bay nor an isolated endorheic basin like the Caspian Sea . Rather, it is actually a marginal sea : a division of a wider ocean (in this case the Pacific) which is partially enclosed by islands, archipelagos, or peninsulas (here, the Japanese Home Islands), adjacent to or widely open to

1190-471: Is a cultural center and the historical heart of Japan, with 11% of the nation's land area and 22,757,897 residents as of 2010. The Osaka Plain with the cities of Osaka and Kyoto forms the core of the region. From there the Kansai area stretches west along the Seto Inland Sea towards Kobe and Himeji , and east encompassing Lake Biwa , Japan's largest freshwater lake. In the north, the region

1260-476: Is a great cedar tree which could be seen as mysterious lights from the sea off the coast of Miyajima. It was said the lights were clearer on the eve of a lunar New Year . The cedar is now dead and only the stump remains. The Mount Misen Primeval Forest covers the north side of the mountain. Various conifer trees grow at elevations above 400 m, including fir and Japanese hemlock , in addition to evergreen broad-leaf trees such as Quercus salicina . Halfway to

1330-796: Is bordered by the Sea of Japan , to the south by the Kii Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean , and to the east by the Ibuki Mountains and Ise Bay . Four of Japan's national parks lie within its borders, in whole or in part. The area also contains six of the seven top prefectures in terms of national treasures . Other geographical features include Amanohashidate in Kyoto Prefecture and Awaji Island in Hyōgo . The Kansai region

1400-481: Is considered a mecca of traditional Japanese cuisine like kaiseki . Kansai has many wagyu brands such as Kobe beef and Tajima cattle from Hyōgo, Matsusaka beef from Mie and Ōmi beef from Shiga. Sake is another specialty of the region, the areas of Nada-Gogō and Fushimi produce 45% of all sake in Japan. As opposed to food from Eastern Japan, food in the Kansai area tends to be sweeter, and foods such as nattō tend to be less popular. The dialects of

1470-402: Is currently closed to visitors. Kanman-iwa (Ebb-and-flow rock) This rock sits about 500 meters above sea level, but somehow saltwater rises and subsides inside its hollow according to the ebb and flow of the tide. Hyoshigi-no oto (Sound of wooden clappers) Here you can hear the 'clink, clink' sound of beating wooden clappers coming from nowhere in the middle of the night. Legend has it that

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1540-498: Is known for its moderate climate, with a stable year-round temperature and relatively low rainfall levels. The sea is famous for its periodic red tides ( 赤潮 , akashio ) caused by dense groupings of certain phytoplankton that result in the death of large numbers of fish. Since the 1980s, the sea's northern and southern shores have been connected by the three routes of the Honshū–Shikoku Bridge Project , including

1610-596: Is native to Osaka . Kansai's unique position in Japanese history, plus the lack of damage from wars or natural disasters, has resulted in Kansai region having more UNESCO World Heritage Listings than any other region of Japan. The five World Heritage Listings include: Buddhist Monuments in the Hōryū-ji Area , Himeji Castle , Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (Kyoto, Uji and Otsu Cities) , Historic Monuments of Ancient Nara , and Sacred Sites and Pilgrimage Routes in

1680-639: Is often compared with the Kantō region , which lies to its east and consists primarily of Tokyo and the surrounding area. Whereas the Kantō region is symbolic of standardization throughout Japan, the Kansai region displays many more idiosyncrasies – the culture in Kyoto , the mercantilism of Osaka , the history of Nara , or the cosmopolitanism of Kobe – and represents the focus of counterculture in Japan. This East-West rivalry has deep historical roots, particularly from

1750-555: Is the second-most populated in Japan after the Greater Tokyo Area . The terms Kansai ( 関西 ) , Kinki ( 近畿 ) , and Kinai ( 畿内 ) have their roots during the Asuka period . When the old provinces of Japan were established, several provinces in the area around the then-capital Yamato Province were collectively named Kinai and Kinki, both roughly meaning "the neighbourhood of the capital". Kansai (literally west of

1820-578: The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (the second-longest suspension bridge in the world) to Awaji Island , from there via the Ōnaruto Bridge to Ōge-jima ( Naruto , Tokushima Prefecture ) beyond the 1.3-kilometer wide Naruto Strait and finally across the Muya Bridge to Shikoku . The Great Seto Bridge connects Okayama Prefecture with Kagawa Prefecture since 1988. It consists of a total of six two-storey bridges, whose lower floors are used by

1890-543: The Edo period . With a samurai population of less than 1% the culture of the merchant city of Osaka stood in sharp contrast to that of Edo , the seat of power for the Tokugawa shogunate . Many characteristic traits of Kansai people descend from Osaka merchant culture. Catherine Maxwell, an editor for the newsletter Omusubi , writes: "Kansai residents are seen as being pragmatic, entrepreneurial, down-to-earth and possessing

1960-663: The Great Seto Bridge , which serves both railroad and automobile traffic. The International Hydrographic Organization 's definition of the limits of the Seto Inland Sea (published in 1953) is as follows: On the West. The southeastern limit of the Japan Sea [In Shimonoseki-kaikyo . A line running from Nagoya Saki (130°49'E) in Kyûsû through the islands of Uma Sima and Muture Simia (33°58',5N) to Murasaki Hana (34°01'N) in Honsyû ]. On

2030-462: The Heian period after the expansion of Japan saw the development of the Kantō region to the east and the need to differentiate what was previously the center of Japan in Kansai emerged. The name "Kinki" is pronounced similarly to the English word " kinky ", which means "twisted" or " perverted ". This has become a problem due to internationalization , and some organizations have changed their name as

2100-559: The Inland Sea , is the body of water separating Honshu , Shikoku , and Kyushu , three of the four main islands of Japan . It serves as a waterway connecting the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of Japan . It connects to Osaka Bay and provides a sea transport link to industrial centers in the Kansai region , including Osaka and Kobe . Before the construction of the San'yō Main Line , it was

2170-596: The International Baccalaureate (IB) and U.S. high school diplomas. The number of international schools burgeoned after World War II. In 1946, St. Michael's International School was established by Anglican Bishop Michael Yashiro and Miss Leonora Lee, a British missionary. Today, the school offers a distinctive British-style primary education based on the National Curriculum of England and Wales. The school has joint accreditation from

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2240-403: The Kinki region ( 近畿地方 , Kinki-chihō , IPA: [ki(ꜜ)ŋki̥ tɕiꜜhoː] ) lies in the southern-central region of Japan 's main island Honshū . The region includes the prefectures of Nara , Wakayama , Kyoto , Osaka , Hyōgo and Shiga , often also Mie , sometimes Fukui , Tokushima and Tottori . The metropolitan region of Osaka , Kobe and Kyoto ( Keihanshin region)

2310-838: The Meiji Restoration . During this golden age, the Kansai region would give birth to traditional Japanese culture. In 788, Saicho , the founder of the Tendai sect of Buddhism established his monastery at Mount Hiei in Shiga prefecture . Japan's most famous tale, and some say the world's first novel, The Tale of Genji was penned by Murasaki Shikibu while performing as a lady-in-waiting in Heian-kyo. Noh and Kabuki , Japan's traditional dramatic forms both saw their birth and evolution in Kyoto, while Bunraku , Japanese puppet theater,

2380-575: The "island of olives", and the Naruto whirlpools are two other well-known tourist sites. Neighboring locations like Kotohira and Okayama are often combined with the tour of the Setouchi region. Some historic sites, including Yashima in Takamatsu and Kurashiki , also attract many visitors. Hiroshima is the neighbor city to Itsukushima Shrine and another UNESCO World Heritage Site because of atomic bomb damage in 1945. Idol Unit STU48 operate on

2450-573: The Council of International Schools and the Western Association of Schools and Colleges. Brother Charles Fojoucyk and Brother Stephen Weber founded Marist Brothers International School in 1951 after communist authorities pressured them to leave Tientsin, China. Today, the international Montessori - Grade 12 school enrolls approximately 300 students. The school is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges . In 1957,

2520-767: The East ( Kii Suidô ). A line running from Takura Saki (34°16'N) in Honsyû to Oishi Hana in the island of Awazi , through this island to Sio Saki (34°11'N) and on to Oiso Saki in Sikoku . On the South ( Bungo Suidô ). A line joining Sada Misaki (33°20'N) in Sikoku and Seki Saki in Kyûsyû. The range of the Seto Inland Sea by the Territorial Sea Law ( 領海及び接続水域に関する法律 ) is 19,700 km (7,600 sq mi). The range of

2590-601: The Kii Mountain Range . The economy of Kansai region is largely based on that of Keihanshin (Greater Osaka) metropolitan area. Keihanshin metropolitan area contains the Hanshin Industrial Region and is centered mainly around chemical, metal, and other heavy industries. Keihanshin region also contains strong medical and electronics industries within its economy. Per Japanese census data, Kansai region much like Keihanshin has experienced

2660-528: The Pacific. Development of land transportation shifted the travel between east and west — that is, between Honshū and Kyūshū — to railroad and road transport. Two coastal railways, San'yō Main Line in Honshū and Yosan Main Line, were built. Those railway lines stimulated the local economy and once invoked a rail mania. Many short railroads were planned to connect a certain station of those two lines and

2730-546: The Seto Inland Sea according to the Setouchi Law and the Setouchi Law Enforcement Order is 21,827 km (8,427 sq mi). The Seto Inland Sea is 450 km (280 mi) long from east to west. The width from south to north varies from 15 to 55 km (10 to 34 mi). In most places, the water is relatively shallow. The average depth is 38 m (125 ft); the greatest depth

2800-445: The Seto Inland Sea as transport line served four coastal areas: Kansai, Chūgoku, Shikoku, and eastern Kyūshū. The Seto Inland Sea provided each of these regions with local transportation and connected each region to the others and far areas, including the coastal area of the Sea of Japan, Korea, and China. After Kobe port was founded in 1868 to serve foreign ships, the Seto Inland Sea became a major international waterway with connection to

2870-415: The Seto Inland Sea is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Japan. Even before Japan opened to foreigners in the middle of the 19th century, the sea's beauty was praised and introduced to the Western world by those who visited Japan, including Philipp Franz von Siebold , and after the country's opening, Ferdinand von Richthofen and Thomas Cook . Its coastal area, except for Osaka Prefecture and

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2940-644: The Seto Inland Sea. The importance of water traffic gave rise to private navies in the region. In many documents, these navies were called suigun ( 水軍 , "water army") , or simply pirates. Sometimes they were considered to be public enemies, but in most cases they were granted the right to self-governance as a result of their strength. During the feudal period, suigun seized power in most coastal areas. The Kono in Iyo Province (today Ehime Prefecture ) and Kobayakawa (later Mōri ) in Aki Province (today

3010-466: The Seto Inland Sea. In the past, whales entered the sea to feed or breed, however because of whaling and pollution, they are rarely seen. During the last ice age , the sea level was lower than today. After the ice age, sea water poured into a basin between the Chūgoku mountains and Shikoku mountains and formed the Seto Inland Sea as it is known today. From ancient times, the Seto Inland Sea served as

3080-484: The West, close to Hiroshima, going from island to island, exploring the landscape, meeting and discussing with local people, as well as musing on Japanese culture, the nature of travel and of identity, and his own personal sense of identity. In 1991, filmmakers Lucille Carra and Brian Cotnoir produced a film version of Richie's book, which further explored the region through interviews and images photographed by Hiro Narita. Produced by Travelfilm Company and adapted by Carra,

3150-648: The bottom of this sea known as the Seto Inland Sea Mir. Author and literary critic Amy Chavez's The Widow, the Priest and the Octopus Hunter: Discovering a Lost Way of Life on a Secluded Japanese Island is an account of the author's firsthand experience living among and interacting with the residents of Shiraishi. Kansai region The Kansai region ( 関西地方 , Kansai-chihō , [ka(ꜜ)ɰ̃sai tɕiꜜhoː] ) or

3220-479: The coast of present-day Takamatsu. In the Edo period , the Seto Inland Sea was one of the busiest transport lines in Japan. It was a part of a navigational route around Japan's islands via the Sea of Japan. Many ships navigated from its coastal areas to the area along the Sea of Japan. Major ports in the Edo period were Osaka, Sakai, Shimotsui, Ushimado , and Tomonoura. The Seto Inland Sea also served many daimyōs in

3290-697: The coast of the Seto Inland Sea include Osaka, Kobe, and Hiroshima. Smaller scale manufacturing and industry can also be found in Kurashiki , Kure , Fukuyama , and Ube in Honshū, and Sakaide , Imabari , and Niihama in Shikoku. Major industries include steel production, vehicle manufacture, ship building, textiles, and since the 1960s, oil refining and chemical products. Imabari Shipbuilding , Japan's largest ship building company, has its headquarters and some of its yards in Imabari, Ehime Prefecture. Thanks to

3360-504: The day and boarding school offers a PreK to Grade 12 education on the campus on Rokkō Island , a human-made island. The school, which is no longer affiliated with Canada or the church, is the largest school for expatriates in Kansai. The school is approved by the Japanese Ministry of Education and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Council of International Schools. The school awards both

3430-464: The fall of 2014, Kansai Keizai Rengōkai ( 公益社団法人関西経済連合会 , Kansai Economic Federation ) asked the government to unify the name of the local agency to "Kansai". On June 28, 2003, the English name of the major private railway company Kintetsu Railway was changed from Kinki Nippon Railway Co., Ltd. to the official abbreviation Kintetsu Corporation. It was subsequently changed again to Kintetsu Railway Co., Ltd. on April 1, 2015. The Kansai region

3500-690: The film won numerous awards, including Best Documentary at the Hawaii International Film Festival (1991) and the Earthwatch Film Award. It screened at the Sundance Film Festival in 1992. Koushun Takami 's novel Battle Royale took place on a fictional island in the Seto Inland Sea. A critical plot element of the Japanese series Fafner in the Azure is an alien life form discovered at

3570-585: The foot of the mountain other species dominate, mainly Japanese red pine in addition to Lithocarpus glaber , Rapanaea neriifolia , and Symplocos glauca . The forest is protected and designated a Natural Monument by the government of Japan. It is also a part of the main area of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Itsukushima Shrine , while the rest of Mount Misen is inside the buffer zone. Seto Inland Sea The Seto Inland Sea ( 瀬戸内海 , Seto Naikai ) , sometimes shortened to

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3640-712: The holy water boiled by this fire is used to treat diseases. This fire was used as the pilot light for the 'Flame of Peace' in Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park . Shakujo-no-ume (Plum tree of Tin Stick) The Plum tree of Tin Stick is said to be Kobo-Daishi's crosier , which took root where he was leaning on it and grew into a plum tree . Mandara-iwa Behind Misenhondo Hall is a gigantic bedrock face on which handwritten letters, Sanskrit characters and illustrations of Kobo Daishi are engraved. It

3710-413: The home stadium of the Hanshin Tigers, is also famous for the nationwide high school baseball tournaments . In association football , the Kansai Soccer League was founded in 1966 and currently has 16 teams in two divisions. Cerezo Osaka , Gamba Osaka , and Vissel Kobe belong to J. League Division 1 and Kyoto Sanga F.C. belongs to J. League Division 2 , the top professional leagues in Japan. As

3780-543: The importance of the Seto Inland Sea as a transport line. Remarkable land transportation innovations include the San'yō Main Railroad Line in Honshū and the Yosan Main Railroad Line in Shikoku (both completed before World War II ) and three series of bridges connecting Honshū and Shikoku (completed in the late 20th century). The Seto Inland Sea is still used, however, by an international cargo transport line and several local transport lines connecting Honshū with Shikoku and Kyūshū. Major cities with heavy industrial activity on

3850-460: The income of the daimyo , which was in the form of koku , giant bales of rice. The Seto Inland Sea was also part of the official Chosendentsushi route, bringing Korean emissaries to the shogunate. After the Meiji Restoration , the coastal cities along the Seto Inland Sea were rapidly industrialized. One of the headquarters of the Japanese Navy was built in the town of Kure . Since the Meiji period, development of land transport has been reducing

3920-408: The main transportation link between Kansai and Kyūshū. Yamaguchi , Hiroshima , Okayama , Hyōgo , Osaka , Wakayama , Kagawa , Ehime , Tokushima , Fukuoka , and Ōita prefectures have coastlines on the Seto Inland Sea; the cities of Hiroshima , Iwakuni , Takamatsu , and Matsuyama are also located on it. The Setouchi region encompasses the sea and surrounding coastal areas. The region

3990-433: The moderate climate and beautiful landscape, fishing, agriculture, and tourism bring a lot of income to the area as well. Today the Seto Inland Sea serves its coastal areas mainly for two purposes: first, international or domestic cargo transportation, and second, local transportation between coastal areas and islands on the sea. Major ports are Kobe, Okayama, Takamatsu , Tokushima, Matsuyama, and Hiroshima. Historically,

4060-418: The open ocean at the surface. The Naruto Strait connects the eastern part of the Seto Inland Sea to the Kii Channel , which in turn connects to the Pacific. The western part of the Seto Inland Sea connects to the Sea of Japan through the Kanmon Straits and to the Pacific through the Bungo Channel . Each part of the Seto Inland Sea has a separate name in Japanese. For example, Iyo-nada ( 伊予灘 ) refers to

4130-439: The people from the Kansai region, commonly called Kansai-ben , have their own variations of pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Kansai-ben is the group of dialects spoken in the Kansai area, but is often treated as a dialect in its own right. Kansai is one of the most prosperous areas for baseball in Japan. Two Nippon Professional Baseball teams, Hanshin Tigers and Orix Buffaloes , are based in Kansai. Koshien Stadium ,

4200-547: The railway ( Japan Railways Group ). The high speed Shinkansen does not go to or on Shikoku. This is the first of three intersections of the Seto Inland Sea. Construction started in 1975, but was fully completed in 1999. It connects the Nishiseto- Onomichi Highway in Hiroshima Prefecture with a total of ten bridges and several smaller islands with Imabari in Ehime Prefecture . Approximately 100,000 people live on those islands. The bridges are: Shin Onomichi Bridge, Innoshima Bridge , Ikuchi Bridge, Tatara Bridge , Ōmishima Bridge,

4270-421: The site of Japan's first permanent capital. This period (AD 710–784) saw the spread of Buddhism to Japan and the construction of Tōdai-ji in 745. The Kansai region also boasts the Shinto religion's holiest shrine at Ise Shrine (built in 690 AD) in Mie prefecture . The Heian period saw the capital moved to Heian-kyō ( 平安京 , present-day Kyoto ), where it would remain for over a thousand years until

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4340-455: The source of the noise is a tengu , a long-nosed goblin who lives inside in Mount Misen. People are warned to stay indoors when they hear the noise or risk being cursed. Shigure-zakura (showered cherry blossom) This is a cherry tree that was always moist with dew, as if there has been a passing shower, even on a dry and sunny day. Unfortunately the tree has since been cut down and can't be seen. Ryuoto No Sugi (Sea-fire Japan Cedar) This

4410-421: The strait between Ehime, Yamaguchi, and Ōita prefectures in the western portion of the sea; Aki-nada ( 安芸灘 ) is the open expanse west of the Geiyo Islands , near Hiroshima prefecture; and Suō-nada ( 周防灘 ) refers to the expanse between Yamaguchi prefecture and Suō-Ōshima . These areas are sometimes styled Iyonada, Akinada, and Suonada. There are also many straits located between the major islands, as well as

4480-401: The tollgate ) in its original usage refers to the land west of the Osaka Tollgate ( 逢坂関 ), the border between Yamashiro Province and Ōmi Province (present-day Kyoto and Shiga prefectures). During the Kamakura period , this border was redefined to include Ōmi and Iga Provinces. It is not until the Edo period that Kansai came to acquire its current form. ( see Kamigata ) While

4550-549: The two Ōshima bridges and the three Kurushima Kaikyo bridges. The Kurushima Kaikyō Bridge connects the island of Ōshima to the main island of Shikoku . The Akinada Tobishima Kaido route connects seven of the western Geiyo Islands to mainland Honshu near Kure, Hiroshima . Seto Naikai Pilots Area provides compulsory maritime piloting for vessels over 10,000 tones, it was divided into sections of Bisanseto and sections of Kurushima , connecting Kanmon Channel Piloting Area and Osaka Bay Piloting Area. The coastal area of

4620-426: The use of the terms "Kansai" and "Kinki" have changed over history, in most modern contexts the use of the two terms is interchangeable. The term "Kinai", once synonymous with Kinki, now refers to the Kyoto–Osaka–Kobe (Keihanshin) area at the center of the Kansai region. Like all regions of Japan , the Kansai region is not an administrative unit, but rather a cultural and historical one, which emerged much later during

4690-408: The western area of Japan as their route to and from Edo , to fulfill their obligations under sankin-kōtai . Many used ships from Osaka. Thanks to transport through the Seto Inland Sea, Osaka became the economic center of Japan. Each han had an office called Ozakayashiki in Osaka. These Ozakayashiki were among Japan's earliest forms of banks, facilitating domestic trade and helping to organize

4760-569: The western end of the Sea is Mimosusogawa Park ( ja:みもすそ川公園 ) in Shimonoseki . It commemorates the final stage of the Genpei war between the feudal Taira clan and Minamoto clan (1180–1185). Some sites along the Seto Inland Sea were featured in eighth-century Japanese literature, both in prose and in verse, including Kojiki , Nihon Shoki , and Man'yōshū . Since some sites were used as places of exile, their feeling and landscape were evoked in waka . In fiction, in The Tale of Genji , Genji fled from Kyoto and resided in Suma (now

4830-411: The year 806, the 1st year of the Daidō era . Since ancient times, the mountain has been an important destination for religious visitors. The Seven Wonders of Misen, which come from ancient tales, are as follows: Kiezu-no-hi (The eternal flame) This is the holy fire said to have been started by the Japanese Buddhist monk Kobo Daishi , who founded the Daishoin Temple in 806. It still burns today and

4900-467: Was abolished. The main islands Honshū and Shikoku are connected by three series of bridges since the late 1980s. This improves land transportation between the connected islands. These series of bridges, collectively known as the Honshū–Shikoku Bridge Project , are, from east to west, Akashi Kaikyo Bridge , Great Seto Bridge , and Nishiseto Expressway . The easternmost highway was built between 1976 and 1998. It leads from Akashi ( Hyōgo Prefecture ) on

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