Chugoku, one of Japan's best kept secrets and a region full of charm and nature

The famous funaya that is the main draw in Ine.

We gasped as the coach we were on turned the corner, revealing the emerald green waters of Ine Bay. We then caught sight of the boathouses – funaya in Japanese – that sit along the coastline of the bay and there was an almost synchronised chorus of “ooohs” and “ahhhs” from the group on board.

The scene was postcard-perfect and as we drove along the narrow two-lane road, with hills on one side and the bay and boathouses on the other, we felt transported to a part of Japan that doesn’t get showcased as much as its bright, vibrant cities.