remote but dream places in Kansai & Chugoku regions

This is one recommended drive tour around the Kansai and Chugoku regions presented by jasmine.
Kansai includes Kyoto, Nara, and Osaka but this tour takes you to the off the beaten path. You will need a car but at one of the destinations, I met a young female backpacker who found that place, took a bus, saw all, and left for somewhere. She was beautiful and had an extraordinary experience.

Itinerary:
Hiroshima (our home) - long drive - Genbudo - drive through Kinosaki Onsen - drive along the rocky coast - Stayed overnight at Ine - Ine Bay 30-min boat ride and a morning walking tour (fully appreciated Ine) - drop by at Amanohashidate area - Stayed overnight at Arima Onsen - drive to the parking lot, take a cable to the Rokko Mountain; see down below from Rokko Shigure observation pavilion - drive to Shinsho-zen-ji in Fukuyama, Hiroshima Pre. - drive back home

Columnar joints of basalt at Genbudo

The itinerary I prepared for our private tour this time included Genbudo, a former excavation site of basalt. We stayed at Ine overnight but before we went there, we first dropped by at Genbudo, drove through Kinosaki Onsen, and along the coast we got to a very cosy inn in Ine. 

It's much better learning more about its geological facts from a local guide or from a geologist but just seeing columnar joints of basalt was completely impressive. We were lucky enough to talk and listen to both a local guide and an expert who just happened to be there for his research.

More about other places later.