Summary
This time, we visited Yamaguchi Prefecture, dotted with historical spots, and Shimane Prefecture, famous for tourist attractions such as Izumo-oyashiro Shrine and Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine.
Since the prefectures are adjacent to each other, you can spend two days and one night traveling alone to Yuda Onsen and the Hofu area in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and to Tsuwano in Shimane Prefecture. Here are some spots where you can visit shrines and fully immerse yourself in the local cuisine and culture.
Please refer to this page.
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
Travel Itinerary
Shin-Yamaguchi Station（新山口駅）
This trip started from Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
First, take the JR train to Yuda Onsen.
Spot Outline
Shin-Yamaguchi Station, located in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
10:20am Yuda Onsen Station（湯田温泉駅）
Yuda Onsen seems to have many hot springs that make your skin smooth and beautiful.
This time, we plan to stay in the Yuda Onsen area.
Mascot character Yuta-kun, a white fox
There is a huge Yuta-kun art object in front of Yuda Onsen Station. The monument has a very long neck and is just large.
Spot Outline
Yuda Onsen Station, located at 4 Imai-cho, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station on the Yamaguchi Line of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). It is also the closest station to Yuda Onsen, a hot spring known for its beautiful skin. In front of the station is a large white fox monument that serves as the station’s symbol.
SL Yamaguchi-go (Shin-Yamaguchi to Tsuwano) – SLやまぐち号（新山口〜津和野）
From Yuda Onsen to Tsuwano, you will travel on the black-smoking SL Yamaguchi.
The headmark features the Yamaguchi prefecture bird, the Hooded Crane.
Fresh blue-colored seats
Get a commemorative train ticket with a cute illustration of a train.
Driving Simulator Corner
Display of items related to steam locomotives
The engineer’s uniform cap was found.
Exhibition of SL Yamaguchi headmark design
View from the car window
View from the car window 2
Some people waved us off, and we were able to experience heartwarming moments through the train window.
Spot Outline
SL Yamaguchi-go (Shin-Yamaguchi to Tsuwano) is a special steam locomotive (SL) rapid train operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR West), connecting Shin-Yamaguchi Station and Tsuwano Station on the Yamaguchi Line. The period is from mid-March to late November, with one round trip per day on weekends and during peak periods such as major holidays.
11:00am Tsuwano Station（津和野駅）
Tsuwano, located in the southwestern part of Shimane Prefecture, is a castle town with a rich history and culture that is famous as the Little Kyoto of the San-in region.
It is a very popular tourist destination representing the San’in region.
Spot Outline
Tsuwano Station, located in Gota, Tsuwano Town, Kanzoku County, Shimane Prefecture, is a station on the Yamaguchi Line of the West Japan Railway Company (JR West). The station is the gateway to Tsuwano, a tourist town known as “Little Kyoto in the San’in region,” and is also the terminus of the SL Yamaguchi train.
1:00pm Mimatsu Shokudo（美松食堂）
First, we need to eat.
The oldest diner in Tsuwano, established in 1931, is located on the side of the main approach to the Taikodani Inari Shrine. It is said to be famous for its black Inari sushi (Sushi stuffed with rice inside fried tofu)!
The black fried bean curd of inanarizushi, which is concentrated with the flavor and astringency of soy sauce, is superb. It is also delicious served with light oudon noodles! This Inari Sushi, which has a great visual impact, is available for take-out!
Exterior
The sign outlines the diner.
Interior
The store is full of warmth and retro atmosphere with CRT TVs and other retro features.
Spot Outline
Mimatsu Shokudo, located in Tsuwano-cho, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane Prefecture, is the oldest diner in Tsuwano, established in 1931. Located on the side of the main approach to the Taiko Valley Inari Shrine, it is famous for its black Inari sushi.
2:30pm Taikodani Inari Shrine（太皷谷稲成神社）
With our stomachs full, we walked 20 minutes to the Taikodani Inari Shrine.
It is customary to visit the four places of worship on the temple grounds in a certain order.
First, we headed to the Motomiya, which is the first. (I completely forgot to take a picture, and the photo is of the New hall, the largest of the shrines…)
pilgrimage to the four main sites of a temple
(1) Motomiya (2) Myofusha, (3) New hall (4) Worship place behind the new shrine
Spot Outline
Located in Tsuwano-cho, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane Prefecture, Taikodani Inari Shrine is one of the five major Inari shrines in Japan. The shrine attracts many worshippers as a god of wish fulfillment, business prosperity, and good luck and good luck repelling bad luck. The number of annual visitors to the shrine is the second largest among shrines in the prefecture, following Izumo-oyashiro Shrine.
3:30pm Tonomachi Horiwari（殿町掘割）
The next destination is reached through this white wall.
This is an area where many historical sites are concentrated, and the elegant townscape, which looks as if it has stepped back in time, is very popular among tourists.
Carp swimming in the waterway of the moat.
The ginkgo tree also has a nice taste.
Spot Outline
Tonomachi Horiwari, located in Gota, Tsuwano-cho, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane Prefecture, is said to have been dug as an irrigation channel when the castle town was built, and many carp swim in the canal. The area is a popular tourist spot, with many historic sites concentrated in the area, and the elegant townscape is very popular among tourists, as if they have stepped back in time.
4:00pm Furuhashi Sake Brewery Co（古橋酒造株式会社）
The sake brewery that came to us was founded in the Meiji era and boasts of local rice, clear brewing water, and traditional techniques.
Tours of the brewery are available (call one day in advance), as well as tastings in the store.
Exterior
Interior
Interior
We were also given a tour of the brewery✨
Huge barrels on display.
Nutritious Sake Lees
I bought some local sake as a souvenir & memory of my trip.
Spot Outline
Furuhashi Sake Brewery Co, Ltd. located in Tsuwano-cho, Kanoashi-gun, Shimane Prefecture, is a traditional sake brewery founded in the Meiji era. The brewery brews sake using local rice, clear brewing water, and technology. Its representative brand is Uijin, and tastings are available in the store. Tours of the brewery are also available if you contact the brewery at least one day in advance.
5:00pm Tsuwano Station（津和野駅）
Walk back to the station and return to Yuda Onsen Station, which takes about one hour.
6:00pm Yuda Onsen Station（湯田温泉駅）
From here it is a 10-minute walk to the hotel. Today we will rest and prepare for tomorrow.
9:15am Fox’s footsteps（狐の足あと）
Start of the second day. This is a cafe with footbaths.
The interior of the restaurant is designed to allow visitors to fully experience the warmth of nature with a sense of openness.
In addition to indoor, there was also an outdoor footbath.
Exterior
Menu
There are many cute menu items featuring motifs of local specialties.
Sweets themed on motifs unique to the area are both delicious and fun!
Reasonably priced local sake drinking sets are also available.
Combination of footbath and cafe is perfect for chill time
In addition to the café area, there is a separate area where visitors can move around in clogs or bare feet, and there is also a changing room where visitors can change into free rental footbath costumes.
Outdoor footbath [Shiki no Yu]
Quality that you wouldn’t expect from a footbath ✨.
Indoor footbath [Kotone no Yu]
This area is located further back than Shiki no Yu.
There was music playing on the theme of a poem by Chuya Nakahara, a poet from Yuda Onsen Station.
This time, take a breather at the [madobe no yu] inside the cafe.
The area is a power spot where you can enjoy a footbath, a café, and even a view of the courtyard.
Footbath feels good! Relaxation time
View of the courtyard from the window bath area
The windows were opened to give the room an even more open feel! Refreshing to feel nature.
Kitsune no Cafe Latte / 450 yen
Chuya’s premium apple yogurt “Autumn in the Morning” with sill paper / 450 yen
The footbath fee was 200 yen, so the total was 1100 yen.
Spot Outline
The Fox’s Footprints spot is a Yuda Onsen sightseeing base facility located in Yuda Onsen, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It provides information on how to enjoy Yuda Onsen, such as seeing, eating, and shopping. It is a great place to visit when you come to Yuda Onsen, as you can get the latest information. Free parking is available.
10:20am Footbath No.7 (Yunomachi Street) – 足湯 No.7（湯の町通り）
The first is Yunomachi Street.
The footbath is good for your health, warming your body from the core, promoting blood circulation & boosting immunity! The water is free-flowing from the source, so the temperature of the water may be particularly hot depending on the day, so please make sure to check the water level before entering.
fox
signboard
Now you can master how to enter the footbath and experience the full benefits of the footbath.
Spot Outline
Footbath No. 7 (Yunomachi Street) is a free footbath spot located in Yuda Onsen, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is located in Yuda Onsen Street, which is dotted with free footbaths. Since the spring water is free-flowing, the temperature of the water varies from day to day, so it is recommended to check the water temperature before using the baths. Footbaths are believed to be effective in promoting blood circulation and boosting the immune system.
10:40am Yuda Onsen Footbath Yunoka-dori（湯田温泉足湯 湯の香通り）
The second place we came to was a footbath spot where you can spend a relaxing time.
Don’t forget a towel for wiping your feet.
Yunokou Street
Yuda Onsen Footbath MAP
It was great to see so many footbaths. I experienced the abundance of footbaths and footbaths that can only be found in Yuda Onsen, such as a footbath tucked away in an alleyway.
Spot Outline
Yuda Onsen Footbath Yunoka-dori is a free footbath spot located in Yuda Onsen, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Located in an alley, you can spend a relaxing time in a calm atmosphere. Don’t forget to bring a towel for wiping your feet.
11:00am Yuda Onsen Station（湯田温泉駅）
Heading toward Bofu Station. On the way, there is a change of trains at Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
1:20pm Hofu Station（防府駅）
Arrive at Hofu Station.
The town has many attractions such as Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, historical sites and scenic spots. It is also a very popular tourist destination.
Spot Outline
Hofu Station, located in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station on the Sanyo Main Line of West Japan Railway Company (JR West), and was opened in 1898 as Mitajiri Station. The area around Hofu Station is popular as a sightseeing spot, with many historical sites and famous scenic spots, including Hofu Tenmangu Shrine.
1:30pm Hofu Tourist Information Center（防府市観光案内所）
It is located right outside the ticket gate. You can rent a bike here.
Rental Bicycle Price List
Standard bicycle rented this time
Within 6 hours = 300 yen
Spot Outline
The Hofu City Tourist Information Center is located inside JR Hofu Station. This spot provides visitors with convenient services such as information on sightseeing facilities, accommodations, and events. Bicycle rentals are also available.
1:40pm[Closed] Tentoteya Cafe（天とて屋かふぇ）
We came here for lunch.
This modern Japanese-style cafe is located on the main approach to Hofu Tenmangu Shrine. We recommend the lunch menu, which comes with a set of a wide variety of small bowls.
I ordered this time… Ume-chan Lunch / 1,200 yen
Exterior
Interior
The modern Japanese style appearance is wonderful.
Rice Menu
The small bowls of food are healthy and delightful because they are made with plenty of vegetables.
Sweets Menu
There is a wide variety of sweets on the menu, from green tea and sesame to cakes and ice cream. Please visit us after your meal.
Spot Outline
Tentoteya cafe is a restaurant with a modern Japanese atmosphere. Located on the main approach to Hofu Tenmangu Shrine, it is popular among tourists. *It is currently closed.
3:20pm Mohri Museum（毛利博物館）
I came here by bicycle to the Mohri Museum.
Part of the former residence of the Mohri family, lords of the Choshu domain, is open to the public as a museum, and all of the cultural assets in the museum’s collection have been handed down from the former Mohri family.
The museum houses and exhibits 20,000 works of art, crafts, and historical materials, some of which are national treasures!
Common ticket / 1000yen
Important Cultural Property Former Mohri Family Residence
Interior view of the former Mohri family’s main residence
It’s so big that you can get lost even though it’s your home.
Garden seen from the museum side
It has a great view and overlooks a beautiful garden.
Spot Outline
The Mohri Museum is located in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Part of the former residence of the Mohri family, lords of the Choshu domain, is open to the public as a museum, with more than 20,000 artifacts and historical materials on display. National treasures are included in the collection and are well worth seeing. Admission is 1,000 yen for adults (1,200 yen for the special exhibition) and 500 yen for children (600 yen for the special exhibition) for the combined admission of the Mohri Garden and the Mohri Museum.
Mohri Garden（毛利氏庭園）
The Mohri Clan Garden is an elegant garden registered as a national place of scenic beauty.
Entrance
View of the garden from the museum window
Trees show different expressions from season to season.
Spot Outline
The Mohri Family Garden in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a garden registered as a national place of scenic beauty. Part of the garden is used as a museum, exhibiting various cultural assets related to the Mori family. Visitors can also purchase a combined ticket with the Mohri Museum.
5:15pm Hofu Station（防府駅）
Return bicycles to the Hofu Tourist Information Center.
Shin-Yamaguchi Station（新山口駅）
I arrived at Shin-Yamaguchi Station. This marked the end of the 2-day/1-night solo trip.
Please take a look at it for reference ✨
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