Summary
Yamaguchi Prefecture is located on the western edge of Japan’s main island of Honshu. It is dotted with historical spots and gained popularity when the industrial heritage sites in Hagi were registered as a World Heritage site.
This time, using the Yamaguchi Central Pass (a round trip pass), we took a bus tour of Akiyoshidai, one of the largest karst plateaus in Japan, Akiyoshido, the largest limestone cave in Japan, and the town of Hagi, where the appearance of the castle town is still preserved.
*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.
Travel Itinerary
Shin-Yamaguchi Station（新山口駅）
The start is Shin-Yamaguchi Station. It is a large and very beautiful station.
This time, we will use the Yamaguchi Central Pass (a special value round trip pass that allows unlimited rides on JR and designated buses in the free round trip section).
tourist information center
Here, I redeemed my DISCOVER WEST Passport (a ticket that entitles me to special privileges at participating facilities).
bus information center
It is so cute with a big bus painted on it that you can’t help but want to take a picture.
Spot Outline
Shin-Yamaguchi Station, located in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station of West Japan Railway Company (JR West).
Akiyoshido (bus) – 秋芳洞（バス）
From Shin-Yamaguchi Station, go to Akiyoshido Cave.
There are many souvenir shops and restaurants near the bus stop.
Spot Outline
Akiyoshido (bus) is a bus stop located in Kamijuku, Shuho-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. There are many souvenir shops and restaurants near the bus stop, making it a convenient location for tourists. It is used as the closest bus stop to visit Akiyoshido Cave, one of the largest limestone caves in Japan.
12:00pm Daikanbō Nemu branch（台観望 合歓店）
Before going to Akiyoshido, we had lunch at a restaurant where kappa soba (The restaurant’s specialty is grilled soba noodles mixed with wasabi and topped with toppings such as eggs.) is available.
Noodles kneaded with wasabi are crispy and delicious. Squeeze lemon into the soup stock for a refreshing taste.
Interior
The interior of the restaurant is wood. Please stop by because of its proximity to Akiyoshido.
Spot Outline
Daikanbō Nemu branch is located in Shuho-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The restaurant offers kappa soba as a popular menu item, and the noodles with wasabi kneaded into them are characterized by their crispy texture. Some reviewers also say that a squeeze of lemon gives it a refreshing taste.
1:00pm Akiyoshidou（秋芳洞）
The largest limestone cave in Japan. The size is overwhelming!
Entrance to the limestone cave
The blue water is mysterious✨
It is very cold the moment you walk in through the entrance. It is a great spot for a summer getaway.
The inside is much larger than I imagined.
It is lit up in places and very beautiful✨Please watch your step.
Lots of things that look like icicles.
It’s hard to believe that this is a naturally formed sight ✨.
A picture taken on the way home.
Backlighting is a nice touch.
Spot Outline
Akiyoshido Cave is the largest limestone cave in Japan, located in Shuho-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The caves offer a mysterious sight and are illuminated at night. According to reviews, it is chilly in the caves, and comfortable athletic shoes are recommended. Parking is available, and the entrance fee for the cave is 1,300 yen for adults.
2:00pm Akiyoshidai（秋吉台）
This is one of the largest limestone plateaus in Japan! Anyway, it was a bit difficult to walk around in the hot weather because it was so large.
Take a break at a cafe
There is a café nearby, so after walking around, you may want to take a break at the café.
This is kiwi cider.
This vastness, get it?
Spot Outline
Akiyoshidai, located in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is one of the largest karst plateaus in Japan, and was designated a special natural monument in 1964, attracting tourists throughout the year.
Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory（秋吉台カルスト展望台）
An observatory overlooking Akiyoshidai!
Akiyoshidai is so large that it is difficult to see all of it, so maybe you can look around at the observatory?
Spot Outline
Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory is located in Shuho-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The observatory offers a panoramic view of the Akiyoshidai Karst topography and a vast landscape. The contrast between the white of the limestone, the green of the grass and trees, and the white clouds against the blue sky is beautiful and pleasant.
Akiyoshido (bus) – 秋芳洞（バス）
From Akiyoshido, take the Bocho Bus to Higashi Hagi Station.
Higashi Hagi Station（東萩駅）
From Higashi Hagi Station, take the Ma-ru Bus eastbound, also known as Shoin-teacher.
Spot Outline
Higashi-Hagi Station, located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station on the West Japan Railway (JR West) San-in Main Line. There is a tourist information center inside the station, where tourist pamphlets and other information are available.
5:00pm Roadside Station Hagi Seamart （道の駅 萩しーまーと）
A roadside station directly operated by the market. There were many fresh fish on display.
There is also a restaurant where you can enjoy fresh seafood dishes.
These are raw fish.
I was surprised to see actual live fish swimming in the tank.
Large selection of processed products
Processed products make great souvenirs.
Spot Outline
Roadside Station Hagi Seamart is a roadside station located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Because it is directly managed by the market, there are many fresh fish on display, and seafood dishes are available.
5:30pm Hagi Reverberatory Furnace（萩反射炉）
A metal melting furnace developed in the West. The Hagi Clan used to make iron cannons here.
What a world heritage site!
Spot Outline
The Hagi Reverberatory Furnace in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a metal melting furnace designated as a national historic site. The remains of the chimney section are still in existence and have high historical value, attracting many tourists.
6:00pm MARU
For dinner, we went to a popular restaurant in Hagi.
By bus, from Hagi Seamart, take Ma-ru Bus eastbound → change to westbound at Hagi City Hall → get off at Hagi Bus Center
Dishes and drinks made with Hagi ingredients are excellent.
Horse mackerel was in season when I was there.
Deep-fried amadai scales. It was crispy and delicious! Even the soy sauce was made in Hagi.
Spot Outline
MARU is a creative izakaya located in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The food and drinks using Hagi ingredients are excellent, and we especially recommend the Kenran beef nigiri. Please note that reservations are required for dinner. It is also introduced as a popular restaurant in Hagi by word of mouth.
Higashi Hagi Station（東萩駅）
Start of Day 2.
From Higashiogi Station, take the Ma-ru Bus eastbound → get off at Shoin shrine Before
7:40am Shokasonjuku（松下村塾）
Yoshida Shoin to the cram school where he nurtured great men such as Ito Hirobumi.
The Japanese-style room is nice and I will be able to concentrate on my studies.
There were many photos of Yoshida Shoin’s students on display.
Spot Outline
Located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Shoukasonjuku was a private school established by Yoshida Shouin’s uncle in the Edo period. In 1995, it was registered as a World Heritage site.
7:45am Shoin Shrine（松陰神社）
Praying at Shoin Shrine. The omikuji on the side contained a lesson from Shoin teacher.
We are grateful for your kind words and recommend it!
The light shining through the torii gate seems to give me power!
Spot Outline
Shoin Shrine in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is dedicated to Yoshida Shoin, a pioneer of the Meiji Restoration. Since Shouin was the teacher of Shoukasonjuku, the shrine is highly revered as a god of learning, and many students visit the shrine to pray for success in entrance exams. Umbrella-mikuji, which are shaped like Japanese umbrellas, and omikuji with the lessons of Shoin teacher are popular.
8:00am Birthplace of Shoin Yoshida（吉田松陰誕生地）
The next destination is the birthplace of Shoin Yoshida. A paving stone representing the layout of the place where Yoshida Shoin was born still remains.
Birthplace of Yoshida Shoin
It is a little bit high up and has a very beautiful view.
Spot Outline
The Yoshida Shoin Birthplace is located in Shiibara, Chinto, Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. The remaining paving stones represent the layout of the place where Yoshida Shoin was born.
Hagi Meilin Center (bus) – 萩・明倫センター（バス）
Take the Ma-ru Bus eastbound from in front of the Birthplace of Shoin→transfer to the westbound bus at Hagi City Hall.
This is the nearest station to Hagi and Meirin Gakusha.
Spot Outline
Hagi Meirin Center (Bus) is a bus stop in the Emukai 3 ward of Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. This spot serves as the closest station to the Hagi Meirin Gakusha and can be accessed by bus.
9:00am Hagi Meirin Gakusha Visitor Center（萩・明倫学舎）
Next is a former elementary school building. It is a registered national tangible cultural property.
Wooden and tasteful hallway
There was an exhibition room and a souvenir shop.
Restoration Class
There were rows of desks and a blackboard.
If you stand in the podium, you will feel like a teacher; if you take a seat, you will feel like a student.
Spot Outline
Hagi Meirin Gakusha Visitor Center in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a tourist facility that renovated and improved a group of wooden school buildings of the former Meirin Elementary School. Inside the building, there is a restaurant and souvenir store featuring Hagi products, a World Heritage Site Visitor Center, and a museum that introduces valuable materials on the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate.
Hagi/Meilin Center (bus) – 萩・明倫センター（バス）
Take the Ma-ru Bus westbound → get off in front of Hagi Museum.
10:00am Hagi Pudding tei（萩ぷりん亭）
A pudding shop that is the talk of the town in Hagi. Smooth pudding goes well with marmalade made from Hagi’s summer oranges and ramune-flavored jam!
I could have eaten as much as I wanted.
Exterior
Spot Outline
Hagi Pudding tei is a cute pudding shop located in the castle town of Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Take-out is available, and eating in the garden, which is a terrace, is also very nice. There is also a second store in Hagi Seamart, which has become the talk of the town for its Instagram-worthy puddings.
10:30am Kikuya Yokocho（菊屋横町）
After a good night’s rest, we went to Kikuya Yokomachi. It is a beautiful, well-organized town with distinctive white sea cucumber walls ✨.
Spot Outline
Kikuya Yokomachi, located in Minamifuruhagi-machi, Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a spot characterized by its beautiful townscape. The white walls are eye-catching and the well-organized townscape is attractive. This place has been selected as one of the 100 best roads in Japan, and visitors can enjoy the atmosphere typical of a castle town.
10:50am Kikugahama Beach（菊ヶ浜海水浴場）
Finally, we are going to the sea. Emerald green is beautiful✨
From the beach, you can see Shizuki-yama Mountain, a national natural monument.
White sandy beach
Spot Outline
Kikugahama Beach in Yamaguchi Prefecture is one of the 100 best beaches for swimming. The sea is emerald green, and Shizuki-yama Mountain, a national natural treasure, can be seen. The beach can be reached on foot from the castle town and is well-reputed by word of mouth for its excellent scenery.
11:00am Hagi Castle Shizuki Park（萩城跡指月公園）
We came to a park where Shizuki-yama Mountain, a national natural monument, is located. The remains of Hagi Castle can still be seen here and there, and one can feel the history of the area.
Lots of greenery to heal.
The castle is surrounded by a river
Beautiful✨ The river was full of turtles and carp.
Spot Outline
Hagi Castle Ruins Sazuki Park is a park in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where Hagi Castle, built by Terumoto Mori, once stood. It is easily accessible from Hagi Castle Town, and was also the location for the historical drama “Hanamoyu” broadcast in 2015.
12:30pm Aiba Waterway（藍場川）
For buses, take the Ma-ru Bus westbound from Hagi Castle Ruins→get off at Aiba Waterway entrance and walk for about 10 minutes.
A wide river in a residential area. In the past, boats used to pass through here.
Fish found
Spot Outline
The Aiba Waterway is a 2.6km populated river in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The river was originally created for agricultural use, but now carp are released into the river and the water is used for cooking, washing clothes, and other domestic purposes.
1:00pm Chukobei Kamaboko Main store（忠小兵衛蒲鉾本店）
Lunch was at a long-established kamaboko store.
In addition to buying kamaboko (Minced fish is placed on a plate and then steamed) as souvenirs, there is also a café where you can eat kamaboko burgers.
I got the fish paste tartar burger from the daily menu.
The eggy tartar sauce and deep-fried kamaboko go well together.
Spot Outline
Located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Chukobei Kamaboko Main store is a long-established kamaboko shop. In addition to buying kamaboko as souvenirs, there is also a café where you can enjoy kamaboko burgers.
Hagi Station（萩駅）
Nostalgic station building.
This time, I took the Ma-ru bus instead of the train.
Spot Outline
Hagi Station, located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station on the West Japan Railway (JR West) San-in Main Line. The station building is an old-fashioned building that evokes a sense of nostalgia. It is conveniently located for access to Hagi City and is used by tourists.
2:00pm Hagi Souvenir Museum（萩おみやげ博物館）
We look at souvenirs until the last bus arrives.
This is a store where you can find all kinds of Hagi souvenirs. It is close to the Hagi Bus Center, so there is no need to worry if you forget to buy something!
Lots of snacks and drinks.
Hagi ware is also available
Spot Outline
The Hagi Souvenir Museum in Hagi, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a souvenir store located a 3-minute walk from the Hagi Bus Center. It offers a wide variety of Hagi souvenirs and is close to the Hagi Bus Center, so there is no need to worry if you forget to buy something.
Hagi Bus Center（萩バスセンター）
Board the Super Hagi train. Heading for Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
The Super Hagi train had spacious seats and electrical outlets to charge smartphones.
Spot Outline
Hagi Bus Center is a bus terminal located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is located in the center of a sightseeing area, making it easily accessible. At this bus center, you can take the Super Hagi bus.
5:00pm Conveyor belt sushi Takakura（回転寿司たかくら）
Finally, we went to a sushi restaurant here for local sake, using fresh fish from Hagi.
You can also enjoy local sake with sushi.
We received Touyou bijin
It is fruity and very easy to drink.
If you order, a sushi chef will make sushi right in front of you!
Upscale conveyor-belt sushi.
Spot Outline
Conveyor belt sushi Takakura is a conveyor-belt sushi restaurant located in Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Sushi made with fresh fish from Hagi is especially popular, and can be enjoyed with local sake.
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Watch the video
Day 1 (Part 1)
Day 2 (Part 2)
