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Green karst hills, trees and a winding road across the Akiyoshidai plateau

Things to see

Things to see in Yamaguchi Prefecture

A tunnel of red torii above the sea, a bridge that floats on turquoise water, five wooden arches over a river, a plateau of white stones above a giant cave and a castle town of samurai walls. Here are the places worth your time in Yamaguchi.

Iwakuni, Yamaguchi city and the Inland Sea

The southern side of the prefecture faces the calm Seto Inland Sea, with the shinkansen running along it. Here are Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni, the shrine of Hofu and Yamaguchi city, the old capital of the Ouchi lords, with its pagoda and hot springs.

The five wooden arches and stone piers of Kintaikyo Bridge over clear river water Bridge

Kintaikyo Bridge

Five wooden arches in Iwakuni

A wooden bridge of five graceful arches across the Nishiki River in Iwakuni, first built in 1673, with a castle on the hill above and cherry blossom in spring.

A ropeway car climbing above the forest towards Iwakuni Castle, with the town below Castle

Iwakuni Castle

A ropeway ride above Kintaikyo

A reconstructed castle keep on Mount Shiroyama above Kintaikyo Bridge, reached by a ropeway, with views over Iwakuni and the Inland Sea.

The five-storey pagoda of Rurikoji behind pink cherry blossom Temple

Rurikoji Temple Pagoda

A National Treasure by a pond

A five-storey wooden pagoda from 1442 in Yamaguchi city, a National Treasure and one of the most beautiful pagodas in Japan, reflected in a quiet pond.

A giant white fox statue beside Yuda-Onsen Station in Yamaguchi city Hot spring

Yuda Onsen

The hot spring of the white fox

A hot spring town in Yamaguchi city, discovered, says the legend, by a white fox healing its leg, with inns, free foot baths and a lively evening.

The vermilion two-storey gate of Hofu Tenmangu at the top of stone steps Shrine

Hofu Tenmangu

One of Japan’s oldest Tenmangu

A grand shrine in Hofu to Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, founded in 904 and said to be the first shrine dedicated to him.

Hagi, Nagato and the Sea of Japan

The northern coast faces the rougher, bluer Sea of Japan. The castle town of Hagi, the hot springs of Nagato, the island cliffs of Omijima and the red torii of Motonosumi Shrine are all here, linked by a winding coast road.

The large red torii at the entrance to Motonosumi Shrine, decorated with white foxes Shrine

Motonosumi Shrine

123 red torii above the sea

A line of 123 red torii gates winding down a green clifftop to the Sea of Japan, with an offering box set high on a gate that you try to throw a coin into.

A quiet lane between white earthen walls and stone walls in the samurai district of Hagi Castle town

Hagi

Samurai lanes and Hagi ware

The old castle town of the Mori lords on the Sea of Japan, with samurai houses, earthen walls, the school of Yoshida Shoin and the famous Hagi ware pottery.

Green hills and a lake on the island of Omijima in Nagato Island

Omijima

Sea cliffs and a whaling past

An island off Nagato with towering sea cliffs and rock arches, best seen on a sightseeing cruise, and a fishing village with a famous grave for whales.

A large ryokan above the river valley at Nagato Yumoto Onsen Hot spring

Nagato Yumoto Onsen

A riverside onsen town

The oldest hot spring town in Yamaguchi, beside the Otozure River in Nagato, with public baths, ryokan and a pleasant riverside walk.

Shimonoseki, Akiyoshidai and the west

At the western tip of Honshu, Shimonoseki looks across the Kanmon Strait to Kyushu. To the north is Tsunoshima Bridge, and inland lies Akiyoshidai, Japan’s largest karst plateau, with a huge cave beneath it.

Tsunoshima Bridge stretching across turquoise water past a small wooded island Bridge & island

Tsunoshima Bridge

A road over turquoise water

A 1,780-metre bridge curving across emerald-blue water to the island of Tsunoshima, with white beaches and a historic stone lighthouse.

Rolling green grassland dotted with grey limestone rocks on the Akiyoshidai plateau Karst & cave

Akiyoshidai & Akiyoshido Cave

A stone-studded plateau and a giant cave

Japan’s largest karst plateau, a rolling grassland dotted with white limestone pillars, above Akiyoshido, one of the biggest limestone caves in the country.

The Kanmon Strait and the Kanmon Bridge seen from the waterfront near Karato Market in Shimonoseki City

Shimonoseki

Fugu, a fish market and the strait

The port city at the western tip of Honshu, famous for fugu, Karato fish market and its sushi stalls, Akama Shrine and the walk under the sea to Kyushu.

Planning your route

Yamaguchi has two coasts. The south, on the calm Seto Inland Sea, has the shinkansen, the cities, Kintaikyo Bridge and Yamaguchi city. The north, on the wilder Sea of Japan, has Hagi, Motonosumi Shrine and Tsunoshima Bridge. Akiyoshidai sits in between, and Shimonoseki is at the western tip.

Start with the essentials

  1. Walk down the torii tunnel at Motonosumi Shrine.
  2. Drive across Tsunoshima Bridge on a sunny day.
  3. Cross the wooden arches of Kintaikyo Bridge in Iwakuni.
  4. Go underground at Akiyoshido Cave and walk the plateau above.

If you have more time

Spend a day among the samurai walls of Hagi, eat fugu and sushi in Shimonoseki, see the five-storey pagoda of Rurikoji in Yamaguchi city, and relax in a hot spring. Read our four-day itinerary.

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Plan your Yamaguchi trip

Red torii, blue seas and a bridge of five arches

Walk the tunnel of torii at Motonosumi, drive across Tsunoshima Bridge, cross the wooden arches of Kintaikyo and go underground at Akiyoshido. Compare tours and book in a couple of taps.

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