Hagi City

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Known as the "Birthplace of the Fetal Movements of the Meiji Restoration," Hagi City is a historic city that is like an open-air museum. It is said that Edo-period maps can still be used today because the castle town streets, samurai residences, and white-walled storehouses are preserved in perfect form, and it is also registered as a World Heritage site. By visiting historic sites like Shoka Sonjuku, which produced patriots of the end of the Edo period, you can feel firsthand the passion of the young people who accomplished Japan's modernization. Also attractive is touring the kilns of "Hagi-yaki" pottery, which boasts 400 years of history, and enjoying fresh Sea of Japan seafood. Hagi, where samurai history, traditional crafts, and beautiful seaside landscapes merge, is the best destination for travelers who want to deeply study Japanese culture and history.

Hagi City
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萩市観光VR動画（英語ver）／Hagi City Tourism VR Video

萩市観光VR動画（英語ver）／Hagi City Tourism VR Video

Hagi Tourism Association

HAGI Japan in 8K - 萩

HAGI Japan in 8K - 萩

Hagi Tourism Association

萩・津和野プロモーションビデオ2021

萩・津和野プロモーションビデオ2021

Hagi Tourism Association

ALT酒蔵ツアー「＃Saketour」in萩市【本編】

ALT酒蔵ツアー「＃Saketour」in萩市【本編】

Hagi Tourism Association

Memories of Hagi, Japan

Memories of Hagi, Japan

Hagi Tourism Association

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.140 萩の蒲鉾［萩市］ | Hagi Kamaboko [ Hagi-city ]

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.140 萩の蒲鉾［萩市］ | Hagi Kamaboko [ Hagi-city ]

Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.098 萩夏みかん菓子［萩市］ | Natsumikan Desserts [ Hagi-city ]

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.098 萩夏みかん菓子［萩市］ | Natsumikan Desserts [ Hagi-city ]

Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.090 萩焼体験［萩市］ | Hagiyaki Pottery Workshopp [ Hagi-city ]

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.090 萩焼体験［萩市］ | Hagiyaki Pottery Workshopp [ Hagi-city ]

Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.068 萩のあまだい料理［萩市］ | Hagi Red Tilefish Cuisine [ Hagi-city ]

やまぐち映像図鑑 NO.068 萩のあまだい料理［萩市］ | Hagi Red Tilefish Cuisine [ Hagi-city ]

Yamaguchi Prefectural Tourism Federation

Hagi City

Address
3537-3 Oaza Tsubaki, Hagi-shi, Yamaguchi
Website
https://www.hagishi.com/
Operator
Hagi Tourism Association

Hagi City Spots List

スポット一覧
  • Shinsui Park
  • Former Baron Tanaka Giichi Villa
  • Horiuchi Kaimagari (Crank paths)
  • Tenju-in Cemetery
  • Myojin Pond
  • Yubikan Hall
  • Mutsumi Sunflower Road
  • Former Hirobumi Ito Villa
  • Hagi Okan Hospitality Teahouse
  • Kikugahama Earthwork
  • Kikuya Family Residence
  • Former Asa-Mori Clan Hagi Nagaya
  • Hagi Okan Highway
  • Daishoin Temple
  • Nanmeiji Temple
  • Hagi Hakkei Sightseeing Boat
  • Shoin Shrine
  • Susa Bay
  • Mishima Island
  • Tokoji Temple
  • Kikugahama Beach
  • Hagi Castle Ruins
  • Former Yukawa Residence
  • Tatamigafuchi
  • Former Kubota Residence
  • Hagi Castle Ruins Shizuki Park (Cherry Blossoms)
  • Aibagawa River
  • Mt. Kasayama Camellia Grove
  • Hagi Okan Plum Grove
  • Hagi-yaki Kaikan
  • Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works
  • Ebisugahana Shipyard Site
  • Iwakawa Hataten (Flags)
  • Unrinji Temple (Cat Temple)
  • Hagi Glass Studio
  • Hagi Meirinkan Academy
  • Shoka Sonjuku Academy
  • Hagi Castle Town
  • Hagi Reverberatory Furnace
  • Susa Hornfels
Shinsui Park
Yamaguchi

Shinsui Park

Located north-northeast of Hagi City, this is a resting park developed utilizing the gentle river flow. Loved by citizens as a walking path and break spot, beautiful landscapes in harmony with the surrounding mountains and waterside spread out, especially during fresh green and autumn foliage seasons. Because it is a little away from the sightseeing center, very quiet time flows, making it ideal for reading a book slowly or enjoying a picnic during your trip. Moments spent listening to the murmur of water become a refresh for mind and body. It is a hidden nature spot where you can feel...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Former Baron Tanaka Giichi Villa
Yamaguchi

Former Baron Tanaka Giichi Villa

This is the villa built by Giichi Tanaka, the 26th Prime Minister of Japan, to spend his later years. Located near the Hagi Castle ruins, it features an imposing gate, vast grounds, and a beautiful Japanese garden. The building is a modern Japanese-style architecture that skillfully incorporates Western elements into traditional Japanese design, offering a glimpse into the sophisticated aesthetic sense of the politicians of that time. The garden uses Mt. Shizuki as a borrowed landscape, and you can enjoy seasonal expressions. Located in a relatively quiet area of Hagi, it is recommended for history fans who want to spend...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Horiuchi Kaimagari (Crank paths)
Yamaguchi

Horiuchi Kaimagari (Crank paths)

This is a unique crank-shaped road structure remaining in the Horiuchi district of Hagi Castle Town. In this area where high-ranking samurai once lived, roads were bent at right angles in a "Kaimagari" (keyed curve) design to block the view of invading enemies and sap their momentum. This road, sandwiched between high earthen walls, is a precious heritage conveying military wisdom of the time. In summer, summer oranges peek their yellow fruits over the walls, and the contrast between the white walls, green leaves, and fruit is extremely beautiful, creating a photogenic landscape symbolizing Hagi. It is a quiet walking...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tenju-in Cemetery
Yamaguchi

Tenju-in Cemetery

Located on the site where Hagi Domain Lord Mori Terumoto lived in retirement, this is a cemetery associated with the Mori family. Now known as the "Mori Terumoto Cemetery," grave monuments made of heavy stone stand quietly in a peaceful forest. Many stone lanterns line up neatly around, drifting with a solemn atmosphere that remembers the first lord who built Hagi's prosperity. Because it has fewer visitors and is a very tranquil space, it is a hidden gem for travelers who want to quietly feel the weight of history and spirituality. The scenery woven by mossy stone walls and surrounding...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Myojin Pond
Yamaguchi

Myojin Pond

Located at the foot of Mt. Kasayama, this is a rare "saltwater pond" nationwide where seawater enters through gaps in the lava. Although it is a pond, it has tides, and marine fish such as sea bream, parrotfish, and rays swim energetically. When you throw food sold at the pond's edge, countless fish, black kites, and ducks gather, a sight full of power. The surroundings are like a natural fish pond and have been carefully protected by fishermen since ancient times. Itsukushima Shrine adjacent to the pond and the surrounding giant rocks and virgin forest create a mysterious landscape, making...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Yubikan Hall
Yamaguchi

Yubikan Hall

One of the remains of the Hagi Domain's clan school "Meirinkan," this building was used as a training hall for swordsmanship and spearmanship. A heavy single-story wooden structure, the interior is very spacious, and a dignified air drifts as if the heat of domain warriors honing their skills still conveys today. The luster of the floor and high ceilings give a sense of majesty as a hall of martial arts, allowing you to realistically experience the educational environment of samurai at that time. Records remain that Sakamoto Ryoma also had a swordsmanship match here, making it a precious place for...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Mutsumi Sunflower Road
Yamaguchi

Mutsumi Sunflower Road

Yamaguchi Prefecture's largest sunflower field spreading across the Mutsumi district of Hagi City. Every year from late July to early August, hundreds of thousands of sunflowers bloom toward the sun across the land as far as the eye can reach, dyeing the entire area in a vivid golden color. The panorama woven by the green of the mountains towering behind, the yellow of the sunflowers, and the blue summer sky is overwhelmingly beautiful, making it an excellent photo spot. Events such as mazes utilizing the height of the sunflowers are also held, bustling with families and couples. Enveloped in overwhelming...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Former Hirobumi Ito Villa
Yamaguchi

Former Hirobumi Ito Villa

A part of the mansion Hirobumi Ito, Japan's first Prime Minister, built in Tokyo during the Meiji era, was moved to his hometown of Hagi. The biggest highlight is the "Eclectic" (Japanese-Western) architectural beauty where a gorgeous Western-style building incorporating Renaissance styles and a heavy Japanese room using the highest quality wood coexist. Especially from the interior decorated with luxurious mirrors and ornaments, the lifestyle of a politician symbolizing modernization at the time and his high ambitions looking toward the world are conveyed. Visiting together with his adjacent birthplace, you can deeply learn about his turbulent path and success—how a...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Hagi Okan Hospitality Teahouse
Yamaguchi

Hagi Okan Hospitality Teahouse

A resting spot located along the "Hagi Okan," the major highway connecting Hagi and Yamaguchi during the Edo period. It recreates the atmosphere of a historic teahouse where former travelers quenched their thirst and healed their fatigue, and you can receive warm hospitality from local volunteers. Here you can enjoy local specialties, specific teas, and light meals, and it also serves as a place for interaction with hikers enjoying walking trips. You can immerse yourself in the mood of the travelers of that time while enjoying the cobblestone paths and natural scenery remaining along the highway. It is a pleasant...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Food
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Kikugahama Earthwork
Yamaguchi

Kikugahama Earthwork

A dirt embankment built for coastal defense at the end of the Edo period, remaining along Kikugahama adjacent to the Hagi Castle ruins. It holds the history of "Onnadatera Dorui" (Embankment by Women), a legend where women and even children of the Choshu Domain cooperated to build it overnight to prepare for attacks by foreign ships. The mounds of earth quietly remaining in the pine forest tell the story of the sense of crisis and strong unity of the people at that time. Today, it has become a beautiful walking path with pine forests and white sand beaches, where you...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Kikuya Family Residence
Yamaguchi

Kikuya Family Residence

A vast mansion of the Kikuya family, who flourished as purveyors to the Hagi Domain, designated as a National Important Cultural Property. A merchant's residence representing Hagi's castle town, the highlights include the buildings boasting over 400 years of history and the vast, beautifully maintained garden. Inside, many artworks and daily life tools telling of the prosperity of the time are displayed, and you can deeply understand Hagi's social structure where samurai and merchants coexisted. Especially the autumn foliage in the garden seen during special public openings is spectacular. Within the mansion surrounded by high earthen walls, silence spreads, making...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Former Asa-Mori Clan Hagi Nagaya
Yamaguchi

Former Asa-Mori Clan Hagi Nagaya

Remaining in the former Sannomaru (outer bailey) area of Hagi Castle, this is the nagaya (longhouse) of the Asa Mori family's samurai residence. Extending about 51 meters in length, this building boasts the largest scale among nagayas existing in Hagi and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. The contrast between the heavy tile roof and white walls is an overwhelming sight, conveying the prestige of the samurai of that time and the sturdy construction to protect their lord to the present. Part of the interior is open to the public, allowing you to observe how samurai waited and...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Hagi Okan Highway
Yamaguchi

Hagi Okan Highway

A historic highway about 53 kilometers long leading from Hagi through Yamaguchi to Hofu. During the Edo period, processions for Sankin-kotai (alternate attendance) passed through, and at the end of the Edo period, it was known as the "Road of the Restoration" where patriots ran while discussing the future of Japan. Today, cobblestone paths, mileposts (ichirizuka), and teahouse ruins remain, allowing you to enjoy trekking while feeling history. Along the route through deep forests and over mountain passes, beautiful nature that could be called the original landscape of Japan remains, letting you experience history with all five senses. The experience...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Daishoin Temple
Yamaguchi

Daishoin Temple

A family temple where the even-numbered generation lords of the Mori family, from the 2nd to the 14th, are enshrined. The main hall and other structures are designated as National Important Cultural Properties, boasting the quiet and powerful architectural beauty typical of a Zen temple. The biggest highlight is the more than 600 stone lanterns lined up neatly on the mountainside behind the main hall. The forest of lanterns standing in the silence of the deep woods emits an overwhelming solemnity and beauty that leaves one speechless. Every August during the "Okuribi" (ceremonial bonfire), all these lanterns are lit, creating...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Nanmeiji Temple
Yamaguchi

Nanmeiji Temple

An ancient temple founded in the Heian period in Hagi City, known for its beautiful Buddhist statues and quiet garden. In particular, the three giant Buddhas, including the "Wooden Standing Statue of the Thousand-Armed Kannon" designated as a National Important Cultural Property, are wonderful for their delicate carvings and compassionate expressions, allowing you to appreciate the best of Japanese Buddhist art up close. Also, within the grounds, there is a magnificent weeping cherry tree called "Ito-zakura," and in spring, the sight of flowers cascading down like a waterfall fascinates visitors. Located at the quiet foot of a mountain slightly away...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
Hagi Hakkei Sightseeing Boat
Yamaguchi

Hagi Hakkei Sightseeing Boat

A 40-minute luxury cruise to enjoy Hagi's beautiful castle town and the sea from the water. You can overlook Mt. Shizuki at the Hagi Castle ruins, the stone walls along the moat, and the townscape with traditional buildings from the boat, enjoying a panorama different from walking on land. Also, the boat proceeds from the river to the sea, and if conditions are good, you can see the islands floating in the Sea of Japan up close. The experience of passing under bridges in a low, roofed boat is exciting, and you can fully enjoy Hagi's history and nature while...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Activities
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Shoin Shrine
Yamaguchi

Shoin Shrine

This shrine is dedicated to Yoshida Shoin, the spiritual leader of the Meiji Restoration. On the grounds, the world heritage site "Shoka Sonjuku," where he educated young patriots, still exists, allowing you to feel the heat of that era firsthand. There are also many sights such as the treasure house displaying Shoin's personal effects and the "Shiseikan" museum, which recreates his life with dynamic wax figures. Known as a deity of learning and ambition, many students and history fans visit to pray. It is the very origin of Japan's modernization, a highly spiritual spot where you can deeply learn how...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Susa Bay
Yamaguchi

Susa Bay

Located on the northern end of the prefecture facing the Sea of Japan, this is a scenic spot with a beautiful rias coastline and strange rocks. Especially the "Hornfels Cliffs," with their striking black and gray striped patterns, are grand natural art designated as a National Scenic Spot and Natural Monument. In the clear cobalt blue sea, islets of various shapes are scattered, and you can enjoy the dynamic scenery from various angles by sightseeing boat or from the observatory. The powerful landscape created by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan and volcanic activity from ancient times tells...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Mishima Island
Yamaguchi

Mishima Island

A solitary island floating in the Sea of Japan, about 45 kilometers north of Hagi City, known for being at the northernmost tip of Yamaguchi Prefecture and its rich natural environment. The island is famous for the "Mishima Cow," a natural monument and Japan's only purebred native cattle, and for the mysterious landscape of the "Mishima Stone Pillars" created by wave erosion. Since it is on the route of migratory birds, it is a paradise for bird watching, and the surrounding sea is also popular as a prominent fishing spot for big game fishing. In this remote island where a...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tokoji Temple
Yamaguchi

Tokoji Temple

A historic Zen temple of the Obaku school located in Hagi City, serving as the family temple for the Mori lords of the Hagi Domain. Within the precincts characterized by continental-style architecture like the "Sanmon" gate and "Main Hall," there is a cemetery where over 500 stone lanterns are lined up, creating an overwhelmingly solemn and fantastical atmosphere. The sight of these stone lanterns standing quietly in the forest tells of the former glory of the Hagi Domain and deep faith. Especially during the Obon period, a "lantern lighting" event is held, transforming the area into a world of light....

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Kikugahama Beach
Yamaguchi

Kikugahama Beach

A beautiful white sand beach extending to the north of Hagi Castle ruins, famous as a leading scenic spot in Hagi. The contrast between the white sand, green pines, and the blue Sea of Japan is beautiful, and from the beach, you can look out over the nearby islands such as Mishima and the setting sun coloring the horizon. It is also selected as one of Japan's "Top 100 Sunset Spots" and "Top 100 Bathing Beaches," being crowded with many people during the summer swimming season. The scenery where the historical castle ruins and the vast sea merge has a...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Activities
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Hagi Castle Ruins
Yamaguchi

Hagi Castle Ruins

The site where Hagi Castle, once the center of the Hagi Domain, stood, designated as a National Historic Site and part of a World Heritage Site. Although the castle tower no longer exists, grand stone walls and moats still remain, allowing you to reflect on the era when samurai lived. The castle ruins are maintained as Shizuki Park, where you can enjoy the beauty of the four seasons, such as cherry blossoms in spring and autumn leaves. The dignified appearance of the stone walls in harmony with nature has a profound beauty, and strolling through the vast precincts is a...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Former Yukawa Residence
Yamaguchi

Former Yukawa Residence

A well-preserved samurai residence of a high-ranking retainer of the Hagi Domain, characterized by its traditional architecture and a unique water system. The "Hatoba" (water-drawing spot) that takes water from the river into the residence to be used in the kitchen and garden is a masterpiece of wisdom for living with water. The refined garden and the dignified rooms where the samurai of the time spent their days exude an atmosphere where history quietly breathes. Touching the sophisticated lifestyle and aesthetic sense of the Edo period while looking at the quietly flowing water provides a special experience that makes you...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Tatamigafuchi
Yamaguchi

Tatamigafuchi

A mysterious natural wonder in the mountains of Hagi City, where countless hexagonal columnar joints created by cooled lava from volcanic activity spread across the riverbed like "Tatami mats." This grand landscape created by Earth's volcanic activity millions of years ago is a masterpiece of natural art, and the clear water flowing over the hexagonal stones is breathtakingly beautiful. Walking on the unique geometric stones while listening to the murmur of the river, you can feel the pulse of the Earth and the mystery of nature. It is a hidden spectacular view spot away from the hustle, also known as...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Former Kubota Residence
Yamaguchi

Former Kubota Residence

A historic merchant house facing the main street of Hagi Castle Town, once the residence and shop of a wealthy merchant involved in sake brewing and fabric trade. The building, featuring high-grade "Kura-zukuri" (storehouse style) and dignified lattice doors, tells of the prosperity and high cultural level of the Edo period. The spacious interior has a sophisticated and modern atmosphere despite its history, allowing you to see high-quality Japanese architectural beauty everywhere. Touching the traces of the vibrant commercial activity and lifestyle of that time while strolling through the castle town, which is part of a World Heritage Site, will...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Hagi Castle Ruins Shizuki Park (Cherry Blossoms)
Yamaguchi

Hagi Castle Ruins Shizuki Park (Cherry Blossoms)

Developed on the site of the former Honmaru (inner bailey) of Hagi Castle, "Shizuki Park" features beautiful remains of Edo-period stone walls and moats and is designated as a National Historic Site. It is also Hagi's leading cherry blossom spot, where about 600 Somei-Yoshino cherry trees bloom in spring, elegantly coloring the old stone walls and white walls. Especially the sight of cherry blossoms reflected in the water of the moat and the "Hana-ikada" (flower raft) where fallen petals cover the water surface is spectacular. The park also features the rare "Midori-yoshino" cherry blossoms, found only in Hagi, making it...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Activities
  • Nature
  • Spring
Aibagawa River
Yamaguchi

Aibagawa River

The Aiba River, which flows quietly through the castle town of Hagi, is an artificial river dug during the Edo period and is still closely connected to people's lives today. Beautiful stone walls and old private houses line the river, featuring sights like "Mizuya," where river water was drawn into houses for cooking and laundry, and "Hatoba" stairs leading down to the water, showcasing the wisdom of ancestors. Vivid koi carp swim gracefully in the transparent water, healing the hearts of those who stroll along. Historic buildings such as the "Former Yukawa Residence" face the river, offering a very photogenic...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Mt. Kasayama Camellia Grove
Yamaguchi

Mt. Kasayama Camellia Grove

Located at the tip of the small volcano "Mt. Kasayama" in Hagi City, this is a vast camellia forest spanning about 10 hectares. About 60 varieties and 25,000 Yabu-tsubaki (wild camellias) grow naturally here, and from mid-February to late March each year, the entire area is buried in bright red flowers. Giant ancient trees cover the sky, and the fantastical sight of fallen camellia flowers spreading like a red carpet on the ground is truly natural art. Walking paths and observation decks are maintained within the forest, offering spectacular views of the contrast between the blue Sea of Japan and...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Hagi Okan Plum Grove
Yamaguchi

Hagi Okan Plum Grove

Located at the entrance of the historic "Hagi Okan" road connecting Hagi City to Yamaguchi City, this is a fragrant plum grove. In the approximately 13,000 square meter site, about 350 plum trees of about 13 varieties, including red and white, are planted, reaching their peak from late January to mid-March. Bronze statues of patriots associated with Hagi, such as Yoshida Shoin and Shinsaku Takasugi, are scattered throughout the park, allowing you to feel the deep history of Hagi alongside the delicate plum blossoms. The scent of plum drifting in the cold, clear air of early spring informs visitors of...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Nature
  • Spring
Hagi-yaki Kaikan
Yamaguchi

Hagi-yaki Kaikan

A large facility where you can experience the charm of Hagi-yaki all at once, displaying and selling works from numerous kilns. From traditional tea pottery to modern vessels fitting contemporary lifestyles, the wide selection is ideal for choosing souvenirs. The "Pottery Experience," where you can receive guidance from professional artisans, is very popular, allowing you to create your own original work using hand-kneading or electric wheels. There are also exhibits where you can learn the history and production methods of Hagi-yaki in detail, helping even beginners understand its depth. By admiring beautiful vessels and actually touching the clay, you can...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works
Yamaguchi

Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works

This is an industrial remain in Hagi City where "Tatara-buki," a traditional Japanese ironmaking technique, was carried out during the Edo period. It is one of the component sites of the World Heritage "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," and was a crucial location supplying iron for the Choshu Domain to create cannons for coastal defense at the end of the Edo period. The stone walls and remains neatly preserved deep in the mountains tell the story of the advanced technology of the time and the passion of ancestors who skillfully utilized natural energy. The ruins standing in the silence...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Ebisugahana Shipyard Site
Yamaguchi

Ebisugahana Shipyard Site

The site of a shipyard established in Hagi City by the Choshu Domain at the end of the Edo period to build Western-style warships. This is also registered as a World Heritage site, conveying the history of Japan's challenge to introduce Western science and technology. Currently, stone walls from the former docks remain, allowing you to imagine the sight of Japan's first Western-style sailing ship, the "Heishin-maru," and the steamship "Koshin-maru" setting out to sea from here. It is a scenic spot overlooking the calm sea in front and Mt. Kasayama on the opposite shore. It is a historical spot...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Iwakawa Hataten (Flags)
Yamaguchi

Iwakawa Hataten (Flags)

A traditional "Tairyo-bata" (big catch flag) dyer in the Hagi castle town that has continued since the Meiji era. Conveying the techniques of the vibrant flags fishermen once hoisted to celebrate a bountiful catch, each product is hand-dyed, featuring powerful colors and dynamic designs. Inside the shop, modern bags, tenugui towels, and accessories utilizing traditional big catch flag patterns are lined up, and they are highly evaluated by international tourists as "Japanese Art." Sometimes you can observe the craftsmen working up close, feeling the beauty of traditional Japanese dyeing and the passion of their craftsmanship. It is the best place...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Activities
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Unrinji Temple (Cat Temple)
Yamaguchi

Unrinji Temple (Cat Temple)

Unrin-ji Temple in Hagi City, commonly known as the "Cat Temple," is a unique Buddhist temple that attracts cat lovers from all over the world. Its origin lies in a story of loyalty from the Edo period, where a samurai's pet cat died of grief at its master's grave. Today, the temple grounds are lined with hundreds of wooden cat sculptures and figurines, and you can encounter cute cats wherever you look. In particular, "cat head masks" that you can wear for photos, as well as Goshuin (temple stamps) and charms with cat illustrations, are very popular with international tourists....

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
  • Spring
  • Summer
  • Autumn
  • Winter
Hagi Glass Studio
Yamaguchi

Hagi Glass Studio

This workshop located at the foot of Mt. Kasayama in Hagi City is a base for disseminating the charm of "Hagi Glass," which uses rare local basalt as a raw material. Its greatest feature is a unique production method that is harder and more heat-resistant than general glass, characterized by the "pale green" color produced from glass melted at temperatures over 1,500 degrees and the beautiful crack patterns of "Uchi-kannyu" (internal crazing). Here, you can observe the production process by skilled artisans up close, and you can also experience blowing glass yourself to create a one-of-a-kind original work. It is...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
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Hagi Meirinkan Academy
Yamaguchi

Hagi Meirinkan Academy

This composite facility, which renovated Japan's largest wooden school building, allows you to learn about the history and science of Hagi. The beautiful architecture itself, built on the site of the former clan school "Meirinkan," is an exhibit, and just walking down the corridors envelops you in a nostalgic atmosphere. The facility is filled with exhibits on the history of education where the patriots of the end of the Edo period studied, as well as the industrial heritage registered as a World Heritage site that supported Hagi's advanced technological capabilities. In particular, the "World Heritage Visitor Center" clearly explains why...

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Shoka Sonjuku Academy
Yamaguchi

Shoka Sonjuku Academy

This is a small, one-story wooden building located within the grounds of Shoin Shrine, yet it is a legendary private school that created the dawn of modern Japan. Under the guidance of Yoshida Shoin, it produced numerous leaders who would later move Japan, such as Hirobumi Ito and Shinsaku Takasugi. The building retains its original appearance and is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. The passion of young people with ambition, who engaged in heated discussions regardless of their social status, still seems to breathe within its quiet presence. It is the origin of Japan's modernization and a historical...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
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Hagi Castle Town
Yamaguchi

Hagi Castle Town

Hagi is the city that nurtured the patriots who led the modernization of Japan from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era. In the castle town area, earthen walls with white plaster and grid-like streets remain as they were back then, and it is registered as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Birthplaces of Takayoshi Kido and Shinsaku Takasugi are dotted around, allowing you to observe the lifestyle of samurai of that era up close. Also, summer oranges peek their yellow fruits over the walls at street corners, adding soft color to the historical landscape. With many Hagi-yaki...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
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Hagi Reverberatory Furnace
Yamaguchi

Hagi Reverberatory Furnace

The Hagi Reverberatory Furnace in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is an industrial remain from the end of the Edo period that attempted to cast iron cannons to strengthen coastal defense. It is part of the World Heritage site "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution." As one of the very few surviving reverberatory furnaces in Japan, it is a symbol of the passion of those who desperately tried to learn Western technology and achieved modernization through their own trials and errors. The sight of the brick towers, which look like heavy chimneys, standing side by side exudes a sense of dignity....

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
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Susa Hornfels
Yamaguchi

Susa Hornfels

One of the highlights of the Kita-Nagato Coast Quasi-National Park, this is a massive striped rock wall about 15 meters high towering toward the sea. Born from crustal movements tens of millions of years ago and the heat of magma, the geometric cliff where black mudstone and white sandstone overlap alternately is as powerful as witnessing a cross-section of a giant geological layer. The sight of the waves of the Sea of Japan crashing against it is full of dynamism, letting you directly feel the Earth's energy. You can enjoy the overwhelming graphic art drawn by nature while walking on...

  • Yamaguchi
  • Sightseeing
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