Spots List

Kanmon Strait

The Kanmon Strait separates Honshu (Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi) and Kyushu (Kitakyushu, Fukuoka), with a width of only about 700 meters at its narrowest point. It is one of the world's leading maritime traffic hubs, with about 700 ships of all sizes passing through each day. Historically, it has been the stage for numerous legends, such as the final battle of the Genpei War, "Dan-no-ura," and the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro on "Ganryujima." The dynamic landscape, with the massive Kanmon Bridge spanning the sky and a pedestrian tunnel running under the sea, is overwhelming. While watching the rapid currents...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Sogo Railway Bridge

Sogo Railway Bridge

The "Sogo River Bridge" on the JR San'in Main Line in Abu Town is a concrete arch bridge drawing an elegant curve against the Sea of Japan backdrop. At dusk, the setting sun on the horizon dyes the bridge's silhouette red, and the sight of a train slowly passing through is famous as a "miraculous spectacular view" attracting not only railway fans but many tourists. The form merging natural dynamic coastline and modern architectural beauty is very photogenic. The quiet time waiting for the train while blown by the sea breeze will surely be deeply engraved in your heart as...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Michi-no-Eki Abu-cho

Michi-no-Eki Abu-cho

One of the "birthplaces of roadside stations" first born in Japan, located in Abu Town, northern Yamaguchi Prefecture. In a prime location overlooking the Sea of Japan, it features restaurants where you can taste local brand "Mukaku Wagyu" beef and freshly caught seafood. The greatest feature is that despite being a roadside station, it has an "onsen," "campsite," and "pool," plus it's a scenic spot where you can see beautiful sunsets over the Sea of Japan. Feeling the sea breeze while savoring Abu's seasonal specialties and refreshing in the hot spring is a top-tier destination exceeding a mere break during...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Food
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Mikawa Mu Valley

Mikawa Mu Valley

An adventure park themed after a "Subterranean Kingdom" utilizing a former mine in Iwakuni City. In the vast underground exploration course, stone statues reminiscent of ancient civilizations, mysterious light-ups, and various gimmicks are prepared, allowing both adults and children to enjoy puzzle-solving like explorers. The cave stays at a constant 17 degrees Celsius year-round, making it comfortable regardless of weather. Also, with gold panning experiences, camping facilities, and hot springs attached, you can play all day in nature. It's a popular, excitement-filled spot where you can enjoy Japan's historical mining heritage as entertainment.

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Tabuse Town

Located in southeastern Yamaguchi Prefecture, Tabuse Town is a place where history and nature harmonize, blessed with rich rural landscapes and the calm Seto Inland Sea. From ancient tumuli to sites associated with modern politicians, you can feel a wide layer of history. High-quality agricultural products like specialty figs and rice are produced here, and you can enjoy fresh tastes at the "Tabuse Regional Exchange Center." Completely away from city hustle, walking on peaceful paths between rice fields and looking at seasonal scenery is the ultimate luxury for travelers wanting to encounter Japan's original landscape. It's a peaceful area where...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kagawa Residence Gate

Kagawa Residence Gate

A prestigious samurai residence gate built in the mid-Edo period, located near Kikko Park in Iwakuni City. It served as the main gate for the Kagawa family, who held the position of Karo (clan elder) in the Iwakuni Domain, and its imposing presence and heavy tile roof still convey the authority of the samurai class today. Boasting the largest scale and best preservation state among nagaya-mon gates remaining in Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is designated as a National Important Cultural Property. Standing before the gate, the air of the era when former samurai passed through on horseback seems to drift by....

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kin-unkaku

A beautiful ema-do style building built in 1885 on the site of the former residence of the Kikkawa family, lords of the Iwakuni Domain, in Kikko Park. Built in the image of a turret of Iwakuni Castle, it harmonizes perfectly with the white walls of the moat and surrounding rich greenery, creating a scene like a Japanese painting. Its reflection on the water is very photogenic, and many tourists visit to capture its beauty, especially during spring cherry blossoms, summer deep green, and autumn leaves. It's an atmospheric view spot representing Iwakuni, ideal for enjoying a slow stroll while feeling...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Former Mekada Residence

Former Mekada Residence

An Edo-period samurai residence located within Kikko Park in Iwakuni City. It was a residence for middle-class samurai of the Iwakuni Domain and is designated as a National Important Cultural Property due to its excellent state of preservation. Though two-story, it features a unique architectural style called "samurai etiquette," such as making the first-floor roof the same height as the second-floor floor to avoid looking down on the domain lord. You can actually tour the simple yet functional and dignified interior, feeling firsthand how samurai lived and what they valued. This building allows you to realistically and deeply experience the...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Umamon (Pickles)

Umamon (Pickles)

A famous long-established Japanese pickle shop near Kintai Bridge in Iwakuni City, continuing since the Meiji era. Centered around their flagship "Ajina Takuan," their pickles are made with a traditional "triple-soaking" method that takes much time and effort, resulting in a deep flavor concentrating the vegetables' natural umami. Part of the storehouse is open to the public, sometimes allowing views of heavy brewing spaces with giant wooden vats lined up. While learning the depth of pickles as fermented foods, you can taste and purchase various types, deliciously experiencing the "fermentation culture" essential to the Japanese table. It is an ideal...

Yamaguchi
Food
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Jinngahana Kofun Tumulus

Jinngahana Kofun Tumulus

A keyhole-shaped tumulus (kofun) in Hirao Town, believed to have been built around the 5th century. Located on a hill overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, it is famous for the discovery of a female skull, thought to be a "queen," and luxurious burial goods. Currently maintained as a historical park, you can observe the reconstructed tumulus shape up close, and a museum displaying excavated items is also attached. The view from here is wonderful, allowing you to reflect on the stories of ancient Japanese rulers while overlooking the calm sea that the leaders of that time must have gazed upon....

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Iwakuni Chokokan Museum

Iwakuni Chokokan Museum

A heavy stone museum completed in 1945, located within Kikko Park in Iwakuni City. The building itself is a Registered Tangible Cultural Property and possesses a unique presence and beauty, having been built with ingenuity during wartime material shortages. Inside, historical materials and artworks handed down in the Kikkawa family, lords of the Iwakuni Domain, as well as exhibits regarding Iwakuni's culture and nature are substantial. It is a "knowledge hub" for deeply understanding the historical background of Kintai Bridge and Iwakuni Castle, where you can follow the region's progress in a quiet space. The combination of geometric architectural beauty...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Michi-no-Eki Kaminoseki Kaikyo

Michi-no-Eki Kaminoseki Kaikyo

A lively roadside station located right by the Kaminoseki Strait. It's a treasure trove of freshly caught seafood from the sea in front, especially branded fish known as horse mackerel, sea bream, and Kuruma prawns, which are lined up at surprisingly low prices. The local specialty "Tenpura" (deep-fried fish cake) is best enjoyed freshly fried on the spot. From the restaurant, you can enjoy meals while watching ships coming and going through the strait and the beautiful Kaminoseki Grand Bridge, making it ideal as a break during a drive. It's a place where you can enjoy the rich sea blessings...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Food
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Shikairo

"Shikairo" in Kaminoseki Town is an extremely rare pseudo-Western-style 4-story wooden building built by a local influential figure in the early Meiji era. While the exterior has a design like a traditional Japanese storehouse, the interior features a world where "Japanese and Western blend" to the extreme, with colorful French stained glass, spiral staircases with elaborate carvings, and Japanese rooms coexisting. From the top floor, you can see the multi-island beauty of the Seto Inland Sea, experiencing the luxurious panorama that the master of that time must have seen. This building, concentrating the free and creative architectural beauty born during...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Former Kaminoseki Guardhouse

Former Kaminoseki Guardhouse

The site of an office in Kaminoseki Town that monitored and regulated ship entries and exits as a key maritime traffic point during the Edo period. Examples of such guardhouse buildings still existing are very rare nationwide, and it is designated as a National Historic Site. The building with a heavy tile roof and white walls conveys the weight of history when it strictly watched over the ships of various lords and merchant vessels traversing the Seto Inland Sea. Inside, materials on the business at the time and the history of maritime transportation are displayed, allowing you to deeply study...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Sato-no-Kuri

"Sato-no-Kuri" in Hikari City is a direct sales store and restaurant serving as a "food hub" where fresh local vegetables and specialties gather. You can directly feel the rich "blessings of the soil" from agriculture-heavy Hikari City and taste local cuisine using freshly harvested ingredients and sweets made from local fruits. The modern building feeling the warmth of wood harmonizes perfectly with the surrounding calm rural landscape, letting you touch the warm spirit of hospitality as if visiting a relative's house in the Japanese countryside. It's a healthy tourist spot where you can enjoy the local lifestyle and food culture...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Food
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kanmuriyama General Park (Plums)

Kanmuriyama General Park (Plums)

Located on a small hill in Hikari City overlooking the Seto Inland Sea, this park is very famous as a leading spot for "Plums." About 2,000 plum trees of about 100 varieties are planted, and from February to March, white, red, and pink flowers bloom brilliantly, enveloping the park in a sweet, mellow scent. The Japanese garden and pond are also beautifully maintained, and the sight of delicate plum flowers adding color within traditional landscapes is a scene perfectly symbolizing the arrival of spring in Japan. During the Plum Festival, it's crowded with people, and you can enjoy cultural experiences...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring

Former Kusaka Hospital

Former Kusaka Hospital

The "Former Kusaka Hospital" in Shunan City is a nostalgic composite facility that renovated a Western-style hospital built in the early Showa era. The beautiful scratch-tile exterior, modern window frames, and retro interior space that strongly retain the atmosphere of the time are irresistibly charming for architecture fans. Currently utilized as a sophisticated cafe, general store, and gallery, you can spend a luxurious time slowly tasting coffee or looking for one-of-a-kind crafts in a historical space. It is a very stylish spot where the beauty of modern Japanese architecture and contemporary creative sensibilities harmonize comfortably.

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Mitsuoka Yume Plaza

Mitsuoka Yume Plaza

An open plaza in the Mitsuoka district of Shunan City where rich greenery and art merge. Unique sculptures and playground equipment are set within a landscape utilizing local nature, making it a resting place for families and photo enthusiasts. Especially with peaceful rural scenery and mountain ranges in the background, the way art pieces blend in is very peaceful, letting you feel the slow-life atmosphere unique to regional Japan. There is a hot spring nearby, making it ideal for refreshing after a stroll. It is a hidden gem where you can luxuriously enjoy a warm, handmade feeling by locals and...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Toishi Hachimangu Shrine

Toishi Hachimangu Shrine

Toishi Hachimangu in Shunan City is a historic shrine said to have been founded in 622, deeply cherished by locals as a deity of traffic safety and family harmony. Located on a small hill, the grounds offer a beautiful view of Tokuyama Bay. The shrine building, boasting heavy architectural beauty, is enveloped in dignified air, and seasonal festivals and beautiful gardens warmly welcome visitors. In particular, spending time quietly facing yourself within traditional Japanese landscapes provides a pleasant rest during your trip. It's a peaceful power spot where you can feel the clean and sincere prayer culture rooted in Japanese...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church

Yamaguchi Xavier Memorial Church

This iconic Yamaguchi City church was built to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Spanish missionary Francis Xavier's arrival to begin proselytizing Christianity in Yamaguchi. The current cathedral, rebuilt in 1998, is a modern structure with two high towers stretching toward the sky. The interior features vast, beautiful stained glass, enveloping the space in a fantastical atmosphere when light shines through. There is also an exhibit corner introducing Xavier's life, where you can learn the history of exchange between Japan and the West. It is a sanctuary of peace and prayer that shows how Christianity was accepted in Japan and has...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Chogen-no-Sato (Papermaking)

Chogen-no-Sato (Papermaking)

Located in the Tokuji district of Yamaguchi City, "Chogen-no-Sato" is a hands-on theme park recreating a historic village used as a base for rebuilding Todai-ji Temple by the high priest Chogen during the Heian period. Amidst peaceful rural scenery with thatched-roof houses, you can enjoy traditional "Tokuji Washi" papermaking. Under an artisan's guidance, you'll scoop plant fibers and decorate them with seasonal flowers or leaves to create your own postcards or decorative paper, offering a precious chance to feel the delicacy of Japanese handwork. Enveloped by nature's sounds, it's a heartwarming spot where you can touch skills lasting over 800...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Ryuzoji Temple

Ryuzoji Temple in Yamaguchi City is a historic temple said to have been founded in 741 and is one of the "oldest famous temples in Yamaguchi Prefecture" surrounded by rich nature. The biggest highlight is the "Giant Ginkgo," which is designated as a National Natural Monument; the appearance of this giant tree, about 900 years old and 45 meters high, shining golden in autumn is an overwhelming sight. Also, within the grounds, there is a beautiful waterfall called "Tsuzumi-no-taki," where you can refresh your mind and body in a silent space filled with negative ions. With seasonal flowers and Buddhist...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Tonomi Funagura-dori

Tonomi Funagura-dori

"Funagura-dori" in the Tonomi district of Hofu City is a historic promenade that conveys the atmosphere of a port town where lords in daimyo processions and many travelers once stopped as a key point of maritime transportation in the Seto Inland Sea. In the narrow alleys, traditional stone walls and old rows of houses remain, allowing you to feel the quiet lives of people who lived with the sea and the multilayered history. At the end of the street, the beautiful Tonomi Beach spreads out, allowing you to simultaneously enjoy nostalgic city walking and open sea views. For travelers who...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kirara Beach Yakeno Sunset

Kirara Beach Yakeno Sunset

"Kirara Beach Yakeno" in Sanyo-Onoda City is one of the premier sunset spots in the Seto Inland Sea, also selected as one of the "Top 100 Sunsets in Japan." The landscape of white sand beaches where gentle waves lap and palm trees line up has a tropical resort atmosphere, and at dusk, the sky and sea are dyed in a burning orange, creating a breathtaking view. Along the beach, there are stylish restaurants and glass craft experience facilities, allowing you to slowly watch the sun sink below the horizon while tasting delicious food. Away from the city hustle, the time...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter