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Ube City

Located in the southwestern part of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Ube City is a "City of Greenery, Flowers, and Sculpture" where industry, art, and nature merge dynamically. It has a powerful history of supporting Japan's modernization as a coal mining town, and today it has a face as an art city where world-class sculpture exhibitions are held. From "Industrial Tourism," where you can see double-connected trucks going back and forth on giant dedicated roads, to "Tokiwa Park," where you can meet rare plants and animals, the highlights are diverse. Additionally, the beautiful coastline facing the Seto Inland Sea and gourmet food using...

Yamaguchi
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Nature
Spring
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Tokiwa Park Outdoor Sculptures

Tokiwa Park Outdoor Sculptures

Tokiwa Park in Ube City is a treasure trove of world-class outdoor sculptures, symbolizing the "City of Sculpture" where the entire town is colored with art. Within the vast grounds, over 100 unique sculpture works by artists from all over the world, selected at the biennial "UBE Biennale," are scattered. Art that suddenly appears amidst rich greenery, beautiful lakes, and blooming flowers shows various expressions depending on the viewing angle and lighting, offering new discoveries with every stroll. This space, where nature and contemporary art are in perfect harmony, is a paradise for photography enthusiasts and is highly evaluated as...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kotozaki Hachimangu Shrine

Kotozaki Hachimangu Shrine

Kotozaki Hachimangu Shrine in Ube City is a venerable shrine that has been worshipped since ancient times as a guardian deity of the region. The vast grounds are drifted with a dignified, sacred air, and the beautiful shrine building quietly welcomes visitors. It is said to have the most types of "Omamori" (charms) in Japan, with over 800 varieties ranging from health, academics, and safe birth to unique ones, making it a joy to find the perfect guardian item for yourself. In summer, a "Wind Bell Festival" is held, and the sight of thousands of wind bells echoing cool tones...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Chofu Mori Residence

Chofu Mori Residence

A heavy mansion built in the castle town of Chofu, Shimonoseki, by the 14th head of the Chofu Mori family, Mototoshi. The grand main house, which strongly retains Meiji-era architectural styles, and the beautifully arranged Japanese garden are in harmony, and stepping inside conveys the elegant lifestyle of the aristocracy of that time. The "Goshinsyo" (Imperial Sleeping Quarters) where Emperor Meiji stayed is also preserved, making its historical value extremely high. The time spent drinking matcha in a Japanese room while gazing at the garden showing seasonal expressions is a blissful moment that makes you forget the fatigue of your...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kaikyo Yume Tower

Kaikyo Yume Tower

A 153-meter total length observation tower standing as a landmark of Shimonoseki. The observation room on the top floor has a unique spherical shape, from which you can overlook the Kanmon Strait, the mountains of Kyushu, and the two seas—the Sea of Japan and the Seto Inland Sea—in a 360-degree panorama. The view from dusk to night is particularly spectacular, and the brilliance woven by the lights of ships coming and going in the strait and the city's night view is beautiful enough to be selected as a "Japan Night View Heritage" site. There are also romantic spots inside the...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty Hall

Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty Hall

A museum located in Amidaiji-cho, Shimonoseki, that preserves and opens the venue where the peace treaty ending the Sino-Japanese War (Treaty of Shimonoseki) was signed in 1895. Adjacent to Akama Jingu Shrine, the museum displays the actual tables, chairs, and furnishings used in the treaty negotiations in their original arrangement. You can witness the stage of negotiations that greatly moved the history of modern East Asia and feel the weight of history firsthand. The building, which retains its architectural beauty of the time, and the materials regarding Hirobumi Ito and Li Hongzhang who were involved in the negotiations are also...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kanmon Tunnel Pedestrian Path

Kanmon Tunnel Pedestrian Path

A world-rare "undersea pedestrian tunnel" connecting Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture on Honshu and Kitakyushu City in Fukuoka Prefecture on Kyushu. The 780-meter long tunnel passes under the seafloor of the Kanmon Strait, and in the middle, there is a boundary marker showing the border between Yamaguchi and Fukuoka Prefectures, making it a prime photo spot. Descending about 60 meters underground by elevator from the surface and walking through the quiet seafloor path to reach another island in just about 15 minutes is a very unique experience and a great travel memory. Unaffected by weather, you can enjoy the excitement...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Karato Market

Karato Market in Shimonoseki City is a lively fish market known as "Kanmon's Kitchen," while also boasting a leading handling volume of pufferfish in Japan. On weekends and holidays, an event called "Iki-iki Bakangai" is held, where many sushi battles and seafood stalls line up. Freshly caught pufferfish, sea bream, yellowtail, and more are provided as sushi or bowls at surprisingly reasonable prices, and the energetic atmosphere is the best stage to experience a "Japanese Fish Market." The experience of eating what you bought on the seaside wooden deck while gazing at the view of the Kanmon Strait is the...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Iwakawa Hataten (Flags)

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

Ebisugahana Shipyard Site

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

Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works

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

Hagi-yaki Kaikan

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

Hagi Okan Plum Grove

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

Mt. Kasayama Camellia Grove

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

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

Kazuki Yasuo Museum

Kazuki Yasuo Museum

This museum houses and displays the works of Yasuo Kazuki, a leading Japanese Western-style painter from Misumi, Nagato City. His representative work, the "Siberia Series," expresses the grueling experience of postwar internment through unique textures and a heavy "black," violently shaking the viewer's soul. The museum building features a modern and calm design reflecting his aesthetic sense, and his restored atelier is also open to the public. The universal "human love" and "prayer for peace" embedded in his works provide deep emotion to people regardless of language or nationality. It is a place where you can feel spiritual richness while...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Hagi-yaki (Fukagawa Kiln Village)

Hagi-yaki (Fukagawa Kiln Village)

Located in the mountains of Nagato City, "Fukagawa-gama" is one of the two major origins of Hagi-yaki pottery, a traditional craft village boasting over 400 years of history. It flourished as an official kiln for the Choshu Domain during the Edo period, and many potters still carry on these skills today. In the quiet streets lined with cobblestones, you can find brick chimneys and old climbing kilns, allowing you to feel the breath of traditional Japanese crafts just by walking. Here, under the guidance of artisans, you can enjoy a pottery-making experience by actually touching the clay to create your...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Murata Seifu Memorial Museum

Murata Seifu Memorial Museum

Located in Misumi, Nagato City, this memorial hall honors the politician Seifu Murata, who carried out fiscal reforms in the Choshu Domain at the end of the Edo period and built the economic foundation that became the driving force of the Restoration. At the memorial hall, which stands in a quiet rural landscape, you can learn in detail about his rational thinking, his passion for education, and the influence he had on later patriots. The adjacent former residence and the site of the private school where he studied also retain their appearance from that time, allowing you to feel firsthand...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Nagato Toy Museum

Nagato Toy Museum

Adjacent to "Senza Kitchen" at the port of Nagato City, this is a hands-on museum wrapped in the warmth of wood. Filled with toys and play equipment using plenty of high-quality wood from Yamaguchi Prefecture, it can be enjoyed using all five senses by children and adults alike. Here, besides just playing, you can learn about Japan's rich forest culture and the value of handwork through exquisite wooden works made by local artisans. Additionally, the museum's dedicated cruise ship "Kids Cruise" is in operation, allowing for the unique experience of playing while feeling the warmth of wood even on the...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Omijima Island

Omijima, referred to as the "Alps of the Sea," is a dynamic scenic spot where cliffs, strange rocks, and sea caves carved by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan over many years continue. It is the highlight of the Kita-Nagato Coast Quasi-National Park, and if you take a sightseeing boat, you can fully enjoy the formative beauty created by nature's fury and mystery up close. Especially beautiful are sea caves like the "Blue Grotto" and the panorama of standing strange rocks. The sea with outstanding transparency is also known as a sanctuary for diving, and you can enjoy...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Nature
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Kirara Glass Future Hall (Experience)

Kirara Glass Future Hall (Experience)

Located along the coast of Sanyo-Onoda City, this facility allows you to enjoy world-class glass artist exhibitions and authentic glassmaking experiences. Under the guidance of professional artisans, even beginners can easily feel like an artist with "glass blowing experiences," making your own unique glass from red-hot molten glass, or "sandblasting," engraving delicate patterns. From the building, you can overlook the beautiful sea of the Seto Inland Sea, and the light-filled interior is truly a glass art space. Since you can learn Japan's advanced manufacturing culture directly as an "experience," it is ideal for making travel memories. You can spend a...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Activities
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Nakahara Chuya Memorial Museum

Nakahara Chuya Memorial Museum

This is a memorial hall built on the site of the birthplace of Nakahara Chuya, one of Japan's most beloved modern poets. You can deeply understand the delicate and passionate world of the poetry of this man, who died at the young age of 30, through handwritten manuscripts and personal items. The building is located in the Yuda Onsen district of Yamaguchi City, his hometown, and the modern design of the interior features substantial exhibits explaining the background of his masterpieces like "For the Tainted Sorrow." By following his life, you can feel the beauty of modern Japanese literature and...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives

Yamaguchi Prefectural Archives

This museum utilizes the Former Prefectural Office Building and the Former Prefectural Assembly Hall, built in 1916 by leading architects of the Taisho era. The exterior, in a Neo-Renaissance style blending brick and stone, radiates a beauty symbolizing Japan's desire for modernization at the time. Inside, the former luxurious Governor's Office and assembly chamber are preserved as they were, and craftsmanship lives on in every detail, such as the heavy wooden stairs and delicate decorations. Besides being able to learn in detail about Yamaguchi Prefecture's progress and the history of Japan's governance after the Meiji Restoration, the artistic value of...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Former Yamaguchi Clan Office Gate

Former Yamaguchi Clan Office Gate

This historical gate stands proudly in the center of Yamaguchi City as the main gate of the current Yamaguchi Prefectural Office. In 1864, during the chaotic end of the Edo period, it was built as the main gate of the Yamaguchi Seijido when the clan base was moved from Hagi to Yamaguchi. It takes the form of a heavy "Yakui-mon" gate, conveying to the present the passion of the samurai of that time who passed through here betting on the future of Japan. The surroundings are enclosed by beautiful tree-lined paths and moats, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of...

Yamaguchi
Sightseeing
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter