A prefecture defined by peace
Yamaguchi Prefecture is quiet and rural, but has many sites of great historical significance. Hagi, the capital of a major samurai domain, hosts one of the most beautifully preserved castle towns in Japan and a local style of pottery. Yamaguchi is also renowned for stunning scenery, including serene beaches, hidden shrines and Akiyoshido, the largest limestone cave in Japan. The city of Shimonoseki offers some of the country’s best seafood at its markets and restaurants, with blowfish a particularly famous local
How to Get There
HYamaguchi is easily reached by bullet train from most of Japan’s major cities, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima and Fukuoka. The prefecture is also served by Ube Airport.
Shin-Yamaguchi Station and Shin-Shimonoseki Station are served by the Sanyo Shinkansen line between Osaka and Fukuoka. There are many through trains departing from points east, including Tokyo, as well. You can also fly to Ube Airport from Haneda Airport in Tokyo in around two hours.
Don’t Miss
• The memorial Peace Park is home to countless memorials and the iconic Atomic Bomb Dome
• Miyajima with its floating red torii gate that serves as the entrance to Itsukushima
• Takehara, or “Little Kyoto,” with its historic buildings, interesting museums and great sake
• Kure—the city that built the legendary battleship Yamato—and its museum
