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The original was posted on /r/japantravel by /u/1hys12 on 2025-06-29 19:41:40+00:00.
Hello! This is my 5th trip to Japan, and this time I chose to go Yamaguchi. Just wanted to share my experience because of how much fun I had.
If you're a traveler who likes the bustling and crowd of Tokyo and Osaka, Yamaguchi would definitely not be for you. There's really absolutely nothing there if you are more keen on nightlife, shopping and activities.
But if you're someone who's really interested in the culture, history and geography of Yamaguchi. Why not put Yamaguchi as your next stop?
The well known Motonosumi Shrine was such a beautiful experience, with the sea breeze and the torii gates, as your head to the edge, you get to witness the duo colour of the sea below your feet as well as wild flowers blooming on the side of the mountain.
Akiyoshido Cave was so magnificently gorgeous that it felt unreal, as you head out to the entrance, or the exit depending on the way you enter, The way the outside world appeared to you through a crack with the scenery of foliage, and as you step outside, the beautiful turquoise water, walkway and trees. It felt unreal.
Hagi, a beautiful samurai town that offers a shopping street that has white castle walls as you walk down, and you get to witness the old samurai houses. As you continue walking on, you arrive at a beautiful beach and a castle ruin. There is a really big old building there right by the tourist centre that you would have to wear slippers indoors, and I thought I've seen old buildings at Meiji Mura Museum, Inuyama. But this looked way older. You can really feel the history of the place. To get there, you can enjoy taking a bus from Yamaguchi and watch as the bus cut through mountains and take scenic paths to reach Hagi.
Tsuwano (Not really Yamaguchi at this point, it's Shimane)
There is a special train called SL Yamaguchi, it's a Steam Locomotive that goes to Tsuwano from Shin-Yamaguchi during weekends! And vice versa. The train runs on coal and you get to enjoy a scenic ride, while the locals and train enthusiasts on the street will wave to you as you pass by.
You will reach a peaceful town that has many koi fish running through the shopping streets river, alongside with flowers blooming. Take a short hike, you would be greeted by torii gates high above the town as you peek in between the torii to catch a glimpse of the city. That is the Taikodani Inari-jinja Shrine. Continuing on further more, you can take a chair lift or hike up to Tsuwano Castle Ruins.
There's nothing there but a bench, and a impressive magnificient view of the whole area. There is something impressive about a bench alone, on top of the city and among the mountains.
At Yuda Onsen, a town famous for its foot bath and white foxes, why not drop by to soak your feet? The tourist information centre offers a 200¥ charge for you to soak your feet, indoors or outdoors whichever you prefer! The 2nd floor occasionally hold exhibitions too. LAWAKU, A wagashi shop at Yuda Onsen offers hands on wagashi making experiences as well.
The best and saddest part of this all is, there isn't much people in Yamaguchi. It's a really quiet area. I wonder if it's off peak season now that it's so quiet.
Even the tourist hotspots, there are people but it's in small numbers. It really brought back what it felt like to travel, instead of being in a beautiful place but squeezing to even walk.
You can breathe, take in the scenery, have the place to yourself.
I really enjoyed my time in Yamaguchi and felt that the scenery and food they had to offer is in nowhere lacking to the other Prefectures. That's the wonderful thing about Japan I appreciate a lot, every Prefecture has a beautiful place that doesn't lose out to each other at all.
It's probably due to the declining population as well, but every vendor and owners I have chat with, they always responded with 山口人少ないだから aka there isn't enough people in Yamaguchi.
It feels like there's a tinge form of sadness behind every conversation we have about the peacefulness of Yamaguchi.
I really enjoyed my time in Yamaguchi and think it's a place not a lot of people go to, heck. The one week I was there, the hotel I stayed in was mostly just Japanese salarymen coming to and forth, there were way more local tourists than international tourists. It's to the point that I actually get excited to see a foreigner like myself when I'm there.
It would be nice if this post makes you even just slightly interested to drop by Yamaguchi if given a chance.