Get immersed in a cultural heartland that combines pristine nature and age-old crafts.
Yamaguchi Prefecture sits on the western edge of Honshu Island and is the kind of peaceful place many travelers dream about. With its beautiful scenery, rich cultural history, and numerous outdoor activities, this coastal area is ideal for those who prefer nature over busy cities.
Sometimes described as the 'Kyoto of the West', it won't take long for visitors to understand why. Home to some of Japan's most captivating experiences, a vacation filled with breathtaking encounters is made simple. Get to know these enticing activities to discover what makes Yamaguchi special.
Yamaguchi’s enchanting landscapes leave visitors with lasting memories. Yet one of its most famous attractions is actually underground. In the Akiyoshido Undisclosed Area, travelers can explore Japan’s largest stalactite cave, filled with rock formations formed over thousands of years.
For those willing to explore below the surface, the main route through the cave is about one kilometre long and has a paved, well-lit path. This gives visitors a good look at the huge cavern, but there’s also a more adventurous option. You can follow an unlit, unpaved trail that goes deeper into the cave and leads to an underground lake.
With help from a trained caving team, groups of up to six people can join guided tours that last between two and four hours. These tours travel through rocky, hard-to-reach areas of the cave. Visitors can choose a course that matches their comfort level, with options available for both beginners and experienced explorers.
Address: 3506-2 Akiyoshi, Shuho-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 754-0511, Japan
Operating Hours: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact information: +81-837-62-0305
How to get to Akiyoshido Undisclosed Area: Travel about 40 minutes by bus from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station to the Akiyoshido bus stop. Alternatively, take a 60-minute bus ride from Yamaguchi Station. You can also drive from Yamaguchi Ube Airport in about 50 minutes.
Travelers can't miss exploring Akiyoshidai, Japan’s largest karst plateau, which stretches across Mine City. The wide, open landscape is covered with fascinating limestone rocks, with the entire region once a coral reef about 300 million years ago.
Named a Quasi-National Park in 1955, Akiyoshidai has recently been proposed as a UNESCO Global Geopark. This title is given to important geological sites that focus on conservation, sustainability, and education.
Here, you can walk or rent a bike to explore the area, but there are other ways to see the grasslands, too. For example, you can join 90-minute Segway tours that run in the morning and afternoon.
Visitors can also ride in a Tuk-Tuk. These comfortable, seven-seat vehicles let you enjoy the white limestone scenery and rolling hills without having to spend the whole day walking.
Address: Akiyoshi, Shuho-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 754-0511, Japan
Operating Hours: Daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Contact information: +81-837-62-0018
How to get to Akiyoshidai: From JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station, catch the bus to Bōchō bus bound for Akiyoshido, which takes about 45 minutes. It's also a 1-hour 40-minute drive from Yamaguchi Ube Airport.
Along the coast in Nagato City sits the oldest hot spring town in the prefecture: Nagato Yumoto Onsen. This 600-year-old hot spring area reopened in 2020 after major renovations. Today, it mixes traditional Japanese style with modern comforts, allowing visitors to soak in natural spring water while enjoying picturesque views.
The onsen’s warm water comes straight from the bedrock below. This simple alkaline spring is gentle on the skin and has a comfortable temperature of about 39°C (102°F). Because it’s not too hot, people can enjoy long, relaxing baths that leave them feeling calm and refreshed for the rest of their trip.
Address: Fukawa Yumoto, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 759-4103, Japan
Operating Hours: Daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
How to get to Nagato Yumoto Onsen: From Tokyo, Kyoto, and Shin-Osaka, take the Tokaido Sanyo Shinkansen for approximately 4 hours and 40 minutes to Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Then, ride the direct bus to Nagato Yumoto Station for approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes.
One of the best ways to explore Japan’s food culture is by visiting local markets. In Yamaguchi, the Karato Fish Market is a great place to get involved. It first opened in 1909 as a small street market and has grown into an important wholesale market for local fishermen. Filled with extremely fresh seafood, it gives visitors a real taste of a lively Japanese food market.
Karato Fish Market is famous for its seafood, including pufferfish, sea bream, and yellowtail. But you can also find rare dishes and ingredients that are hard to get anywhere else.
The vendors are always welcome to chat, with the best times to visit being early mornings on Friday to Sunday or national holidays. This is when the market holds its Iki-iki Bakangai event, a street food festival offering amazing sushi and seafood rice bowls that pair with the market's spectacular Kanmon Strait views.
Address: 5-50 Karato-cho, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture 750-0005, Japan
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday from 5:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Contact information: +81-83-231-0001
How to get to Akiyoshidai: Catch the Sanden Kotsu bus from outside Shimonoseki Station to the Karato stop. From here, the market is a 3-minute walk away. 1hour by car from Yamaguchi Ube Airport, or 1 hour and 15 minutes by shuttle bus operated by Shimonoseki Sando Taxi to Shimonoseki Station.
Flights regularly depart from Tokyo Haneda International Airport (HND) to Yamaguchi Ube Airport (UBJ), with the journey taking approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. It's also possible to catch the bullet train from Tokyo to Shin-Yamaguchi, which takes around 4 hours and 30 minutes.
Ready to discover Yamaguchi's incredible history and culture? Book your journey with the JAL Japan Explorer Pass to access special fares to over 30 cities on Japan Airlines' domestic network.
Get to know Yuda Onsen - Yamaguchi Prefecture’s premier hot spring destination - and its Japanese cultural experiences. Book your journey with JAL today.
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