Yamaguchi

Yamaguchi

Wooden cat sculpture with raised paws at Unrin-ji Temple entrance in Japan Easy walk
Chugoku

Unrin-ji: A Meow-istic Trip

A Zen temple overrun with carved wooden cats, an otherworldly legend, and me standing in the middle, ready to meow with joy.

Quiet
Half day (allow extra time if you’re combining it with other spots in Yamaguchi)
Hagi
Chugoku

Hagi, the Calm Before Meiji

An old castle town on the Sea of Japan: empty lanes, white walls, and citrus in the samurai gardens, in the place where Japan tipped into the Meiji era.

Akiyoshidai meadows, winding road, distant mountain landscape. Cinematic
Chugoku

Akiyoshidai: Lunar Landscape of Jagged Rocks

Perched at 300 meters in the mountains of Yamaguchi, the Akiyoshidai plateau presents a breathtaking karst landscape of towering limestone formations, majestic cliffs and expansive grassy plains.

Yamayaki Festival
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Mossy forest trail at Jinjoji Temple, Japan Some hiking
Chugoku

Jinjo-ji: Ancient Shrine Lost in the Mountains

Dans le fin fond de la campagne rurale japonaise, on tombe parfois sur des endroits qui semblent figés dans le temps. Le temple Jinjoji à Shimonoseki en fait clairement partie.

Quiet
Half day (allow extra time if you include mountain scenery walks and slow exploration of the garden and grounds)
Coastal sanctuary with 123 red torii gates along the Japan Sea, Motonosumi Inari Shrine. Easy walk
Summer

Motonosumi Inari Shrine

Motonosumi Inari Shrine is located in western Japan, far from the rest of the world. The nearest city, 80 kilometres away, is Yamaguchi. Never heard of it?

Some crowds
Half day (2–4 hours on-site plus extra time for driving/transfers); longer if visiting for sunset and allowing for parking/traffic.
Forgotten Wonderland: Haunting beauty of abandoned amusement park in Yamaguchi, Japan. Off the map
Chugoku

Desolated New Zealand Village

New Zealand Village is a place that is only suitable for a perfect weather, with nice breeze and a relaxed heart.

Difficulty
Risk