Immerse Yourself in Yamaguchi’s Great Natural Scenery

Featuring pristine coastal scenery, hot springs, and regional dining, Yamaguchi Prefecture is the ideal place for a multi-day adventure.

Yamaguchi Prefecture is situated at the western tip of mainland Japan, renowned for its soaring landscape, regional cuisine, and wealth of steamy hot springs. Set along the coastline, the prefecture’s largest city, Shimonoseki, benefits from a diverse geography and mild climate. Meanwhile, the inland capital city, Yamaguchi, is surrounded by ancient monuments and natural landmarks that showcase the prefecture’s distinct scenery.

While the countless outdoor adventures spread throughout Yamaguchi are simply unmissable, there are also plenty of rewarding spots to enjoy some much-needed downtime. You’ll discover inviting hot springs within inner-city hotels and serene mountainside landscapes. Plus, Yamaguchi’s fishing and agriculture industries are considered some of the best in Japan, ensuring local restaurants serve culinary creations using only the finest ingredients.

If you’re excited to embark on a journey to Yamaguchi Prefecture, we’ve created a recommended itinerary spanning three days and two nights. Throughout this delightful adventure, you’ll explore the region’s world-class attractions and get to know its unique people and culture. Discover the following sights, then book your journey with JAL to take part in this thrilling journey.

Day 1: Explore the Akiyoshidai Plateau, delve into Akiyoshido Cave, and stay overnight in Yuda Onsen

Day 1 Schedule

Yamaguchi-Ube Airport → Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Akiyoshidai/Akiyoshido → Yuda Onsen

After landing at Yamaguchi-Ube Airport, it’s time to begin this exciting adventure with a 30-minute bus ride to Shin-Yamaguchi Station. From the train station, you can catch another bus to Akiyoshidai Plateau in about 40 minutes.

Akiyoshidai Plateau and Akiyoshido Cave – Enchanting natural landmarks

As the largest karst plateau in Japan, this fascinating setting sees limestone peaks formed by an ancient coral reef rising two meters above the lush greenery. Recognized as a national monument in 1964, the Akiyoshidai Plateau is also home to 400 limestone caves beneath the earth. 

Dated to 300 million years old, the Akiyoshido Cave is the most impressive, featuring 80-meter-high ceilings and stretching for 10 kilometers through the terrain. Filled with stalagmites and stalactites, wander through numerous illuminated sections to discover what exists underground. 

Here, you can also take part in the Akiyoshi Plateau and Akiyoshido Geoguided Tour, where an English-speaking guide will explain the remarkable origins behind each location.

Akiyoshidai Plateau:
• Address: Shuhocho Akiyoshi, Mine City, Yamaguchi 754-0511

Akiyoshido Cave:
• Address: 3449-1 Shuhocho Akiyoshi, Mine City, Yamaguchi 754-0511

Beppu Benten Pond – Experience turquoise spring water

Having returned to the surface, you can take a short drive through rural communities to the vibrant Beppu Benten Pond. Named one of Japan’s 100 Famous Springs, this serene water pool radiates with emerald hues thanks to its calcium-rich contents. Surrounded by leafy trees and stone bridges, you’re welcome to taste its divine water from a dedicated drinking station while a nearby restaurant serves trout freshly caught from the spring waters.

• Address: 1578 Shuhocho Beppu, Mine City, Yamaguchi 754-0603

Optional activity (bookable and purchasable): Kagekiyodo - Cave Exploration Tour

Before you head back to the city for a rest, you can also squeeze in a trip to Kagekiyodō. This cave is named after a samurai general said to have retreated here following a defeat more than 800 years ago. During your visit, you can take part in an exploration tour where you’ll use a flashlight to explore the surface of the walls, looking for art from antiquity and fossilized plant life.

• Address: 3108 Mitochoaka, Mine City, Yamaguchi 754-0302

• Operating hours: Daily from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Yuda Onsen – Yamaguchi's most popular hot spring town

Next, it’s a 45-minute drive back to Yamaguchi City and the famous Yuda Onsen hot spring district. Here, you can stroll through the streets to find beautiful shrines and temples before enjoying an overnight stay in a Japanese-style inn or upmarket hotel featuring soothing spring water bathhouses.

Day 2: Sail around Omijima Island, relax at Nagato Yumoto Onsen, and rest at a luxury ryokan

Day 2 Schedule

Yuda Onsen Yamaguchi→ Shin-Yamaguchi Station (bus) → Roadside Station Senza Kitchen → Aomi Island Sightseeing Steamship → Roadside Station Senza Kitchen (bus) → Nagato Yumoto Station → Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring Walk → Otani Sanso

Omijima – Cruise this rugged island

After rising in the morning, this captivating journey continues with an island adventure. To get there, you’ll catch a bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Station for about one hour to the Omijima Sightseeing Steamship. Once you’ve safely boarded the boat, you’ll get an up-close glimpse of Omijima’s remarkable coastline. Often called ‘The Alps of the Sea,’ this landscape's craggy rock formations and plunging caves make for an extraordinary sight to behold.

Nagato Yumoto Onsen – Roam a rural hot spring town

Back on the mainland, you’ll catch the bus to Nagato Yumoto Onsen – a stirring hot spring town that combines old-world history with modern sensibilities. Set around the focal point of the Fukawa River, this recently renewed village offers serene riverfront paths flanked by traditional ryokan-style inns that serve delicious regional cuisine. Meanwhile, the area’s premier public hot spring, Onto, has also undergone an impressive restoration.

With this onsen estimated at 600 years old, it’s believed to be the oldest hot spring in Yamaguchi Prefecture. Alongside tranquil bathhouses for men and women, Onto has added a new restaurant focused on local and organic cuisine, perfect for replenishing your energy after a long day of sightseeing. Nearby, the cafes and bars that line the riverfront also make for an idyllic stop on a warm afternoon.

Otani Sanso – Enjoy a traditional hot spring accommodation

As evening approaches, the day’s final destination is Otani Sanso – a luxurious hotel and hot spring. Immersed by lush hillsides at the southern edge of town, this accommodation offers a variety of Japanese and Western-style rooms, with many featuring stunning countryside views and private outdoor baths. The hotel also offers exceptional dining, as highly trained chefs prepare authentic Kaiseki-style dishes that creatively showcase local ingredients.

• Address: 2208 Fukawayumoto, Nagato City, Yamaguchi 759-4103

Day 3: Discover a coastal shrine, survey a stunning bridge, and roam an ancient highway

Day 3 Schedule

Otani Sanso (taxi) → Motonosumi Shrine (taxi) → Tsunoshima Bridge (train) → Shimonoseki Station (bus) → Yamaguchi-Ube Airport

Motonosumi Shrine – Wander a coastal sanctuary

Departing from Otani Sanso, travelers will catch a taxi to the coastline to visit the magnificent Motonosumi Shrine. Named by CNN as one of Japan's 31 most beautiful places, this eye-catching shrine was constructed in 1955, making it relatively new compared to many other Japanese landmarks. However, it has become a hugely popular destination thanks to its winding path that leads along the cliff tops toward the sea. Marked with 123 red torii gates, it makes for outstanding travel photography.

• Address: 498 Yuyatsuo, Nagato City, Yamaguchi 759-4712

Tsunoshima Bridge – Soak up the coastal landscapes

Hop back in a taxi to cruise along Yamaguchi’s breathtaking coastline en route to the Tsunoshima Bridge – a popular spot for social media photos. This spectacular 1,780-meter bridge links the mainland to Tsunoshima Island, crossing the Sea of Japan’s Amagaseto Strait and providing sweeping views of its turquoise waters. You can discover the best panoramas at the Tsunoshima Observatory, an ideally positioned vantage point above the bridge’s entrance.

Once you’ve finished snapping photos of Yamaguchi’s picturesque scenery, it’s time to conclude this superb three-day itinerary by returning to Shimonoseki. To do so, catch the B-16 bus to Kottoi Station, then ride a Sanin Line train to Shimonoseki Station. If you have a flight to catch, you can easily ride the Yamaguchi-Ube Airport Limousine Bus straight to Yamaguchi-Ube Airport (90 minutes).

Hagi Okan – Stroll a historic highway

For those planning on spending some extra time in Yamaguchi, don’t miss your chance to explore the Hagi Okan path. Completed in the Edo period over 400 years ago, samurai used this ancient highway to travel for 53 kilometers between the castle town of Hagi and the coastal city of Hofu. To make the most of this adventure, consider booking an English-speaking guide. These experts host various multi-hour walking tours along this centuries-old route, departing from Shin-Yamaguchi Station or Yuda Onsen.

How to get to Yamaguchi from Tokyo

Even if you’re spending much of your time in Japan exploring Tokyo’s massive metropolis, traveling to Yamaguchi is made incredibly simple with Japan Airlines. Departing from Tokyo Haneda Airport, it takes only 100 minutes to touch down at Yamaguchi-Ube Airport.

Plan your journey with JAL

Yamaguchi Prefecture is an amazing place for an unforgettable multi-day sightseeing itinerary. Traveling between enchanting cities and tranquil rural destinations, you’ll get to know the region’s enduring history and unique culture. Plus, there’s an extraordinary array of scenic vistas to soak up during your stay.

To ensure you enjoy the smoothest possible journey, book your Yamaguchi adventure with Japan Airlines. Alongside the JAL Japan Explorer Pass, you can find incredible airfares for 30 domestic locations throughout the country, ensuring you experience this prefecture and numerous others for less. Plan your journey with JAL today.