From Wikitravel

Hagi （萩） is a city in Yamaguchi prefecture. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful castle towns in Japan. A lot of traditional old streets and buildings are kept.

Hagi is also known as the birthplace of many Japanese statesmen who played important roles in Meiji Restoration.

Contents 1 Get in 1.1 By Plane 1.2 By train 1.3 By bus 2 Get around 2.1 By Bus 2.2 By Bicycle 2.3 By Train 2.4 On Foot 3 See 4 Do 5 Buy 6 Eat 7 Drink 8 Sleep 9 Get out

Get in

By Plane

• Yamaguchi Ube Airport(UBJ)

Yamaguchi Ube Airport regularly connects to Haneda Airport in Tokyo, Japan. Both JAL and ANA are offering frequent flights from Haneda to Ube every day. It's about 90 minutes' flight.

When you get to Ube Airport, you need to take bus for Shin-yamaguchi station and go to Shin-Yamaguchi. There should be some buses for Hagi at the bus terminal of the station.

• Hagi-Iwami Airport(IWJ)

There are also flights by ANA from Hagi-Iwami Airport to Haneda(Tokyo) and Itami(Osaka). But each flight way is served only once a day. You'll have to check the timetable.

You should take bus, train or taxi from Hagi-Iwami Airport to Hagi city. It is about 80 minutes from the airport to Hagi by bus.

By train

• Shinkansen

Hagi is very far from the Shinkansen route. If you come to Yamaguchi Prefecture by Shinkansen, you need to get off at Shin-Yamaguchi and take a bus for Hagi.

• Railroad line (other than Shinkansen)

San'in line goes through the city. If you don't want to go to Hagi by bus, you have to use San'in line to go to Hagi by train. The main train station of Hagi is Higashi-Hagi station(東萩駅). But approach from Tamae station(玉江駅) or from Hagi station(萩駅) would make Hagi more attractive. The station building and the streets are much more beautiful around Tamae and Hagi Station.

By bus

• from Shin-Yamaguchi station

Jr bus and Bocho bus are offering bus services from Shin-Yamaguchi to Hagi. It will take you 90 minutes.

• from Hiroshima

There is also a bus service from Hiroshima to Hagi. It is about 4 hours trip.

• from Osaka

Kintetsu bus is offering bus service from Osaka(Umeda and Abeno-bashi) to Hagi. It is about 10 hours.

• from Tokyo

Keihin kyuko bus is offering bus service from Tokyo(Shinagawa) to Hagi. But it will take you about 14 hours.

Get around

By Bus

Red buses called "Hagi junkan maaru bus"(萩循環まぁーるバス) are running for tourists and some residents. These buses go to almost all the tourist spots. And however long you take it, it will cost you only 100yen. And a One-day free pass of this bus is only 500yen.

By Bicycle

Hagi is not very large city, so you can get around many spots by bicycle. You can borrow one at various places such as Higashi-Hagi Station.

By Train

If you need to go to Hagi's suburbs along the Sea, you can use San'in line.

On Foot

Hagi is very enjoyable town to be explored on foot.

See

• Castle town of Hagi (萩城城下町)

In the castle town of Hagi, many old houses connected to those who leaded Meiji Restoration are well preserved. There is also a house of Kikuya family, who were great merchants in this area.

• Horiuchi district (堀内)

Horiuchi was a residential section for upper class.

• Aibagawa Watercourse (藍場川)

Aibagawa Watercourse was formerly used for transportation of goods or as water for extinguishing fires. Now, the path along the watercourse is very good for a stroll.

• Kaimagari

"Kaimagari" paths can be seen somewhere in Hagi. Kaimagari is a device which makes enemies get lost and cornered.

• Shoin Shrine (松蔭神社)

Shoin-jinja is a shrine dedicated to Yoshida Shoin, a young samurai who taught younger people about the world and Japan. He was imprisoned and executed by the shogunate government, but later his students became famous statesmen and accomplished Meiji Restoration. In the shrine, his school is still preserved.

• Tokoji Temple(東光寺)

Tokoji is a temple dedicated to Mori clan, the rulers of Hagi in Edo period.

• Hagi Museum (萩博物館)

Hagi Museum is a new museum built in November 2004.

• the ruins of Hagi castle (萩城跡)

In 1608, Mori clan built Hagi Castle at the foot of Mt.Shizuki. Hagi castle had been the political center of Choshu-han(currently Yamaguchi prefecture) for about 250 years.

Do

• Pleasure boat for "the eight fine views in Hagi" (萩八景遊覧船)

There are special boats which cruise on Hashimoto River and the Sea with a guide.

• Sea bathing

Kikugahama beach near Mt.Shizuki is a beautiful beach. On August 1st, there is a firework festival.

Buy

• Hagi-yaki (萩焼)

Hagi is known for its Hagi-yaki, a form of Japanese pottery. Hagi-yaki is very precious because of its nature to absorb water. As you use hagi-yaki as a tea cup for many years, the color of it will change delicately.

Eat

• Kenran Beef(見蘭牛)

Kenran Beef is famous for its fatty well-marbled texture and tenderness.

Drink

• Natsumikan juice

Hagi is famous for Natsumikan, which is a kind of citrus fruits. A lot of Natsumikans are planted in the gardens of residences in Hagi. "Natsumikan juice" are also made there. You should try it.

Sleep

• Hagi no yado Tomoe(萩の宿・常茂恵)

One of the best ryokans in Hagi.

Get out

Other cities in Yamaguchi prefecture

• Shimonoseki
• Yamaguchi city

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