Day 1

Yamaguchi-Ube Airport

11:00 Nagato Yumoto hot spring resort

Content-rich "Osoto Tengoku" where you can enjoy strolling around

Nagato Yumoto is one of the best hot spring resorts in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and the inns and stores along the Onshin River give the town an atmosphere of a hot spring resort. In recent years, the hot spring resort has been renewed through a project involving the local community, private sector, and public sector. Under the theme of "Osoto Tengoku," the town is full of interesting activities for visitors to enjoy.
From the parking lot of the hot spring resort, walk down the "bamboo staircase" lined with hundreds of bamboos, and you will see the "Onyu Plaza" in front of you. The open space is covered with lawn and equipped with tables and benches. The riverside terrace and stepping stones that allow visitors to cross over to the other side of the river are enjoyable only at the Onshin River, where the current is gentle and the river is shallow. Many benches along the wide riverside walkway are convenient for taking a break and enjoying a bite to eat.

11:15 On-yu

Start your trip at the famous hot spring where the legend of "Shinju no Yu" lives on.

This is the oldest hot spring in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with a history of approximately 600 years. In 2020, it was renovated into a modern one-story building.
Flowing from the bedrock at the back of the bathtub is, surprisingly, freshly gushing hot spring water. Because Onyu is built on top of the place where the source springs, the spring water also gushes out from the bottom of the bathtub and goes into the bathtub without being exposed to the air. The size of the bathtub is also designed to match the volume of hot water so that visitors can enjoy the source of the spring water. The spring water is lukewarm at 39 degrees Celsius, so you can soak slowly and feel your body warm to the core. You can enjoy the luxury of bathing in a hot spring by simply enjoying the good hot water.

12:00 Yakitori Sakura Shokudo

Lunch at Nagato Yakitori using Nagato Choshu Dori (chicken)

Nagato is known as the "City of Yakitori (grilled chicken). Sakura Shokudo is one of the few yakitori restaurants open for lunch. Fresh local Choshu chicken is skewered every morning and carefully grilled over charcoal. The lunch-only set meal "Sakura Gohan" includes three pieces of yakitori, sashimi, cold tofu, a small bowl of cooked food, and many other items. The juicy, flavorful yakitori and fresh local sashimi go well with the prefecture's white rice, and the chopsticks are guaranteed to keep you coming back for more.

1:00 p.m. Otozure-do

Head to the souvenir shop where you’ll find a variety of Nagato goods and information.

After lunch, I took a leisurely stroll up the “Bamboo Grove Stairs,” which lead from the Otozure River to the hot spring town’s parking lot. Standing beside the stairs is a souvenir shop housed in a traditional Japanese home that’s over 50 years old and has been renovated.Inside the tile-covered display cases, designed to resemble a bathhouse, you’ll find retro-chic original goods. The selection includes tenugui hand towels and drawstring bags featuring the logos of Nagato Yumoto Hot Spring and Otsurezudo—items you’ll want to take with you on your stroll.
The adjoining gallery displays works from “Hagi-yaki Fukagawa Kiln,” a local traditional craft. Hagi-yaki is a traditional craft that Yamaguchi Prefecture takes pride in, having long been cherished in the tea ceremony. Here, you can take your time admiring precious pieces from the Hagi-yaki Fukagawa Kiln, which was established as the official kiln of the Hagi Domain.

1:30 p.m. Cafe & Pottery Oto

Take a break on the terrace to admire the Hagi ware of Fukagawa Kiln.

During my stroll, I stopped by a café and gallery along the Otozure River, housed in a 50-year-old renovated traditional Japanese house. The interior is adorned with works from “Hagi-yaki Fukagawa Kiln,” a traditional local craft. The space exhibits and sells works by young artists who are shaping the future of this kiln, which boasts a history of approximately 360 years.The theme of the pieces is primarily “everyday tableware.” You’ll find a selection of items—such as coffee cups and plates—that add a touch of elegance to daily life.
The café’s menu highlights its homemade cakes. Two to three varieties are available daily, including the rich and aromatic “Chocolate Terrine” and “Cheesecake,” as well as “Seasonal Tarts” made with fresh, seasonal ingredients. Café dishes are served on tableware created by the gallery’s resident artists, making it a delight to discover each unique piece.

2:30 p.m. Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato

Experience the elegance of samurai culture at an inn designed in the image of a "teahouse residence of a feudal lord

The theme of the inn, which stands at the foot of Akebono Bridge over the Otoshin River, is a teahouse residence where the feudal lord spent time during the Edo period. Traditional crafts such as Hagi ware and Tokuchi washi paper adorn the interior of the inn, and the rare Akama inkstone is a popular attraction for visitors to experience traditional culture. Visitors are welcomed by a new elegance of the modern age, including a famous hot spring called "Shinju no Yu," and local delicacies from the mountains and the sea. The Akebono Café is open to guests of the inn, and the Akebono Gate allows easy access from the inn to the hot spring resort area.

KAI Signature Rooms "Nagato Gosai-no-Ma" Japanese-style room

3:30 p.m. Akebono Café

Take out KAI Nagato's original dorayaki and special latte

Akebono Café, which is attached to the inn, sells dorayaki (sweet bean-jam cake) carefully baked one by one. Yuzukichi" sandwiched between Yuzukichi, a citrus fruit original to Yamaguchi Prefecture, and white bean paste, has a refreshing flavor that goes perfectly with the gently sweet dough. We also recommend the "Special Latte" that goes well with the dorayaki.

3:45 p.m. Kawadoko Terrace

Snack time on the kawadoko terrace leading to the river

Grabbing some dorayaki and a drink, we headed for the "kawadoko terrace," which is located on the surface of the river, where a refreshing river breeze blows through the open air. A refreshing river breeze blows through the terrace, creating a sense of openness. Spend an elegant time at a special seat to view the beautiful scenery of the Onshin River as it changes from season to season.

16:30 KAI Cultural Discovery

Adult Sumi-asobi (ink play)" to learn about the deep culture of Yamaguchi Prefecture and to prepare your mind

Experience the charms of each region in "KAI Cultural Discovery" through "Adult Sumi-asobi. Participants grind ink using the Akama inkstone, a traditional craft of Yamaguchi Prefecture, and draw pictures or write letters on fan-shaped sheets of Japanese paper. The ink made with the Akama inkstone is fine-grained and has exceptional coloring and stretchability. The feel and smell of the ink will soothe you as you let your brush play with the ink as it pleases you.

17:30 Dinner

KAI Local Flavors" that offers a taste of Yamaguchi's nourishing flavors

Surrounded on three sides by the sea, Yamaguchi Prefecture is a treasure trove of gastronomy, with fresh seafood available throughout the four seasons. Starting with thick, sweet squid as a starter, the restaurant offers a succession of dishes that make the most of seasonal ingredients and are pleasing to both the eye and the palate. Among them, "Hourakuzuri" has an outstanding impact with its innovative design using a bucket made by the prefecture's only bucket craftsman and Hagiyaki vessels. The "kawara-yaki" dish, inspired by the prefecture's local dish kawara soba (tile soba), offers a unique way of eating fugu (blowfish) at Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato, which is grilled on a tile.

20:00 Hot spring resort at night

Enjoy strolling through the illuminated streets at night

After enjoying dinner, take a stroll through the hot spring resort town at night with the lanterns placed at the Akebonomon gate in hand. The six bridges over the river, the "bamboo staircase" and other areas are all wrapped in fantastic lights, creating a rich hot spring atmosphere. In particular, the "Bamboo Grove Staircase," illuminated by the soft glow of the lanterns, is a perfect photo spot. The different atmosphere from the daytime makes people eager to find the best angle for their photos.
The "Staircase of Autumn Leaves," which connects Ochaya-dori and the hot spring resort area, is a must-see in autumn. The sight of red maple leaves floating in the darkness at night is breathtaking. Events are also held in conjunction with the best time to view the leaves. The area is crowded with people enjoying the night and the autumn leaves in Nagato. The lights are automatically turned on at sunset. While taking into consideration the natural lighting, seasonal effects will also be implemented.

20:15 365+1BEER (Sanrokuroku Beer)

Enjoy a luxurious night time with freshly brewed craft beer

As Nagato City’s first craft beer brewery, the “TAPROOM”—featuring a bar counter—is open from Friday through Sunday. If the timing is right, this is a spot you’ll want to visit while enjoying the hot spring town’s nighttime illuminations.The building, which is about 60 years old, was once a pharmacy. Its photogenic interior—featuring a tobacco sales corner and neon signs from the former On-yu hot spring—has become a hot topic.
The brewery proudly offers a lineup of 4 to 6 beers at any given time, including Pale Ale, IPA, and Belgian White. The “San Rokuroku Pale Ale” has a fruity aroma; its subtle bitterness and smooth finish will bring a smile to your face. Why not spend an evening enjoying these exquisite beers, born from uncompromising brewing?

21:00 Public hot spring

Reset the day's fatigue with hot spring water.

Public hot spring baths are divided into "lukewarm" and "hot" baths, and the lukewarm baths feature Nagato Yumoto hot spring water called "Shinju no Yu," which is free-flowing hot-spring water with a pH of 9.9. The famous hot spring water, which is reputed to beautify the skin, will help you recover from the fatigue of the first day of your stay.

Day 2

07:00 Kawayuka Terrace

A refreshing stretch on the terrace where the river breeze feels good

The next morning, cross the Akebono Bridge in front of the inn to the "kawadoko terrace" on the river. The local exercise "Iroha Ni Hohe Swing" is a stretch to write letters with the image of holding a large brush. Using the entire body to write "Iroha ni Hote" relaxes the muscles and warms the body.

07:30 Breakfast

Local breakfast to satisfy your hunger after exercise

Breakfast is a Japanese-style meal filled with seafood. Sticky and crunchy akamoku, squid shumai, seasonal grilled fish, and other local delicacies will make white rice go down a treat.

09:00 Taineiji Temple

Walking along the quiet hot spring town and the old approach in the morning

After breakfast, take a walk to Daneiji Temple, a famous Soto sect temple where the hot spring was founded. Walking in a rhythmic manner with large thighs, with an awareness of "breathing in through the nose and breathing out through the mouth," will help improve lung function and immunity. As you walk with a course map in hand, you will see Jizo statues here and there along the old approach to the temple. Their gentle faces will soothe you.

11:00 Depart from Hoshino Resorts KAI Nagato

11:30 Kawara Soba Yanagiya

Lunch is soul food from Yamaguchi Prefecture, full of the spirit of travel

Across the river from the inn is the Daigo Nagaya Property, a renovated 70-year-old wooden apartment building, and on the first floor, a restaurant specializing in kawara soba, a specialty of Yamaguchi Prefecture, flies the "Yanagiya" banner. KAWARA-SOBA is a local dish consisting of brown soba noodles served on a hot kawara tile and topped with ingredients such as egg, beef, and green onion, and served with warm dipping sauce. The visual impact of the dish, which appears with a sizzling sound, is unintentionally impressive. Yanagiya uses carefully selected ingredients such as eggs from the prefecture and leeks from Nagato City. The special dipping sauce is a signature flavor to match the delicious and aromatic green tea soba noodles. As you eat the fluffy soba, the part in contact with the kawara tile becomes crispy with roasted rice. The difference in texture is one of the best parts of kawara soba.

12:30 p.m. Cafe and Shop Tre

A moment of relaxation at a cafe with delicious and comfortable foods

After lunch, go up the stairs to the second floor. Visitors are greeted by a café/shop that is known for its owner-selected products. The interior retains the original mud walls and pillars, while adding hard materials such as mortar and stainless steel. The space has a sophisticated yet warm atmosphere. Outside the window is a seasonal view of the Onshin River. Relaxing on the Moroccan chairs or couches will make you lose track of time.
The signature cake is the "Cheesecake" from IMUSTAN, a popular bakery in Fukuoka Prefecture. The sea salt served with it is optional. It enhances the sweet and savory taste of the cheese and the crispy texture of the salt. The selection of skin care and fragrance products is also noteworthy, as is typical of a hot spring resort.

1:30 p.m. Hagi-yaki Fukagawa Kiln: Tahara Tōbei Workshop

Search for fascinating Hagi ware at Fukagawa Kiln

A must-see during your trip to Nagato City is a visit to the Fukagawa Kiln of Hagiyaki, a local traditional craft. Hagiyaki is known as "Ichiraku, Nihagi, San Karatsu," and has long been loved by tea masters. Hagiyaki Fukagawa Kiln was established in 1657 as the official kiln of the Hagi domain in Minose, Fukagawa-yumoto, Nagato City. The kiln has a history of approximately 360 years, and five kilns are currently in operation.
One of the kilns, Tahara Tohei Kobo, is led by the 13th generation of Tohei Tahara, and produces highly original works while preserving tradition. Hagi ware is highly absorbent, and the more one uses it, the more tea and other substances seep through the fine cracks (kannyu) on the surface, changing the texture. It is called "Hagi no Nanakake," or the "seven transformations of Hagi," and the more one uses it, the more its texture changes. It is an excellent item to be used for a long time as a memento of your trip.

2:30 p.m. Roadside Station Senz Kitchen

Take home a souvenir of Nagato City's delicacies!

Nagato City's Property, a hub for exchange, is located along the seaside in the port town of Senzaki. The direct sales shop offers a wide variety of Nagato City's rich bounty, from fresh fish landed in nearby waters to local seasonal vegetables, prepared foods, and processed goods, making it difficult to choose the right souvenir. The most popular products are those using Nagato Yuzukichi, a specialty of Nagato City. The season is autumn, but processed products such as juice and ponzu (Japanese citrus juice) are available year-round, and sweets such as jelly and gelato are also hot sellers.
If you want to try fresh seafood from the sea and the mountains right on the spot! If you want to try fresh seafood and mountain products on the spot, head to the barbecue corner, where you can grill and taste the food you bought at the direct sales counter (seating required). The area also has a Dining Area, Tourist Information Center, and Nagato Toy Museum, which can be used for a variety of purposes.