Local Guide
5 recommended spots to enjoy Yamaguchi Prefecture to the fullest, even in the rain

The most important thing to consider when planning a trip is the weather on the day of your visit. This is even more true in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which offers many spectacular natural sights, but don't worry. There are many sightseeing spots in Yamaguchi Prefecture where you can enjoy yourself regardless of the weather. Here are five recommended spots where you can enjoy yourself even in the rain, including a tour of roadside stations, an aquarium with unique local exhibits, and a spot where you can enjoy the great outdoors without getting wet.

Spectacular view of nature beneath the karst plateau "Akiyoshidai".

Sightseeing in limestone caves where neither rain nor cold will bother you. The beautiful stalactite formations will leave you in awe.
Sightseeing in limestone caves where neither rain nor cold will bother you. The beautiful stalactite formations will leave you in awe.

More than 450 limestone caves formed by rainwater and groundwater erosion exist beneath the limestone layers that make up Akiyoshidai, the karst plateau in Mine City (Mineshi). The largest of these, Akiyoshido Cave, is the second largest in Japan, with a total length of over 10.7 km.
About 1 km of the cave is open to the public as a sightseeing course, where stalactites formed in mysterious shapes along underground water veins appear one after another. The appearance of the stalactites floating in the light is both artistic and mysterious. The temperature inside the cave is a constant 17°C throughout the year, making it a comfortable place to visit regardless of the weather or temperature.

Enjoy the nearby limestone caves with a round-trip ticket

Entrance to the
Entrance to the "Adventure Course" at Akiyoshido Cave. Put the 300 yen Experience fee into the box, pick up the flashlight provided, and continue on your way.

In addition to Akiyoshidai's Shuho-do Cave, there are also two other nearby limestone caves, Taisho-do Cave and Gyeongcheong-do Cave, which are only a 10-minute drive from Akiyoshidai. A tour ticket for the three caves is also available, which offers a considerable discount on the entrance fee, so be sure to check it out.
The sightseeing course in Daecheong-dong is about 1 km long, with narrow passages and low-ceilinged areas that give visitors a sense of exploration. Keisei-dong is named after a legend that a Heike warrior named Oba Keisei was hiding after the battle of Dannoura. The approximately 700-meter sightseeing course is relatively flat and can be entered with a stroller.

Local Guide Comment
Akiyoshidong has an "adventure course" that allows visitors to climb ladders, go through holes, and enjoy an easy 15-minute exploration. On the other hand, the "Exploration Course" in Gyeongcheong-dong is a full-fledged course that requires only a cap lamp to proceed in the dark. Visitors can enjoy about 60 minutes of serious exploration.
Shuho-do Cave
  • Address 3449-1 Akiyoshi, Akiyoshi-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction 5 min. from Akiyoshidai Interchange on Ogori Hagi Road.
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station and get off at "Akiyoshidou".
  • Business hours 8:30-17:30 (16:30 from December to February)
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission Fee Adults 1,300 yen, junior high school students 1,050 yen, elementary school students 700 yen
  • TEL 0837-62-0115（Mine City Tourist Association)
  • Parking Charged

Observe animals walking leisurely from your car or bus

Drive through the park in your own car. Listen to the explanations of the animals with a doublet guide (rental for a fee) as you drive around.
Drive through the park in your own car. Listen to the explanations of the animals with a doublet guide (rental for a fee) as you drive around.

Located in the northern part of Mine City, north of Akiyoshidai, it is a standard holiday spot for families with children in Yamaguchi Prefecture, with an amusement park attached. You can enter the "Safari Zone" via a drive-through while still in your own car upon arrival, and the entire route through the park is paved, so a little rain is not a problem.
The system allows visitors to receive a tablet guide at the fee station, and each area, including herbivores, bears, and lions, allows visitors to observe the animals up close while referring to the commentary.

Get excited by the animals that come close to your window on the feeding bus

If you use the feeding bus, you can enter the park by your own car as many times as you like on the same day.
If you use the feeding bus, you can enter the park by your own car as many times as you like on the same day.

We also recommend using the "feeding bus" to enter the Safari Zone. In addition to feeding the animals directly, a major point of this service is that you can go around the park at a leisurely pace while listening directly to the live commentary of the staff, rather than a doublet guide. You can get up close to the animals, park the bus right next to them, and have a lot more fun than if you were to drive your own car.
At the feeding, the animals come right in front of you, even through a wire net, and it is a very powerful experience. Even adults must be excited to see lions and zebras eating directly from the feeders.

Local Guide Comment
At the Restaurant, you can enjoy your meal while watching the cute red pandas. If available, a seat by the window is definitely recommended.
Akiyoshidai Wildlife Park Safari Land
  • Address 1212 Aka, Mito Town, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 3 minutes from the Edo IC of the Ogori Hagi Road
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station and get off at "Safari Land".
  • Business hours Car rental: 9:30-16:15 (15:45 from Oct. to Mar.)
    Feeding bus course: 9:00 - 15:30 (first bus leaves at 9:30)
    Restaurant 11:00-16:00 (L.O. 15:30), Shop 9:30-17:00 (16:30 from Oct. to Mar.)
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission fee Admission by car
    Adults 2,500 yen (junior high school students and older), 3 years old and older 1,500 yen, seniors 2,200 yen (70 years old and older)
    Tablet guide 600 yen per car (required for all cars, 100 yen when re-entering the park on the same day)
    Convertible cars, cars with a canopy ceiling, and motorcycles are not allowed to enter the park.
    Pets are not allowed in the park (there is a petting station).
    Admission by feeding bus
    Adults 3,600 yen (junior high school students and older), 3 years old and older 2,600 yen, seniors 3,300 yen (70 years old and older)
    Admission by car is available on the same day with no additional charge.
  • TEL 08396-2-1000
  • Parking Free of charge

A fun place to examine souvenirs such as Senzaki's famous "Yaki-nuki Kamaboko" (grilled fish cake)

The roadside station, with its pleasant sea breeze, offers a wide variety of marine products, including fresh fish and Senzaki's specialty, kamaboko.
The roadside station, with its pleasant sea breeze, offers a wide variety of marine products, including fresh fish and Senzaki's specialty, kamaboko.

Facing Senzaki Bay in Nagato City, it offers a wide variety of specialty products, centering on fresh fish and processed marine products. It is the newest Property among the 24 roadside stations in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and attracts not only tourists but also many shoppers from within the prefecture in search of the delicacies and gems that Nagato and its neighboring regions are proud of.
Senzaki is famous for its "Yaki-nuki Kamaboko" (grilled kamaboko). The kamaboko corner has one of the largest selections in the prefecture, with some of the finest products priced over 1,000 yen each, which are hard to find even in the local area. This is a recommended spot for those who want to carefully examine their souvenirs. Of course, the Property is covered, so you can enjoy shopping even in the rain.

Full of attractions such as Nagato's gourmet food and a toy museum popular with children

Enjoy Nagato's gourmet food at a variety of stores and the toy museum popular with children
Enjoy Nagato's gourmet food at a variety of stores and the toy museum popular with children

One of the main attractions of this area is Nagato's gourmet food, whether you want to eat your way around or enjoy a full meal at a single restaurant, all in one place. There are more than 10 restaurants, including Chikuzen, a famous Nagato yakitori restaurant, Himonya Shokudo Hidamari, where you can enjoy local fish, Senzaki Don, Sengoku Sushi, and more.
And the Nagato Toy Museum is a popular spot for children. Visitors can play with toys made from local wood, and adults can join in the fun while feeling the gentle touch and warmth of the wood. The toys on sale are also recommended for interior decoration.

Local Guide Comment
Nagato City boasts seafood from the Sea of Japan. The "Grill House" is located next to the fresh fish direct sales corner in the Property, and visitors can enjoy barbecuing the seafood and dried fish they purchase. As a direct sales store, there is a wide variety of seafood and the prices are reasonable.
Roadside Station Senza Kitchen
  • Address 4297-1 Senzaki, Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture MAP
  • Direction Approximately 45 minutes from the Mine IC of the Chugoku Expressway
  • Bus Direction Take a bus from JR Nagato City Station and get off at Senza Kitchen.
  • Business Hours 9:00-18:00 (direct sales)
  • Regular holiday 2nd Thursday of the month (open on national holidays and in August), January 1
  • TEL 0837-27-0300
  • Parking Free of charge
  • memo Refer to Senza Kitchen website for opening hours of each store and the Toy Museum

    Refer to Senza Kitchen website for opening hours of each store and the Toy Museum

The first roadside station in Yamaguchi Prefecture. It also has a reputation as a power spot for praying for happiness.

The Sea of Japan stretches out behind the Property, and Kashima Island off the coast is popular among locals as a
The Sea of Japan stretches out behind the Property, and Kashima Island off the coast is popular among locals as a "married couple island" for praying for happiness.

Located about 30 minutes north of downtown Hagi, this spot is adjacent to the old port town of Abu and boasts a beautiful view of the Sea of Japan. It was one of the registered Properties when the Michi-no-Eki system was established (1993), and also appeals to visitors as the birthplace of Michi-no-Eki. Recent renovations have further enhanced the lineup of specialty products, and a new Property, ABU Camping Field, will open in March 2022. As the first roadside station in the prefecture, it is highly popular.
Meotojima," a couple's island off the coast, is a local symbol of family happiness. The "Monument of Happiness" on the premises is also reputed to be a power spot for romantic fulfillment.

Enjoy gourmet seafood and hot springs. Use of the heated swimming pool is also recommended.

The
The "Abu no Shunsan" (direct sales shop) sells fish freshly landed every morning. You will be surprised at the reasonable prices!

The main attraction is the fresh seafood landed every morning at Nago Port. In addition to the seafood sold directly at the market, visitors can enjoy sashimi set menus and seafood bowls at Hajimari no Restaurant Kashima. Another attraction is the "Nihonkai Onsen Kashima no Yu," a natural hot spring that is pumped up from 1,000 meters underground and boasts a bath with a view of the Japan Sea.
Furthermore, a heated swimming pool is located on the premises, which is rare for a roadside station property. Visitors can refresh themselves by swimming, play with their children in the toddler pool, or simply use the pool without reservations, which is recommended for a change of plans in the event of rain.

Local Guide Comment
Steamboat manju (steamboat buns), located in one of the tenants, are a well-known specialty of the Hagi and Abu areas with a history of over 100 years, and as the name suggests, are shaped like steamboats. Carefully baked over charcoal, the dough is filled with homemade sweet bean paste.
Roadside Station Abu-cho
  • Address 2249 Nako, Abu-cho, Abu-gun, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approximately 60 minutes from the Edo IC of the Ogori Hagi Road
  • Direction Take a bus from Hagi Bus Center and get off at "Roadside Station Abu-machi".
  • Business Hours 10:00-18:00 (Product direct sales shop "Abu no Shunkan")
  • Closed January 1
  • TEL 08388-2-0355
  • Parking Free of charge
  • memo Refer to the Michi no Eki Abu-cho website for hours of operation and holidays for each Property in the museum.

    Refer to the Michi no Eki Abu-cho website for hours of operation and holidays for each Property in the museum.

An aquarium full of attractions where you can encounter a wide variety of pufferfish

Dolphin and sea lion shows and an area where penguins live are popular.
Dolphin and sea lion shows and an area where penguins live are popular.

Located in the Karato area, where the tourist attractions of Shimonoseki City, which stretches along the Kanmon Straits, are concentrated. In addition to a dolphin and sea lion show, which is rare in Japan, and the Penguin Village, one of the largest penguin properties in Japan, there are also a number of elaborate aquariums, such as the Kanmon Straits Current Tank, which is integrated with the view of Kanmon Bridge, offering many attractions.
There are also special events to introduce the fish in the tanks for seasonal festivals such as Halloween, Christmas, and New Year's. Be sure to check the Property's website for new information.

The aquarium exhibits the world's largest number of pufferfish, and is the only aquarium in Japan that has a full body skeleton of a blue whale.

The blue whale skeleton is the only one on display at the Kaiyokan in Japan. The impressive size runs from the first to the third floor of the building.
The blue whale skeleton is the only one on display at the Kaiyokan in Japan. The impressive size runs from the first to the third floor of the building.

Shimonoseki City is known as the city of pufferfish, and at the Kaiyokan you can see the world's largest number of pufferfish species on display, including the tiger puffer, sunfish, and harisenbon.
Whales also have a special place in Shimonoseki, which has long been a whaling base, and the blue whale skeleton on display in the third-floor atrium hall is the only one of its kind in Japan and one of the rarest and most precious in the world. The size of the whale, which is said to have been approximately 26 meters long when alive, is simply overwhelming. It is also important to note that you can observe it from various perspectives: down the hall, to the side, and up the hall.

Local Guide Comment
For lunch and café time, the "Dolphin View Restaurant" inside the museum is recommended. Located next to the underwater part of the aquarium, dolphins swim right in front of you. If you are lucky, the dolphins may even come close to you as you look into the tank.
Shimomiseki Aquarium Kaiyokan
  • Address 6-1 Arukaport, Shimonoseki-shi, Yamaguchi MAP
  • Direction Approx. 15 min. from Shimonoseki IC on Chugoku Expressway
  • Direction Take a bus from JR Shimonoseki Station and get off at "Kaikyokan-mae" bus stop.
  • Business hours 9:30-17:30 (last admission 17:00)
  • Closed No holidays
  • Admission fee Adults (high school students and older): 2,090 yen, elementary/junior high school students: 940 yen, infants (3 years and older): 410 yen
  • TEL 083-228-1100
  • Parking No parking *Pay parking is available in the vicinity.
The information in this article is current as of the date of the update. Please check before visiting as they are subject to change.