Top Yamaguchi Prefecture Cultural Tours

Step onto Ozushima, an island shaped by history and reached by a short ferry ride from Tokuyama Station on the Shinkansen, just 30 minutes from Hiroshima. Explore the legacy of the Kaiten, Japan's human torpedoes of World War II, through a tour designed and led by a local university student deeply engaged in preserving this history. As a site connected to wartime tragedy, the experience reflects what is often described as dark tourism, inviting visitors to engage thoughtfully with difficult history and remembrance. Over lunch, learn about a renowned spatial design duo who relocated to the island and are dedicated to its revitalization. Enjoy a traditional “kamishibai” storytelling session, led by a local resident, Chieko Matsumoto. This is not only a historical tour, but also a rare opportunity to connect wartime memory with the people shaping the island's future.

Discover a charming rural village known for its adorable red-tiled roofs — a rare sight even in Japan and a potential highlight of your trip. Leave Hagi’s famous samurai district behind and step into authentic countryside life. Stroll at a relaxed pace through a small local community, passing rice fields, farms, temples, and shrines. At Seiraiji Temple, which overlooks the village, you will have the special opportunity to ring the temple bell. You may even have the chance to meet friendly locals and experience everyday rural Japan. After the walk, enjoy lunch at a traditional Japanese house restaurant, featuring local ingredients and views of the beautiful countryside.

Yamaguchi City, which has been selected for the New York Times’ list of “52 places to go in 2024”, was ruled and developed by Ouchi clan during the Muromachi period (1336-1573). This activity has been arranged as Ouchi kemari based on the assumption that Ouchi might have also enjoyed kemari. Participants will wear Muromachi-style costumes and play kemari with a specially handmade mari ball.

This tour is conducted in your own private car. Departs from Hakata Station or Fukuoka City hotel lobby by chartered car. Due to the long travel distance, a professional driver and English-speaking guide will accompany you. At Karato Market in Shimonoseki City, located on the border between Kyushu and Yamaguchi prefectures, you will enjoy weekend-only sushi made with fresh fish landed that day. The tour will then take visitors to four scenic spots representative of Yamaguchi Prefecture created by nature. Amagase Park with a view of Kakushima Ohashi Bridge, Motonosumi Shrine with its impressive red torii gate and dynamic sea, Akiyoshidai, one of the largest karst formations in Japan, and Akiyoshido Cave with its cool year-round temperature of 17°C. This tour will take you to these unique sights.

This tour is designed for travelers who visit Shimonoseki by cruise ship. We will pick you up at Shimonoseki Port or hotels near the port. This value-packed trip with a government-licensed and experienced multilingual tour guide is a fantastic and efficient way to explore Shimonoseki. Enjoy a 6-hour private tour with your own guide and vehicle, customized to your interests. From the bustling Karato Market famous for fugu and fresh sushi to the dramatic Kanmon Strait with its great bridge, the vermilion Akama Shrine, the historic castle town of Chofu, and the breathtaking views from Mount Hino, you will discover the very best of this storied port city at the western tip of Honshu. You can choose 2-3 sites from the itinerary list, and your guide will tailor the route to make the most of your limited time in port. Sit back, relax, and let your private guide handle all the logistics for a stress-free and memorable day in Shimonoseki.

Dressed in original costumes and riding a white horse as the Shogun, the procession of 20 people, including extras, will parade through the Ōdono area, which retains the historical atmosphere to this day. Afterward, the procession will move to Sansuien Garden, a National Registered Tangible Cultural Asset, where guests can enjoy Yamaguchi’s traditional performing arts and savor the Ōuchi Feast, faithfully recreated from the historical banquet. Please enjoy Yamaguchi City, which has been selected by The New York Times as one of the “52 Places to Go in 2024.”