A trip around the World Heritage Site "Hagi" and its spectacular scenery recognized worldwide

A two-day, one-night itinerary for Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

10:00 Stroll through Hagi Castle Town, where castle ruins and samurai residences remain

Hagi castle town has flourished for 260 years since Mori Terumoto built Hagi Castle. The castle ruins, which was the political and administrative center of the domain, the former upper-class samurai area where high-ranking samurai had their stately residences, and the former townspeople's area, which was the economic center, are registered as World Heritage sites. The atmosphere of a castle town still remains strong in the streets, with earthen walls with summer mandarin oranges peeking through, namako walls, and key curves. (Time required: 60 minutes)

Approximately 15 minutes on foot

11:15 Lunch at the restaurant "Hagi Meirinkan School" built on the former site of "Hagi Domain School Meirinkan"

The Hagi Domain School Meirinkan was the central school for education and human resource development in the Hagi Domain.
The former Meirin Elementary School was built on the site and is one of the largest wooden school buildings in Japan, including the main building which is registered as a national tangible cultural property.
Inside the building, you'll find the Meirinkan Exhibition Room, the former Hagi Domain School, a restaurant using the abundant produce of Hagi, a shop selling souvenirs unique to Hagi, the World Heritage Visitor Center introducing the World Heritage Site "Sites of Japan's Meiji Industrial Revolution," and the Bakumatsu Museum, which displays all the valuable materials that shed light on the history of the end of the Edo period. (Time required: 60 minutes)

Approximately 15 minutes by car

12:30 Reflect on the achievements of Yoshida Shoin at Shokasonjuku and Shoin Shrine

A private school run by Yoshida Shoin. Yoshida Shoin educated students regardless of their status or class. Although he only taught his students for just over two years, it produced many outstanding individuals who played important roles in building a new nation during the Meiji Restoration, as well as many patriots who played an active role during the turbulent period at the end of the Edo period.
Shoin Shrine is a shrine dedicated to Yoshida Shoin, and within its grounds are the Shoka Sonjuku school and the former residence of Yoshida Shoin, both registered as World Heritage sites, as well as the Shoin Shrine Treasure Hall, Shiseikan, which opened in 2009. Shoin's calligraphy and personal belongings are on display, and special exhibitions are also held. (Tour takes 30 minutes)

Approximately 60 minutes by car

14:00 Tour of Hagi's World Heritage Sites 1: Oitayama Tatara Ironworks Site

These are the remains of an ironworks where iron was made by burning charcoal and using iron sand as the raw material. They are a valuable site for learning about the history of tatara ironmaking in the early modern period. It is recorded that iron produced here was used for the nails and anchors of the warship Heijinmaru, built by the Hagi (Choshu) clan. It has attracted attention as a unique example of modernization where original Japanese technology was applied to Western-style shipbuilding. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015. (Total tour time: 30 minutes)

Approximately 45 minutes by car

15:15 Touring Hagi's World Heritage Sites 2: Hagi Reverberatory Furnace

A reverberatory furnace is a metal melting furnace necessary for casting iron cannons. The Hagi reverberatory furnace is the remains of a furnace built in 1856 by the Hagi (Choshu) domain, which aimed to cast Western-style iron cannons. It was built as a prototype based on sketches of the earlier reverberatory furnace built by the Saga domain. The only other remains of reverberatory furnaces found outside of Hagi are in Nirayama (Shizuoka prefecture) and Shuseikan (Kagoshima prefecture), making this an extremely valuable ruin. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015. (Total tour time: 30 minutes)

Approximately 10 minutes by car

15:55 Touring Hagi's World Heritage Sites 3: Ebisugahana Shipyard Ruins

These are the remains of a shipyard established by the Hagi (Choshu) clan at the request of the shogunate and the suggestion of Kido Takayoshi. Two Western sailing ships were built using information from Western technology and traditional Japanese shipbuilding techniques. A large breakwater from that time still remains today. It was registered as a World Heritage Site in 2015. (Tour takes 30 minutes)

Check in to the accommodation