From Fukuoka to Hagi, Yamaguchi via Mine and Yamaguchi City *Please arrange and pay for your hotel in Hagi independently.

Fukuoka Prefecture - 08:00 Departure from your hotel or Hakata Station, Hakata Port, Kokura Station, or Kitakyushu Airport in Fukuoka. At the airport, a driver holding a name board will greet you at the arrival gate and escort you to the bus parking area. If applicable, please provide your [arrival flight number] in advance.

The Site of Dannoura Battlefield - 09:30-09:45 Dannoura Battlefield, 21 Mimosusogawa-cho, Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi. Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture is renowned as the site of the Battle of Dan-no-Ura, the final conflict between the Minamoto and Taira clans. Initially, the Taira had the upper hand, but as the tide shifted, the Minamoto gained control and ultimately won, marking the start of the Kamakura era in Japan. Today, it is known as Mimosuso River Park, offering a splendid view of the Kanmon Strait. The park features a monument to the Dan-no-Ura Old Battlefield and informative displays about the battle. There are handprints of famous actors from the 2005 NHK TV drama “Yoshitsune.” The park also exhibits replicas of Chosyu cannons, with Chosyu being the former name of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory - 10:45-11:15 Akiyoshidai, 11237-862 Shuhocho Akiyoshi, Mine, Yamaguchi. Akiyoshidai is Japan’s largest karst plateau, located in the central and eastern parts of Mine City. It was designated a National Monument (Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park) in 1955 and a special natural monument in 1964. The limestone landscape of Akiyoshidai dates back about 350 million years, originating as a coral reef in the southern sea, evolving over time into the karst plateau seen today. https://akiyoshidai-park.com/en/enjoy/

Akiyoshido - 11:30-12:15 Akiyoshido Cave [Kurotani] Entrance, 1237-739 Shuhocho Akiyoshi, Mine, Yamaguchi. *Entrance fee ¥1300 (approximately $10 USD) per adult. The cave extends from north to south, allowing entry at one end and exit at the other. The bus will drop you off at the entrance and wait at the exit. Akiyoshido is one of Japan’s largest limestone caves, located 100 meters underground at the southern foot of the Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park. The sightseeing course inside the cave is about 1 km long (the total length exceeds 10.7 km, making it the second largest in Japan). The temperature remains a constant 17°C year-round, providing a cool escape in summer and warmth in winter, ensuring a comfortable visit.

Ruriko Temple Five-Story Pagoda - 13:00-14:45 Restaurant “Choshuen,” 1-6 Kimachi, Yamaguchi ~ Rurikoji Temple, 7-1 Kozancho, Yamaguchi. This pagoda was commissioned by Ouchi Morimi, a leader of the Ouchi clan that ruled Yamaguchi from the 14th to 16th centuries. Morimi built the pagoda in memory of his older brother Ouchi Yoshihiro, who died leading a revolt against the central government in 1399. Completed in 1442, the pagoda is celebrated as the finest structure from the mid-Muromachi period (approximately 1336 to 1573) and is a designated national treasure. Standing 31 meters tall (about 102 feet), its roofs are crafted from layers of cypress bark secured with bamboo nails. Each story narrows as it ascends, contributing to the pagoda’s balanced appearance.

Hagi Castle Town - 15:45-17:00 “World Heritage Route” ~ Hagimeirin Center Parking Lot, 560-4 Emukai, Hagi, Yamaguchi. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,” Hagi’s merchant district lies east of the high-ranking samurai district and Hagi Castle. Its maze of white-walled streets is lined with well-preserved merchant houses, and natsumikan trees extend over many walls. The white walls shield the natsumikan citrus trees from sea winds, and the image of natsumikan hanging over earthen walls has symbolized Hagi since the early 20th century.

Shoin Shrine - 17:15-17:30 Shoin Shrine, 1537 Chinto, Hagi, Yamaguchi. This Shinto shrine is dedicated to Yoshida Shōin, a key figure in the Meiji Restoration. Shoin Shrine is situated on the former lands of the Sugi family on Hagi’s outskirts. Yoshida Shoin (born Sugi Toranosuke in 1830) lived and taught here until his execution in 1859. The school where Shoin taught, Shokasonjuku, was restored in 1890, and a small private memorial was erected nearby. In 1907, two of his most famous students, four-time Prime Minister Ito Hirobumi (1841–1909) and diplomat Nomura Yasushi (1842–1909), built Shoin Shrine behind their former school as a tribute to their teacher. From 1936 to 1940, donations from across Japan funded the construction of a new shrine at the property’s rear. Although work paused during World War II, the new copper-roofed shrine was completed in 1955.

Hagi - [Day-1 DROP OFF] 17:45 e.g., RYOKAN Hagi Komachi, Hagi, Yamaguchi. *Hotels in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, must be booked and paid for independently. https://travel.rakuten.com/ The next day, departure is at 7:30 am. The driver will pick you up at your hotel.

From Hagi, Yamaguchi to Yonago, Tottori via Iwami Ginzan World Heritage *Book and pay for your hotel in Yonago independently.

Hagi - [Day-2 PICK UP] 07:30 am e.g., RYOKAN Hagi Komachi, Hagi, Yamaguchi. The driver will pick you up at your hotel. *Departure from the hotel is at 7:30 am to ensure timely arrival for the optional tour of the World Heritage site Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine at 13:00. If not interested, you may take your time and leave about an hour later. The choice is yours.

Tonomachi Street - 09:00-09:45 Tonomachi Street, Ushiroda, Tsuwano, Kanoashi, Shimane. Tsuwano, also known as “Little Kyoto,” is a castle town resembling a hidden village in a tranquil valley. The area around Tonomachi Street retains its oldest features, with schools of carp of various sizes swimming in the street’s canal, lined with white plaster-walled buildings. The season when white and purple Japanese irises bloom is particularly beautiful, transforming the area into an elegant painting. Tonomachi Street symbolizes Tsuwano, with numerous historic sites, including a Catholic church, a former school site, and remnants of samurai residences. Additionally, the area offers stores and stylish cafes serving local cuisine, as well as shops selling general merchandise and souvenirs.

Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center - 13:00-16:15 Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center, Omoricho 1597, Oda, Shimane or Yunotsu Onsen Town - Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from March to November - 13:45-15:45 - Fee ¥4500 (approximately $30-40 USD) per adult. https://iwami.urkt.in/ja/direct/offices/2326/courses. Discovered in 1526, the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was one of the world’s leading silver mines for 400 years. During the Age of Exploration, it was known as “The Silver Mine” to Europeans and, at its peak, accounted for a significant portion of Japan’s silver production, comprising one-third of the world’s silver output. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, the first such mine registered in Asia. [Alternatives] *If uninterested, explore the nearby popular “Yunotsu Onsen” town. The choice is yours. Yunotsu Hot Spring is part of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine and its Cultural Landscape World Heritage Site.

Shinjiko Service Area Inbound - 17:30-17:45 San’in Highway Lake Shinji Service Area, Matsue, Shimane. Sample the local specialty, Shijimi Shiru (Clam Soup), here. Lake Shinji extends west of Matsue City, the “City of Water.” The lake’s sunset view is particularly stunning and is among Japan’s 100 famous landscapes. In addition to water leisure sports like yachting and canoeing, winter offers birdwatching opportunities. As a brackish lake containing seawater, it is rich in fish and shellfish. Japanese sea bass, sand shrimp, eels, cattle egrets, freshwater clams, carp, and icefish are known as the “seven delicacies of Lake Shinji,” representing Shimane Prefecture’s flavors. The lake is one of Japan’s largest sources of Japanese basket clams, popular as souvenirs. Jogging or running on a clear morning while enjoying Lake Shinji is a fantastic experience.

Kaike Onsen - [Day-2 DROP OFF] 20:45 “Kaike Onsen,” Yonago, Tottori, e.g., Bayside Square Kaike Hotel, 4-21-1 Kaikeonsen, Yonago, Tottori. https://kaikehotel.com/ Enjoy views of Mt. Daisen, the highest peak in the Chugoku Region, from the picturesque seaside dotted with pine trees. The warm, salty waters rich in sodium and calcium chloride rise beneath the ocean at San’in’s largest hot spring area. Kaike Onsen is conveniently located for trips to Tottori and Shimane, right in the heart of San’in. Feel free to make it your base for exploring the entire area. http://www.kaike-onsen.com/road.html Type: Sodium and calcium chloride springs, average temperature 66.5 degrees. Effective against nerve pain, skin conditions, and anemia.

From Yonago, Tottori to Hiroshima via World Heritage “Izumo Taisha,” Shimane

The Mizuki Shigeru Road - 09:00-09:45 Mizuki Shigeru Road Bus Parking Lot, 28-3 Matsugaecho, Sakaiminato, Tottori. Entrance fee for Mizuki Shigeru Museum ¥700 (approximately $5 USD) per adult. Open 09:30-17:00. https://www.tottori-tour.jp/en/sightseeing/837/. Sakaiminato’s Mizuki Shigeru Road, named after the manga artist, is a popular destination for both children and adults. The road, stretching from Sakaiminato Station into the city, is an 800-meter-long arcade featuring 153 bronze statues of Mizuki’s fantasy creatures, each with detailed descriptions. Taking a close look at each statue could take all day! A nighttime stroll, when the statues are illuminated, offers a completely different experience. From the healing Kappa Spring to the Yokai Jinja, a fantasy shrine where fortune slips can be drawn, to the Yokai Post, where mail with the ‘fairy postmark’ is delivered, Mizuki Shigeru Road immerses visitors in a world of bizarre creatures.

Adachi Museum of Art - 10:45-11:45 Adachi Museum of Art, 320 Furukawacho, Yasugi, Shimane. Open 9:00- Entrance fee ¥2300 (approximately $15-20 USD) per adult. https://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/en/. The Adachi Museum of Art aims to convey the harmonious beauty of Japanese paintings and gardens. It is renowned for its extensive collection of modern to contemporary Japanese art, including numerous masterpieces by the esteemed painter Yokoyama Taikan, ceramics, and 165,000 square meters of Japanese gardens. The museum is a three-star site in the Michelin Green Guide Japan, and Adachi’s meticulously maintained Japanese Garden has been ranked No. 1 since 2003 by Sukiya Living Magazine: The Journal of Japanese Gardening. Visitors can appreciate the gardens’ splendid beauty, which changes with time, days, months, and seasons.

Izumo Grand Shrine - 13:00-15:30 Izumo Taisha, Taishacho Kizukihigashi, Izumo, Shimane. The approach to the shrine is lined with shops, with the specialty being the three-tiered “Izumo Soba.” Dedicated to the Shinto god of “en” (the ties that bind us), Okuninushi-no-Okami, Izumo Taisha Grand Shrine is one of Japan’s oldest and most revered shrines. The main hall, constructed in the “taisha-zukuri” style, Japan’s oldest form of shrine architecture, is a designated National Treasure. Each year during the 10th month of the lunar calendar, gods from across Japan gather at Izumo Taisha for their annual meeting. Only in Izumo is this month known as “The Month With Gods.” The “shimenawa” (sacred straw rope) at Kagura-den Hall is one of Japan’s largest, weighing an impressive 5 tons.

Hiroshima Station - 18:45 Hiroshima Station [Shinkansen] (North) gate, 1 Matsubaracho, Minami Ward, Hiroshima. *On your return, you can disembark at Hiroshima Station or Miyajimaguchi Station, a World Heritage Site. https://travel.rakuten.com/ From Hiroshima Station to Osaka, the journey takes about 2 hours by Sanyo Shinkansen. https://global.trafficinfo.westjr.co.jp/en/sanyo/ It takes about an hour by train from Osaka to Kansai International Airport. https://www.kansai-airport.or.jp/en/

• Accommodation fees for our crews
• One 7m length Minibus (21 + 6 seats) with one driver
• English speaking guide
• Toll and parking fees

• • Book for your hotels yourself: DAY1 at HAGI, Yamaguchi - DAY2 at “KAIKE-ONESEN”, Yonago, Tottori
• Meals and drinks
• Entrance fee of Akiyoshido Cave: ¥1300(≒10 USD)/adult
• Entrance fee of World Heritage Iwami Ginzan: ¥4500(≒30-40 USD)/adult
• Entrance fee of MIZUKI SHIGERU Museum: ¥700(≒5 USD)/adult
• Entrance fee of Adachi Museum of Art: 2300(≒15-20 USD)/adult

This is a chartered bus journey lasting 2 nights and 3 days, starting from a location in Fukuoka Prefecture and ending at Hiroshima Station. Along the route, travelers can explore the charming, traditional aspects of Japan in the “San’in” region along the Sea of Japan.

This itinerary includes visits to the world heritage sites of Iwami Ginzan and Izumo Taisha, traveling along the Sea of Japan while stopping at popular attractions. Enjoy hot springs and fresh seafood from the Sea of Japan during the trip. Be sure to savor blowfish in Shimonoseki, “Matsuba crab” in Sakaiminato, “Shijimi” at Lake Shinji, and “Okonomiyaki” in Hiroshima.

The bus provides a comfortable ride throughout the tour, eliminating the need to navigate public transportation. The operators are well-acquainted with the area, ensuring the private bus helps save time and allows visits to numerous locations.

• This tour supports the “Western Golden Route” initiative promoted by Fukuoka City.

If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.