Yamaguchi 2 Day Itinerary: Travel around Iwakuni, Yanai, and Suooshima by car

Summary

Yamaguchi Prefecture is located on the western edge of Japan’s main island of Honshu. It is dotted with historical spots and gained popularity when the industrial heritage sites in Hagi were registered as a World Heritage site.Among them, we drove around Iwakuni City, which has many attractions such as Iwakuni Castle and Kintaikyo Bridge, Yanai City, which has many tangible and intangible historical and cultural assets, and Suooshima Town, which has the Seto Inland Sea and beautiful nature.

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*Please note that information and prices listed are subject to change.

Travel Itinerary

11:00am Shin-Iwakuni Station（新岩国駅）

This time we started at Shin-Iwakuni station! We started by car as soon as possible!

Shin-Iwakuni Station, located in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a station on the West Japan Railway Company Sanyo Shinkansen Line. It is a Shinkansen-only station with no conventional train stops. The area around the station is peaceful and quiet, and on weekdays, the station is sparsely populated, so announcements can often be heard.

11:30am Kintaikyo Bridge（錦帯橋）

The first stop was Kintaikyo Bridge, a staple of Yamaguchi travel.It has a distinctive arched bridge and is one of the most famous bridges in Japan.This time, I purchased a set ticket that included a round-trip ticket to Kintaikyo Bridge, a ropeway, and admission to Iwakuni Castle!

Schedule of Charges

bridge ticket

It’s a staircase.

Kintaikyo Bridge, located in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is one of the three most famous wooden bridges in Japan. 5 arches are beautiful and it was designated as a national scenic beauty in 1922. The beautiful scenery can be seen in every season, and the bridge attracts many tourists as a sightseeing spot.

12:30pm Iwakuni Castle Ropeway（岩国城ロープウエー）

From Kintaikyo Bridge, walk a short distance and take the ropeway.From the window, you can see the city of Iwakuni, the Seto Inland Sea, and the Kintaikyo Bridge you just crossed.

timetable

place for boarding vehicles

Climbing Up

It even had the time details on it.

The Iwakuni Castle Ropeway in Iwakuni City is a ropeway that connects the base station to the summit station. The ropeway runs every 15 minutes, and the ride takes about 3 minutes.

12:45pm Iwakuni Castle（岩国城）

Take the ropeway up to the top, and from there another short walk up the mountain leads to Iwakuni Castle.The path to the castle was so relaxing and full of nature✨Inside the castle, swords and a scaled-down model of the Kintaikyo Bridge were on display, and the top floor was an observation deck!

Wider road to go.

Healed by nature

guide map

inside a castle

View from the observatory

Iwakuni Castle is located in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and is a well-known tourist attraction. From the castle’s observation deck at the top of the mountain, visitors can enjoy a spectacular view of Kintaikyo Bridge and the castle town of Iwakuni.

1:00pm Bridge Station Kintaikyo bashi (Kintaikyo bashi Bus Center) – 橋の駅 錦帯橋（錦帯橋バスセンター）

Lunch was at a bridge station just off Kintai Bridge.Large windows in the restaurant overlook the Kintai Bridge✨I ordered Iwakuni Sushi (Sushi pressed into a square shape) and Iwakuni lotus root noodles (Udon noodles with lotus root kneaded into the dough).The Iwakuni sushi was a bit sweet, and the Iwakuni lotus root noodles were sticky and cold.

Exterior

Interior

Menu

You can see the bridge.

The Kintaikyo bashi Bus Center is located in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and sells bus tickets and related products on the first floor.

3:00pm White Wall of The Town（白壁の町並み）

The next stop was Yanai.Red goldfish lanterns line the streets and look lovely.

guide map

Crab cautionary note

White Wall of The Town in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a sightseeing spot where rows of white-walled houses stretch along a 200-meter street. In summer, a goldfish lantern festival is held here, offering a fantastic atmosphere. Free parking is available nearby, making it a popular spot for tourists.

3:30pm Sagawa Soy Sauce Shop（佐川醤油店）

At the soy sauce store, I had Kanro soy sauce (Sweet sashimi soy sauce) gelato.It tastes just like salted caramel!

Exterior

Interior

And souvenirs

Gelato Menu

Observe Moromi (It is said to be the base of soy sauce)

Natural water used for soy sauce

Sagawa Soy Sauce Store is a soy sauce brewery located in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Inside the store, soy sauce, furikake (sprinkles), and souvenirs are sold, and the soy sauce brewery can also be toured. The store also sells gelato and soft-serve ice cream made with Yanaii’s specialty, kanro shoyu, which is well-received by word of mouth for its delicious taste.

4:00pm Yanai Nishigura（やない西蔵）

Next, we went to the experience corner of the brewery next to the soy sauce shop.This time, I decided to weave coasters with Yanai jima ( Traditional textiles that have been loved since ancient times).You can make a one-of-a-kind coaster ✨Even as a beginner, I was able to create a lovely coaster in about 20 minutes.

Exterior

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Experience Corner

Yanai Nishigura is an art gallery and hands-on workshop located in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Visitors can try their hand at making goldfish lanterns and Yanai-Jima weaving, and both children and adults can enjoy the experience. Advance reservations are required for large groups, but can basically be made on the day of the workshop.

5:00pm Kashinoki main store（果子乃季 総本店）

Next, we drove a short distance from the white walls to a pastry shop.Here you can buy standard Yamaguchi souvenirs.I would like to encourage everyone to try the Sachertorte!

Exterior

Interior

souvenir

cake

The Kashinoki main store in Yanai City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is a spot that produces and sells some of Yamaguchi’s best confections. Particularly popular are “Tuki de hirotta tamago” and “Miwaku no Sachertorte,” which are well-known as standard Yamaguchi souvenirs.

6:00pm Irori sanzoku Kuga store（いろり山賊 玖珂店）

For dinner, we went to Iori Sanzoku, a family restaurant beloved by Yamaguchi Prefecture residents.This place is festive all year round.There is a river running through the restaurant, a bridge, a fire burning…Above all, I am always amazed at the volume of the sanzoku musubi (rice ball) and sanzoku-yaki (young chicken grilled over charcoal)!

Exterior

Wooden chairs

Tatami mat seats surrounded by nature

There’s a bridge.

sunken hearth

Menu

Irori Sanzoku Kuga store is a popular restaurant in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The restaurant is well known by word of mouth for its delicious sanzoku musubi, sanzoku-yaki, and sanzoku udon noodles, and the river and bridge in the restaurant provide an extraordinary experience.

10:00am Mt. Dakesan Observatory（嵩山展望台）

Day 2 begins! To the summit of Mt Dakesan.

The weather was not so good, so I will try again.

guidance

Mt. Dakesan Observatory in Kuga, Suooshima-cho, Oshima-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is an observatory at the top of Mt. It offers a spectacular view of the eastern part of Oshima and the Tatoubi in the Seto Inland Sea. There is also a paraglider launch pad at the top of the mountain, making it a popular photo spot. (Entry to the site has been prohibited since 2021.)

11:00am Shingu Island（真宮島）

After regaining my composure, I headed here.

The island can be crossed only three hours before and after low tide, and is a power spot for love!

High transparency✨

Shingu Island is a small uninhabited island located in Suooshima-cho, Oshima-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This island can only be crossed at low tide, so you must time your visit accordingly. It is also known as a power spot for love, and many couples visit.

12:30pm Roadside Station Sazan seto Towa（道の駅 サザンセトとうわ）

Lunch was at a roadside station just off Shingu Island.This restaurant has an ocean view and offers delicious food from the Seto Inland Sea.I ordered the fry set meal. It comes with a large fry, sashimi, and mandarin orange jelly for 1,300 yen.

Exterior

Entrance

Interior

Roadside Station Sazan seto Towa is located in Suooshima-cho, Oshima-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and has a restaurant with a view of the sea on the second floor and specialties such as Oshima mandarins and marine products for sale on the first floor.

1:30pm Katazoegahama Seaside Park（片添ヶ浜海浜公園）

At the end of the trip, you will enjoy Hawaii in the Seto Inland Sea✨Palm tree-lined avenues and white beaches. This is already a tropical country.

scenery

You can also swim in the beautiful sea.

Katazoegahama Seaside Park is a beach located in Suooshima-cho, Oshima-gun, Yamaguchi Prefecture. According to reviews, there are palm tree-lined avenues and a white beach, giving it a tropical feel. Also, the sea is beautiful and bathing can be enjoyed.

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