'''Yamaguchi''' (_R__) is the capital of Yamaguchi prefecture, at the western tip of the island of Honshu, Japan. In the city, there is a beautiful Japanese town which flourished as "Kyoto in the West" in the Medieval Period. We can find lots of traces of its prosperity there.

Districts

The area of Yamaguchi is very large. Therefore, it can be devided into some districts.
  • Old town of Yamaguchi(I) - Yamaguchi Station, Rurikoji, Shopping district, St. Xavier's Church, etc.
  • Ouchi district including Niho and Osaba(II)
  • Shin-Yamaguchi district;New town of Yamaguchi(III, IV) - Shin Yamaguchi Station
  • Aio(V)
  • Ajisu(VI) - Kirara Dome
  • Tokuji(VII)
  • Understand

    Yamaguchi City is the seat of prefectural government, so it functions as the "capital" of this prefecture. However, it is not a big city and impresses us as a planned city. Actually, it is a planned city where Hiroyo Ouchi, the liege lord of this region, placed his government in 1360. From then on, the town developed, copying the elegance of Kyoto, which used to be the capital of Japan. As Ouchi family prospered, this city also flourished and it was called "Kyoto in the West" in those days. Especially, while Kyoto was devastated by Onin war, Yamaguchi developed as the alternative capital. Many cultured people and foreigners visited the city. It was as if Yamaguchi was practically the capital of Japan. But regrettably the destruction of this family in 1551 caused the city to fall. We can see a lot of things in this city that suggests its prosperity in medieval times.

    Get in

    By plane

    '''Yamaguchi Ube Airport(UBJ)''' in Ube is the prefecure's largest airport. You can take a bus from the airport to Shin-Yamaguchi station.

    By train

    Yamaguchi's main train station(Yamaguchi Station) is located separately from '''Shin-Yamaguchi''' (_V_R__), a station on the San'yo Shinkansen route. Regular trains connect both stations in 15-25 minutes.

    Shin-Yamaguchi is a bullet train station stop for only a few ''Nozomi'' trains, most ''Hikari'' trains, and all of the ''Kodama'' all-station trains. By a combination of bullet train and local train, Yamaguchi is about 60-70 minutes from Hakata in Fukuoka (¥5860 via Nozomi), about 2 1/2 hours from Osaka (¥12890 via Nozomi) and about 5 hours from Tokyo (¥20960 via Nozomi).

    '''Note that you cannot use NOZOMI trains with the Japan Rail Pass.'''

    Get around

    JR Yamaguchi Line goes through the city.

    See

  • '''Rurik?ji Temple''' (________)
  • Famed for its five-story pagoda.
  • '''Ichinosaka-gawa River''' (________)
  • Over the clean and beautiful small river, many cherry blossoms can be seen in spring, and in summer you will find many fireflys glowing.
  • '''Sesshu's Garden of Joueiji Temple''' (___h_____M__)
  • Sesshu is one of the most prominent artists in Muromachi Period. He worked in Yamaguchi and created this dry landscape garden.
  • '''St. Xavier's Church''' (_U_r_G___L_O____)
  • The memorial church of St. Xavier, who devoted himself to the propagation of Christianity in Yamaguchi.
  • '''Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media''' [http://www.ycam.jp/en/index.html website]
  • The Yamaguchi Center for Arts and Media (YCAM) was established in November 2003 as a cultural-arts complex that accommodates a hall for stage performances, an exhibition space, a mini film theatre, and the Yamaguchi City Library. A platform for sharing computer- and IT-based media technology, YCAM hosts among others a variety of theatre and dance performances, art exhibitions, film screenings, sound-related events, workshops and lectures.

    Do

    Festivals

  • '''Lantern Star Festival'''(_R_____[______________)
  • Held on August 6th and 7th. The city center becomes decorated with red impressive lanterns.

    Buy

    Eat

  • '''Xavier Campana'''[http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cbt52690/lafrancesca.htm] - Bakery
  • '''R. Paysan''' - Italian restaurant.
  • Drink

    Sleep

  • '''Teshima Ryokan'''
  • '''Matsudaya Hotel'''
  • '''Hotel La Francesca, Yamaguchi''' [http://www1.odn.ne.jp/~cbt52690/lafrancesca.htm]
  • Get out

    Other cities in Yamaguchi Prefecture
  • Shimonoseki
  • Hagi
  • Iwakuni