From Fukuoka to Hagi, Yamaguchi via Mine and Yamaguchi City *Please book and pay for your hotel in Hagi on your own.

Fukuoka Prefecture - 08:00 < PICK UP > Your hotel or Hakata Station, Hakata Port, Kokura Station, Kitakyushu Airport in Fukuoka. At the airport, a driver with a name board will meet you at the arrival gate and guide you to the bus parking lot. If possible, please provide your [arrival flight number] in advance.

The Site of Dannoura Battlefield - 09:30-09:45 < Historic Sites > 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 clash between the Minamoto and Taira clans. Initially, the Taira dominated, but as the tide turned, the Minamoto gained the upper hand and ultimately won, marking the beginning 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 of the Dan-no-Ura battlefield and informative displays about the battle. There are also handprints of famous actors from the 2005 NHK TV drama “Yoshitsune” and replicas of Chosyu cannons, a former name for Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Akiyoshidai Karst Observatory - 10:45-11:15 < National Park > 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 that forms Akiyoshidai’s stunning landscape dates back about 350 million years, originating as a coral reef in the southern sea. Over time, it evolved into the karst plateau seen today. https://akiyoshidai-park.com/en/enjoy/

Akiyoshido - 11:30-12:15 < Adventure! > Akiyoshido Cave [Kurotani] Entrance, 1237-739 Shuhocho Akiyoshi, Mine, Yamaguchi. *Entrance fee: ¥1300 (approx. 10 USD)/adult < Re-Pick Up > Akiyoshido Cave [Main Entrance] ~ < Lunch 1 > Restaurant “Yasutomiya”. The cave runs from north to south, allowing for a one-way tour. The bus will drop you off at the entrance and wait for you at the exit. Akiyoshido is one of Japan’s largest limestone caves, located 100 meters underground at the southern foot of Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park. The sightseeing course in the cave is about 1 km long (the total length exceeds 10.7 km, making it the second largest in Japan). The temperature remains constant at 17°C year-round, providing a cool escape in summer and warmth in winter for a comfortable visit.

Ruriko Temple Five-Story Pagoda - 13:00-14:45 < Lunch 1 > Restaurant “Choshuen”, 1-6 Kimachi, Yamaguchi ~ < Guided Park > Rurikoji Temple, 7-1 Kozancho, Yamaguchi. This pagoda was commissioned by Ouchi Morimi, a head 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 (1336-1573) and is a designated national treasure. Standing 31 meters tall (about 102 feet), its roofs are made of layered cypress bark held with bamboo nails. Each story narrows progressively, giving the structure a balanced appearance.

Hagi Castle Town - 15:45-17:00 < Guided Walk > “World Heritage Route” ~ < Bus Waiting > Hagimeirin Center Parking Lot, 560-4 Emukai, Hagi, Yamaguchi. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution,” the merchant district of Hagi 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, which protrude over many walls. The white walls protect the natsumikan citrus trees from sea winds, and the image of natsumikan hanging over the earthen walls has symbolized Hagi since the early 20th century.

Shoin Shrine - 17:15-17:30 < Yoshida Shoin > Shoin Shrine, 1537 Chinto, Hagi, Yamaguchi. This Shinto shrine is dedicated to Yoshida Shōin, a key figure behind the Meiji Restoration. Located on the former lands of the Sugi family on the outskirts of Hagi, 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, completed in 1955 despite wartime delays.

Hagi - [Day-1 DROP OFF] 17:45 < Guest Inn > e.g., Ryokan Hagi Komachi, Hagi, Yamaguchi. Hotels you book in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Your hotel arrangements and payments must be made by yourself. 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 on your own.

Hagi - [Day-2 PICK UP] 07:30 am < Guest Inn > e.g., Ryokan Hagi Komachi, Hagi, Yamaguchi. The driver will pick you up at your hotel. *You must leave the hotel at 7:30 am to make it in time for the optional tour of the World Heritage site Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine at 13:00. If you’re not interested in the tour, you can take your time and leave about an hour later. The choice is yours.

Tonomachi Street - 09:00-09:45 < Guided Walk > 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 countless carp of various sizes swimming in the canal along the street, which is 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, the site of a former school, and remnants of samurai residences. Additionally, there are stores and stylish cafes offering local cuisine, general merchandise, and souvenirs.

Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center - 13:00-16:15 < OPTIONAL TOUR > Iwami Ginzan World Heritage Center, Omoricho 1597, Oda, Shimane or < Guided Walk > Yunotsu Onsen Town - Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and public holidays from March to November - 13:45-15:45 - Fee: ¥4500 (approx. 30-40 USD)/adult. https://iwami.urkt.in/ja/direct/offices/2326/courses. Discovered in 1526, the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine was one of the world’s most prominent silver mines for 400 years. During the Age of Exploration, it was known as “The Silver Mine” to Europeans and, at its peak, produced a majority of Japan’s silver, accounting for one-third of the world’s silver output. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007, the first such mine in Asia. [Alternatives] *If you’re not interested, you can 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 < View Spot > San’in Highway Lake Shinji Service Area, Matsue, Shimane. You can try the local specialty, Shijimi Shiru (Clam Soup) here. Lake Shinji, located west of Matsue City, the “City of Water,” offers a spectacular sunset view and is one of Japan’s 100 famous landscapes. In addition to water leisure sports like yachting and canoeing, winter birdwatching is also popular. As a brackish lake containing seawater, it is rich in fish and shellfish. The “seven delicacies of Lake Shinji” include Japanese sea bass, sand shrimp, eels, cattle egrets, freshwater clams, carp, and icefish, representing Shimane Prefecture’s culinary delights. The lake is one of Japan’s largest sources of Japanese basket clams, popular as souvenirs. Jogging or running along the lake on a clear morning is a fantastic experience.

Kaike Onsen - [Day-2 DROP OFF] 20:45 < Guest Hotel 2 > “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 lovely seaside dotted with pine trees. The warm, salty waters rich in sodium and calcium chloride well up under the ocean at San’in’s largest hot spring area. Kaike Onsen is conveniently located for trips to Tottori and Shimane, making it an ideal base for touring the region. http://www.kaike-onsen.com/road.html. Type: Sodium and calcium chloride springs, average temp. 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 < Guided Walk > Mizuki Shigeru Road Bus Parking Lot, 28-3 Matsugaecho, Sakaiminato, Tottori. Entrance fee for Mizuki Shigeru Museum: ¥700 (approx. 5 USD)/adult Open 09:30-17:00. https://www.tottori-tour.jp/en/sightseeing/837/. The hometown of the manga artist Mizuki Shigeru, Sakaiminato’s Mizuki Shigeru Road is a popular destination for all ages. The 800-meter-long arcade, extending from Sakaiminato Station into the city, features 153 bronze statues of Mizuki’s fantasy creatures, each with detailed descriptions. A nighttime stroll along the illuminated statues offers a unique experience. From the healing Kappa Spring to the Yokai Jinja, a fantasy shrine where you can draw fortune slips, to the Yokai Post, where mail with the ‘fairy postmark’ gets delivered, Mizuki Shigeru Road is filled with whimsical creatures.

Adachi Museum of Art - 10:45-11:45 < Japanese Art > Adachi Museum of Art, 320 Furukawacho, Yasugi, Shimane. Open 9:00- Entrance fee: ¥2300 (approx. 15-20 USD)/adult. https://www.adachi-museum.or.jp/en/. The Adachi Museum of Art aims to harmonize the beauty of Japanese paintings and gardens. It boasts one of the finest collections of modern to contemporary Japanese art, including masterpieces by 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 its gardens have been ranked No. 1 since 2003 by Sukiya Living Magazine: The Journal of Japanese Gardening. The gardens’ beauty changes with the time, days, months, and seasons, offering a splendid visual experience.

Izumo Grand Shrine - 13:00-15:30 < Lunch-3 and Guided Walk > Izumo Taisha, Taishacho Kizukihigashi, Izumo, Shimane. The approach to the shrine is lined with shops, with the three-tiered “Izumo Soba” being a specialty. 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, built in the “taisha-zukuri” style, Japan’s oldest shrine architecture, is a 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 5 tons.

Hiroshima Station - 18:45 < DROP OFF > Hiroshima Station [Shinkansen] (North) gate, 1 Matsubaracho, Minami Ward, Hiroshima. *On your return, you can get off at Hiroshima Station or Miyajimaguchi Station, a World Heritage Site. https://travel.rakuten.com/. From Hiroshima Station to Osaka, it 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 < OPTIONAL TOUR > 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