Hagi Castle Town

Hagi Castle Town is an area where residences of wealthy merchants and middle- to lower-ranking samurai from the late Edo period remain preserved much as they were at the end of the shogunate era. In 2015, it was registered as a World Heritage site as part of the “Sites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution.” Hagi Castle Town consists of three zones: the “Castle Ruins,” the “Former Upper Samurai District,” and the “Former Townspeople District.” Step inside, and you’ll find a place filled with the romantic atmosphere of the late Edo period. A classic walking route for exploring the castle town is: “Edo-ya Yokocho” → “Enseiji Temple” → “Kido Takayoshi Former Residence” → “Former Kubota Family Residence” → “Kikuya Family Residence” → “Kikuya Yokocho” → “Shinsaku Plaza & Statue of Takasugi Shinsaku’s Determination.” As you stroll and explore at a relaxed pace, you’ll find many shops selling local pottery, including Hagi ware, as well as charming renovated traditional-house cafes and boutiques—plenty of spots you’ll want to drop in on during sightseeing. Kimono rental services are available, and taking a rickshaw ride is also a fun way to explore. From early to mid-May, white natsumikan (summer orange) blossoms bloom in full, filling the town with a sweet, refreshing fragrance. Access to Hagi Castle Town: by public transportation, take the “Ma-ru Bus” West Route for 34 minutes from JR San-in Main Line “Hagi Station,” get off at “Hagi Museum-mae,” then walk 3 minutes. Alternatively, it’s about a 20-minute walk from JR San-in Main Line “Higashi-Hagi Station.” By car, it’s about 20 minutes from the Chugoku Expressway “Minehigashi JCT,” or about 30 minutes from the Ogori-Hagi Road “Edo IC.”