Hagi Overview

The mountainous region of Hagi is found along the north coast of Yamaguchi Prefecture overlooking the Sea of Japan. One side of the city is made up of a lively centre and the other side packed with nature including the likes of Mt. Kasayama. Hagi is one of the most culture rich of the prefecture’s cities holding centuries of history which can still be discovered to this day in its architecture and cultural activities.

Hagi is an old castle town that came to prominence in the 17th century. Hagi Castle was built in 1604 where it was strategically placed between two rivers creating its own island off of the mainland. While the castle was destroyed in the 19th century to make way for the path towards industrialisation the main city centre, as well as some of the castle ruins, remain on this chunk of land. Today, the city centre is home to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites many of which highlight the key part Hagi played in Japan’s industrial revolution during the Meiji Restoration. These include Hagi Reverberatory Furnace where iron cannons were cast, Ebisugahana Shipyard, and Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works.

Hagi is also home to its own style of ceramics known as Hagi-yaki. This centuries old style takes its origins from Korea when the craft was brought all the way across the Sea of Japan to Hagi in the 16th century. Rustic pieces of Hagi-yaki can be found in shops all around the city as well as around 100 kilns. With the graceful blossoming of the sakura in spring comes many events including the Hagi Yaki Pottery Festival in early May and the Hagi Tea Ceremony Convention.

While there is little to see in the surrounding areas of Hagi city centre, around 30 minutes northeast lies Mt. Kasayama which sits on its own circle of land protruding out to sea. This area is rich in nature from Myojin Pond to the very top of the 112-metre high Mt. Kasayama which offers unrivalled panoramic views over Hagi’s beautiful coastline. Between December and April the Camellia Forest at the foot of the mountain flaunts its vibrant pink-red flowers over the 25,000 wild trees in the area. The camellia, native to the Hagi area, are in full bloom around the end of February when they start to form a petal-lined path up to the mountain.

Hagi

Yamaguchi Pref

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Hagi Castle Ruins

Yamaguchi Pref. Hagishi Horiuchi 1-1

0838253139

[Apr.- Oct.]8:00-18:30[Nov.-…

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Hagi Reverberatory Furnace

Yamaguchi Pref. Hagishi Tsubaki East 4897-7

open everyday

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Ryokan Hagihonjin

385-8 Chinto Hagi Yamaguchi

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Ohitayama Tatara Iron Works

Yamaguchi Pref. Hagishi Shibuki 10257-5 North side of Yamaguchi dam

0838530909

[Inside the ruins] Free stro…

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