[Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture] We introduce you to Hagi Castle Town, where the beautiful streetscape from the Edo period remains!

• Table of Contents
• What is Hagi Castle Town?
• ① Edoya Yokocho - A charming street lined with black burnt cedar fences
• ② Enseiji Temple – Don’t miss the large Tengu mask!
• 3. Kikuya Residence - The residence of the Kikuya family, who were official merchants of the Hagi domain [Nationally designated important cultural property]
• ④Kikuya Yokocho – A view representative of Hagi that has been selected as one of the 100 best roads in Japan!
• ⑤Hagi City Cultural Assets Facilities - Former Residence of Takayoshi Kido, Former Residence of Shusuke Aoki, Former Residence of the Kubota Family
• Hagi Castle Town Access Information

What is Hagi Castle Town?

Hagi City in Yamaguchi Prefecture is a charming town that still retains the atmosphere of the Edo period, when samurai lived.

Hagi City retains so much of its landscape from the Edo period, about 400 years ago, that it is said that maps from that time could still be used today.

The " Hagi Castle Town " spreads outward from the outer moat of the old Hagi Castle, and the town streets are laid out in a grid pattern. During the Edo period, the area was lined with merchant houses, as well as middle- and lower-class samurai residences and townhouses.

The streets remain the same to this day, and walking through the castle town you can feel the atmosphere of the past when the samurai lived, with its white walls, namako walls, black board fences, and samurai residences.

This time, we will introduce 5 recommended spots in the castle town where the streetscape from the Edo period remains. Please enjoy the castle town of Hagi, which has maintained its beauty unchanged since the age of the samurai!

① Edoya Yokocho - A charming street lined with black burnt cedar fences

Edoya Yokocho is a charming street lined with black wooden fences made from burnt cedar.

The street is dotted with the former home of Kido Takayoshi, one of the three great men of the Meiji Restoration, the former home of Aoki Shusuke, a doctor of Western medicine, and Enseiji Temple, which is associated with Meiji Restoration patriots Takasugi Shinsaku and Ito Hirobumi.

People are saying that if you take a photo in this alley, it feels like you've traveled back in time to the age of the samurai!

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Edoya Yokocho

② Enseiji Temple – Don’t miss the large Tengu mask!

Enseiji Temple is a rare temple where you can see the syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism, with the Shinto Konpira Shrine on its grounds. It is also known as the place where the Meiji Restoration heroes Takasugi Shinsaku and Ito Hirobumi studied as children.

Within the grounds there is a large and impressive mask of Tengu, a Japanese monster !

It is said that Takasugi Shinsaku was sickly as a child, so his mother showed him this Tengu mask to encourage him.

Why don't you come and meet some ancient Japanese monsters?

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Enseiji Temple

3. Kikuya Residence - The residence of the Kikuya family, who were official merchants of the Hagi domain [Nationally designated important cultural property]

This is the mansion of the wealthy Kikuya family, who supported the Hagi domain as its official merchants. Built in the early Edo period, it is one of the oldest surviving large town houses, with a history of 400 years.

Not only is the splendid mansion, which also served as a sort of guesthouse to entertain distinguished guests of the domain, but the beautiful garden is also a popular and memorable spot!

Every year, during the beautiful seasons of fresh greenery in May and autumn leaves in November, the 1,690m2 dry landscape garden, which is usually closed to the public, is specially opened to the public! You can especially enjoy strolling through the colorful garden in autumn.

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Kikuya Residence

④Kikuya Yokocho – A view representative of Hagi that has been selected as one of the 100 best roads in Japan!

Kikuya Yokocho is a representative street in the castle town that still retains the townscape from the Edo period, and is characterized by its beautiful white walls and namako walls.

On sunny days, this alley is dazzlingly beautiful as the sunlight reflects off it, and it has been selected as one of the " 100 Best Roads in Japan ." You can really feel the atmosphere of Hagi here!

The street is home to the Kikuya family, a wealthy merchant family of the feudal domain, as well as the birthplace of Takasugi Shinsaku, a revolutionary figure of the late Edo period.

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Kikuya Yokocho

Kikuya Alley

758-0077 21-2 Minamikohagicho, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

A side street that retains the scenery unique to a castle town and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Roads The castle town that s...

⑤Hagi City Cultural Assets Facilities - Former Residence of Takayoshi Kido, Former Residence of Shusuke Aoki, Former Residence of the Kubota Family

In the castle town of Hagi Castle, there are three Hagi City Cultural Property Facilities open to the public, where you can tour Japanese houses from the Edo period.

Why not experience the atmosphere of the time when samurai, doctors, and merchants lived in the Edo period?

Former Residence of Kido Takayoshi

This is the former home of Takayoshi Kido, who was also known as Kogoro Katsura and was one of the "Three Great Men of the Meiji Restoration."

The two-story wooden, tiled roof house where he spent the 20 years or so since his birth until he moved to Edo is a great place to visit. Inside you can see the room where he was born, hanging scrolls with mounted calligraphy from his childhood as a child, and photographs.

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Former Residence of Kido Takayoshi

Former Aoki Shusuke Residence 

This is the former home of Aoki Shusuke, who served as the personal physician to the 13th feudal lord, Mori Yoshichika. At the time, Aoki Shusuke was one of Japan's leading doctors of Western medicine. The main house is divided into rooms for guests and family members, which tells the story of the Aoki family, who gathered disciples from all over the country.

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Former Aoki Shusuke Residence

Former Kubota Family Residence

The Kubota family ran a kimono business and sake brewing business, and the building was constructed between the late Edo period and the early Meiji period. With excellent design, structure, and craftsmanship, it well conveys the prosperity of the sake brewing industry in the past, and is an important building that constitutes the historic site of Hagi Castle town. The building's details, such as the elaborately designed transoms and ceilings, and the veranda made of large zelkova boards, are also worth checking out!

Hagi City Tourism Association website: Former Kubota Family Residence

Hagi Castle Town Access Information

Above, we have introduced some recommended spots in Hagi Castle town.

We look forward to seeing you in the castle town!

Hagi Castle Town : Address: 1-chome, Gofukumachi, Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture

*Access to Hagi City: Please check here

Access from the nearest station: 30 minutes on foot from JR Higashi-Hagi Station or take the Hagi City Loop Line Maru Bus westbound from the "Higashi-Hagi Station" bus stop and get off at the "Hagi Museum Urakami Memorial Hall/Hagi Castle Castle Town Entrance" bus stop (approximately 20 minutes)

For inquiries, please contact the Hagi City Tourism Association at 0838-25-1750.

website:：https://www.hagishi.com/en/