Yamaguchi in two days: cave and pagoda, or market and tunnel
Stay in Shin-Yamaguchi for Akiyoshi-do and Rurikoji's pagoda, or Shimonoseki for Karato Market and the Kanmon tunnel. Match the market day to the sushi event. Late arrival or a morning departure on day two means reducing sightseeing.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days / 1 night
Cave and pagoda
Spend one night near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Visit the cave and pagoda on different days without moving accommodation to another city.
Cave and pagoda →2 days / 1 night BWeekend market and undersea tunnel
Spend one night near Shimonoseki Station. Choose this if day one is a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Japanese public holiday, with a market meal and strait walk on separate days.
Weekend market and undersea tunnel →Cave and pagoda
Spend one night near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Visit the cave and pagoda on different days without moving accommodation to another city.
Day 1 · Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Akiyoshi-do return trip
Visit Akiyoshi-do and return to Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
- Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Akiyoshi-do Cave
Take a Bocho Bus service to Akiyoshi-do from stand 2 at Shin-Yamaguchi Station's north bus terminal. Choose outward and return buses together so you can return after the cave visit and lunch. Check the official current timetable linked below.
Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen official Akiyoshi-do informationBocho Bus October 2026 revised timetable
- Akiyoshi-do entrance → Cave visit and a meal
From Akiyoshi-do bus stop, walk through the shopping street to the main entrance. Explore the standard route as a round trip returning to the same entrance. The official suggested visiting time is about 90 minutes; allow extra for the entrance walk and lunch.
Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen official Akiyoshi-do informationBocho Bus October 2026 revised timetable
- Akiyoshi-do Cave → Accommodation in Shin-Yamaguchi
Leave through the main entrance and walk through the shopping street to Akiyoshi-do bus stop. Take a Shin-Yamaguchi Station-bound bus. Choose a return allowing time to walk to the stop; stay in Shin-Yamaguchi tonight.
Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen official Akiyoshi-do informationBocho Bus October 2026 revised timetable
Day 2 · Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Rurikoji exterior → station
Visit Rurikoji's exterior and return to Shin-Yamaguchi Station.
- Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Yamaguchi Station and Rurikoji
Take a JR Yamaguchi Line local train towards Yamaguchi and get off at Yamaguchi Station. The city's tourism guide gives a ride time of about 25 minutes. Check Yamaguchi Station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park on the official city map, then walk about 25 minutes to Rurikoji. Before leaving, choose a return train allowing for the walk back to the station.
JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural tourism guide: approximately 25-minute walk from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR train and fare search
- Rurikoji and Kozan Park entrance → Rurikoji and Kozan Park exterior visit
Allow 45–60 minutes for the pagoda's exterior and Kozan Park. Special interior viewing, with separate dates and booking conditions, is excluded from this itinerary.
JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationStandard Rurikoji visit and walk from the prefectural officeRurikoji special interior viewing conditions
- Rurikoji and Yamaguchi Station → Shin-Yamaguchi Station and accommodation
After visiting, follow the same walking route back to Yamaguchi Station and take a JR Yamaguchi Line local train towards Shin-Yamaguchi. Choose a train after allowing for the pagoda visit and walk, with time for your next journey after reaching Shin-Yamaguchi.
JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural tourism guide: approximately 25-minute walk from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR train and fare search
Included: Seasonal Akiyoshi-do admission + free pagoda exterior visit. Adult JR local train fares: Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi (JPY 240 × 2 rides = JPY 480), buying separate tickets for each section.
Extra costs and conditions: The unconfirmed return Bocho Bus fare between Shin-Yamaguchi and Akiyoshi-do is excluded. If choosing the Shinkansen, look up travel to its departure station and the base-fare and limited-express tickets separately; do not use the local train fare above. Flights, accommodation, meals, travel to your arrival station, luggage storage, additional transport and activities cost extra.
Open official Akiyoshi-do informationStandard Rurikoji visit and walk from the prefectural officeBocho information desks and officesJR train and fare searchJR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural tourism guide: approximately 25-minute walk from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkOfficial JR adult local train section fares, searched 9 October 2026
Weekend market and undersea tunnel
Spend one night near Shimonoseki Station. Choose this if day one is a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Japanese public holiday, with a market meal and strait walk on separate days.
Day 1 · Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market → station
Visit Karato Market and return to Shimonoseki Station.
- Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market
From stand 1 or 2 at Shimonoseki Station, take a Kokudo Line bus towards Karato (唐戸). The ride takes about seven minutes, followed by about three minutes' walking to the market.
Karato Market sushi event operationsCurrent Kokudo Line timetableSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus stands
- Karato Market entrance → Market visit and a meal
The sushi event starts at 09:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 08:00 on Sundays and Japanese public holidays. Check event finishing notices and individual shop hours, allowing 90–120 minutes for a meal and coastal walk. Adult return buses cost JPY 520; food costs extra.
Open official Karato Market informationKarato Market sushi event operationsCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares
- Karato Market → Accommodation in Shimonoseki
Walk about three minutes back to Karato bus stop for a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. Check which of the official stands 5 or 7 your service uses. These differ from sightseeing-direction stand 6. Return to your Shimonoseki accommodation.
Current Kokudo Line timetableSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessKarato return bus stands
Day 2 · Shimonoseki Station → Kanmon tunnel return walk → station
Walk through the Kanmon pedestrian tunnel and return to Shimonoseki Station.
- Shimonoseki Station → Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel
From Shimonoseki Station stand 1 or 2, choose a regular Kokudo Line route 10–24 service stopping at Mimosusogawa (御裳川). The ride takes about 11 minutes, followed by about a one-minute walk to the pedestrian tunnel entrance. Adult return buses cost JPY 600.
Open official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access
- Kanmon pedestrian tunnel entrance → Return walk through the Kanmon pedestrian tunnel
Take the lift down, walk to the Moji side, then return through the same undersea passage. Pedestrians enter free; access is 06:00–22:00. Allowing 60–90 minutes for the 1.56 km round trip is a suggested walking plan.
Open official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access
- Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel → Shimonoseki Station and accommodation
Take the lift up on the Shimonoseki side and walk about one minute to Mimosusogawa bus stop. Return on a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus, distinguishing it from services towards Shin-Shimonoseki. On the final day, leave time after reaching the station to prepare for departure.
Open official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access
Included: Return Kokudo Line buses to Karato JPY 520 + return buses to Mimosusogawa JPY 600 + free pedestrian tunnel.
Extra costs and conditions: The specified Shimonoseki sightseeing journeys on regular Kokudo Line return buses are included. Flights, accommodation, meals, travel to the airport or arrival station, luggage storage, unlisted transport and activities cost extra.
Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresOpen official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel information
Frequently asked questions
Should I visit Kintaikyo and Akiyoshi-do in two days?
Choose one base rather than trying to fit in both. Kintaikyo is reached by bus from eastern Iwakuni; Akiyoshi-do by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi. The Shin-Yamaguchi itinerary gives the cave and pagoda a day each; the Shimonoseki itinerary separates the market and tunnel. To include Kintaikyo, compare trips of two nights or more starting in Iwakuni and moving to Shin-Yamaguchi.
Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen official Akiyoshi-do informationOpen official Kintaikyo informationOpen official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel information
Can I finish my trip in Moji after crossing the tunnel?
The current one-night Shimonoseki itinerary returns to the Shimonoseki side. Walking to Moji and back is 1.56 km within the tunnel alone. Return from the surface entrance to Mimosusogawa bus stop and take a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. To finish in Moji instead, rearrange luggage collection from Shimonoseki accommodation and travel to your next departure station.
Open official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel informationSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessCurrent Kokudo Line timetable
Official sources and dates checked
- Current Bocho Bus timetable ·
- Open official Akiyoshi-do information ·
- Open official Kintaikyo information ·
- Open official Karato Market information ·
- Karato Market sushi event operations ·
- Open official Kanmon pedestrian tunnel information ·
- Current Kokudo Line timetable ·
- Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares ·
- Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access ·
- Rurikoji special interior viewing conditions ·
- JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi Station ·
- Standard Rurikoji visit and walk from the prefectural office ·
- Shimonoseki Station bus stands ·
- Karato return bus stands ·
- Bocho information desks and offices ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Bocho Bus October 2026 revised timetable ·
- Official prefectural tourism guide: approximately 25-minute walk from Yamaguchi Station to Rurikoji ·
- Official Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park ·
- Official JR adult local train section fares, searched 9 October 2026 ·