Yamaguchi in 2 days: cave and pagoda or market and tunnel
Stay near Shin-Yamaguchi for Akiyoshido and Rurikoji Five-Story Pagoda, or in Shimonoseki for Karato Market and the Kanmon undersea tunnel. Schedule the market for a sushi event day. Reduce the sights if you arrive late or leave on the second morning.
Choose a 2 days, 1 night itinerary
Cave and five-storey pagoda
Stay one night near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Visit the cave and pagoda on separate days, without moving accommodation to another city.
Cave and five-storey pagoda →2 days, 1 night BWeekend market and undersea tunnel
Stay one night near Shimonoseki Station. Choose this route when day one is Friday, Saturday, Sunday or a Japanese public holiday, with separate market meals and strait walks.
Weekend market and undersea tunnel →Cave and five-storey pagoda
Stay one night near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Visit the cave and pagoda on separate days, without moving accommodation to another city.
Day 1: Shin-Yamaguchi Station to Akiyoshido and back
Shin-Yamaguchi Station to Akiyoshido and back
- Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Akiyoshi-do Cave
Take an Akiyoshido-bound Bocho bus from bay 2 at Shin-Yamaguchi Station’s north bus terminal. Choose outbound and return services together to allow the cave visit and lunch before returning. Check the current official timetable at the link below.
Current Bocho bus timetableOpen the official Akiyoshido guideBocho bus timetable revised in October 2026
- Akiyoshido entrance → Akiyoshido visit and meal
From Akiyoshido stop, walk through the shopping street to the main entrance. Follow the ordinary cave route and return to the same entrance. The official visiting estimate is about 90 minutes; allow extra time for the entrance approach and lunch.
Current Bocho bus timetableOpen the official Akiyoshido guideBocho bus timetable revised in October 2026
- Akiyoshi-do Cave → Shin-Yamaguchi accommodation
Leave by the main entrance, walk through the shopping street to Akiyoshido stop and take a Shin-Yamaguchi Station-bound bus. Choose a return bus that leaves time to walk to the stop. Stay in Shin-Yamaguchi tonight.
Current Bocho bus timetableOpen the official Akiyoshido guideBocho bus timetable revised in October 2026
Day 2: Shin-Yamaguchi Station, Rurikoji exterior and return to the station
Shin-Yamaguchi Station, Rurikoji exterior and return to the station
- Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Yamaguchi Station and Rurikoji
Take a Yamaguchi-bound local JR Yamaguchi Line train from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi Station. The city tourism guide gives a ride of about 25 minutes. Locate Yamaguchi Station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park on the official city map, then walk about 25 minutes from the station to Rurikoji. Choose a return train before leaving, allowing time for the walk back.
JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural travel guide: about 25 minutes on foot 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 Rurikoji’s five-storey pagoda exterior and Kozan Park. Special pagoda interior visits with separate dates and booking conditions are excluded.
JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationRurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural officeRurikoji special interior visit conditions
- Rurikoji and Yamaguchi Station → Shin-Yamaguchi Station and accommodation
Retrace your walking route to Yamaguchi Station, then take a Shin-Yamaguchi-bound local JR Yamaguchi Line train. Choose a departure after the visit and station walk, leaving time for onward travel after arrival in Shin-Yamaguchi.
JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural travel guide: about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR train and fare search
Included: Seasonal Akiyoshido admission and free pagoda exterior. Adult JR fares: local Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi JPY 240 × 2 = JPY 480, based on buying separate tickets for each section.
Extra costs and conditions: The Shin-Yamaguchi–Akiyoshido return Bocho bus fare is unconfirmed and excluded from the partial total. For Shinkansen travel, look up access to the departure station and basic and limited express ticket costs separately; do not apply the local train fare above unchanged. Flights, accommodation, meals, travel to your arrival station, luggage storage, extra transport and activities are separate.
Open the official Akiyoshido guideRurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural officeBocho information desks and officesJR train and fare searchJR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural travel guide: about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkOfficial JR adult local-train fares by section: checked October 9, 2026
Weekend market and undersea tunnel
Stay one night near Shimonoseki Station. Choose this route when day one is Friday, Saturday, Sunday or a Japanese public holiday, with separate market meals and strait walks.
Day 1: Shimonoseki Station, Karato Market and station return
Shimonoseki Station, Karato Market and station return
- Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market
Take a Kokudo Line bus towards Karato (唐戸) from Shimonoseki Station bay 1 or 2. The reference ride is about seven minutes, followed by about three minutes on foot to the market.
Karato Market sushi event scheduleCurrent Kokudo Line timetableSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus bays
- Karato Market entrance → Karato Market visit and meal
The sushi event starts at 09:00 Fridays and Saturdays, or 08:00 Sundays and Japanese public holidays. Check event closing guidance and individual stalls’ hours. Allow 90–120 minutes for meals and a waterfront walk. Adult return buses cost JPY 520; food is separate.
Open the official Karato Market guideKarato Market sushi event scheduleCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares
- Karato Market → Shimonoseki accommodation
Walk about three minutes back to Karato stop and take a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. Confirm your service’s boarding point among official bays 5 and 7, distinguishing sightseeing-bound bay 6. Return to your Shimonoseki accommodation.
Current Kokudo Line timetableSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessKarato return bus bays
Day 2: Shimonoseki Station, Kanmon pedestrian tunnel return walk and station
Shimonoseki Station, Kanmon pedestrian tunnel return walk and station
- Shimonoseki Station → Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel
From Shimonoseki Station bay 1 or 2, choose an ordinary Kokudo Line route 10–24 stopping at Mimosusogawa (御裳川). The reference ride is about 11 minutes, then about one minute on foot to the tunnel entrance. Adult return buses cost JPY 600.
Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guideCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access
- Kanmon pedestrian tunnel entrance → Kanmon pedestrian tunnel return walk
Take the elevator down, walk to the Moji side and return through the same undersea passage. Pedestrians enter free, 06:00–22:00. Allow 60–90 minutes for the suggested 1.56 km return walk.
Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guideCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access
- Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel → Shimonoseki Station and accommodation
Take the Shimonoseki-side elevator up and walk about one minute to Mimosusogawa stop. Return by Shimonoseki Station-bound bus, distinguishing services towards Shin-Shimonoseki. On your final day, allow departure preparation time after reaching the station as well.
Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guideCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access
Included: Karato Kokudo Line return JPY 520, Mimosusogawa Kokudo Line return JPY 600 and free pedestrian tunnel.
Extra costs and conditions: Ordinary Kokudo Line return buses for the specified Shimonoseki sightseeing sections are included. Flights, accommodation, meals, airport/arrival-station access, luggage storage, extra transport outside the table and activities cost extra.
Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresOpen the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guide
Frequently asked questions
Should I visit Kintaikyo Bridge and Akiyoshido in two days?
We suggest choosing one base rather than fitting in both. Reach Kintaikyo by bus from Iwakuni Station in the east, and Akiyoshido by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi Station. The Shin-Yamaguchi itinerary visits the cave and Rurikoji Five-Story Pagoda on separate days; the Shimonoseki itinerary does the same for the market and Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel. To add Kintaikyo, compare itineraries of at least three days that start in Iwakuni and move your accommodation to Shin-Yamaguchi.
Current Bocho bus timetableOpen the official Akiyoshido guideOpen the official Kintaikyo Bridge guideOpen the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guide
Can I cross the Kanmon tunnel and finish in Moji?
The current 2-day Shimonoseki itinerary returns to the Shimonoseki side. Walking to Moji and back covers 1.56 kilometres in the tunnel alone. Return from the ground-level entrance to Mimosusogawa and take a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. To finish in Moji, replan collection of luggage left at your Shimonoseki hotel and transport to your next departure station.
Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guideSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessCurrent Kokudo Line timetable
Official sources and check dates
- Current Bocho bus timetable ·
- Open the official Akiyoshido guide ·
- Open the official Kintaikyo Bridge guide ·
- Open the official Karato Market guide ·
- Karato Market sushi event schedule ·
- Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guide ·
- Current Kokudo Line timetable ·
- Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares ·
- Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access ·
- Rurikoji special interior visit conditions ·
- JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi Station ·
- Rurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural office ·
- Shimonoseki Station bus bays ·
- Karato return bus bays ·
- Bocho information desks and offices ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Bocho bus timetable revised in October 2026 ·
- Official prefectural travel guide: about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to Rurikoji ·
- Official Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park ·
- Official JR adult local-train fares by section: checked October 9, 2026 ·