Yamaguchi in 3 days: move cities or stay in Shimonoseki?

Take a Kintaikyo-bound bus from Iwakuni Station bay 1. Routes 11 and 21 via Muronoki (室の木) cost JPY 300 one way or JPY 600 return for adults. Walk about one minute from Kintaikyo (錦帯橋) stop to the bridge entrance. Other routings may have different fares.

Open the official Kintaikyo Bridge guide2026-10-08Iwakuni tourism transport guide2026-10-08Iwakuni Station–Kintaikyo fares for routes 11 and 212026-10-08Iwakuni Bus current fare tables2026-10-08

Use the JPY 500 adult return bridge ticket to cross the river, then walk about five minutes to Kikko Park. The park’s official visiting estimate is about 30 minutes. Allow 90–120 minutes for bridge, park and lunch together. Ropeway and castle admission cost extra.

Open the official Kintaikyo Bridge guide2026-10-08Iwakuni tourism transport guide2026-10-08Kikko Park tourism guide2026-10-08Iwakuni Bus October changes2026-10-08

Walk about five minutes from the park back to the bridge and cross with your return ticket. Walk another minute to the stop and take an Iwakuni Station-bound bus, distinguishing Shin-Iwakuni-bound services. Stay in Iwakuni tonight.

Open the official Kintaikyo Bridge guide2026-10-08Iwakuni tourism transport guide2026-10-08Kikko Park tourism guide2026-10-08Iwakuni Bus October changes2026-10-08

Travel by JR from Iwakuni to Shin-Yamaguchi, then take an Akiyoshido-bound bus from north terminal bay 2. Sanyo Main Line local trains and Shinkansen from Shin-Iwakuni have different departure stations and fares. Choose JR travel and both cave buses together using the official search. If there is too little time for the visit and lunch, move the cave to the final day and adjust your onward departure as well.

Current Bocho bus timetable2026-10-08Open the official Akiyoshido guide2026-10-08Bocho bus timetable revised in October 20262026-10-08JR train and fare search2026-10-08

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 timetable2026-10-08Open the official Akiyoshido guide2026-10-08Bocho bus timetable revised in October 20262026-10-08

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 timetable2026-10-08Open the official Akiyoshido guide2026-10-08Bocho bus timetable revised in October 20262026-10-08

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 Station2026-10-08Official prefectural travel guide: about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to Rurikoji2026-10-09Official Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park2026-10-09JR train and fare search2026-10-08

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 Station2026-10-08Rurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural office2026-10-08Rurikoji special interior visit conditions2026-10-08

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 Station2026-10-08Official prefectural travel guide: about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to Rurikoji2026-10-09Official Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park2026-10-09JR train and fare search2026-10-08

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.

Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08Shimonoseki Station bus bays2026-10-08

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. Swap dates with the tunnel visit to match the event days.

Open the official Karato Market guide2026-10-08Karato Market sushi event schedule2026-10-08Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09

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 timetable2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08Karato return bus bays2026-10-08

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 guide2026-10-08Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08Shimonoseki Station bus bays2026-10-08

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 guide2026-10-08Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08

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. Return to the same Shimonoseki accommodation tonight.

Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guide2026-10-08Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08

From Shimonoseki Station bay 1 or 2, choose an ordinary Kokudo Line route 10–24 stopping at Akama Jingu-mae (赤間神宮前). The operator’s reference ride is about eight minutes, followed by about one minute on foot to the shrine.

Akama Shrine tourism guide2026-10-08Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08Shimonoseki Station bus bays2026-10-08

The treasure hall opens 09:00–16:30, with admission of JPY 100. Allow 45–60 minutes to visit, within its opening hours.

Akama Shrine tourism guide2026-10-08Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08

Walk about one minute back to the shrine-front stop, then take a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. Adult return buses cost JPY 540. Search station-bound services from this stop. The route ends at Shimonoseki Station; add separate JR travel and fares if departing from Shin-Shimonoseki.

Akama Shrine tourism guide2026-10-08Current Kokudo Line timetable2026-10-09Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares2026-10-09Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access2026-10-08