Yamaguchi attractions: cave, bridge, market and strait prices and access
Choose Akiyoshido to walk among cave formations, or Iwakuni's Kintaikyo Bridge for wooden arches and a walk to the park. For sushi and a stroll by the strait, visit Karato Market on an event day. Choose Kaikyokan in Shimonoseki for marine life, or the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel to walk beneath the sea. Rurikoji Five-Story Pagoda and the Yuda Onsen footbath are separate visits in central Yamaguchi.
Choose attractions independently of an itinerary
Akiyoshi-do Cave
秋芳洞
Walk Akiyoshido’s cave passage to see limestone formations such as Hyakumaizara and the Golden Pillar. Allow about 90 minutes for the paid visit returning to the main entrance. For another exit, plan your return route separately. Choose footwear for slippery floors and steps.
- AdmissionHigh school students and older: ¥1,600 at the regular rate; ¥1,900 during the 2026 peak periods of April 27–May 7 and July 1–August 31; ¥1,350 from December to February. Junior high school students: ¥1,300 at the regular and peak rates, or ¥1,050 in the low season. Elementary school students: ¥850, or ¥700 in the low season.
- Hours and closuresEntry is normally 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m., extending to 5:30 p.m. from July to September. On specified Golden Week and Obon dates, entry is 8:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Entry through the Kurotani and elevator entrances ends at 4:30 p.m. year-round. Open daily.
- Getting thereTake a Bocho bus bound for Akiyoshido from bay 2 at Shin-Yamaguchi Station's north bus terminal. From the Akiyoshido stop, walk through the shopping street to the main entrance. Allow about 90 minutes to visit the cave and return through the same entrance, plus time for lunch and the walk to the bus stop. Take a Shin-Yamaguchi Station-bound bus back from the same stop. Check the operator's outward and return services, last return bus and fares for your travel date. This bus fare is excluded from the itinerary subtotal.
Open the official Akiyoshido guideBocho bus timetable revised in October 2026Current Bocho bus timetable
Kintaikyo Bridge
錦帯橋
Cross the wooden arches for views of both riverbanks. The bridge has steps, and its surface can be slippery in rain or snow.
- AdmissionReturn tickets cost ¥500 for junior high school students and older and ¥250 for elementary school students. Preschool children cross free. There is no one-way rate. The adult combination ticket for the bridge, ropeway and Iwakuni Castle is ¥1,550.
- Hours and closuresThe ticket office is normally open 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., extending to 6:00 p.m. in the tourist season and 7:00 p.m. in summer. You can cross 24 hours a day; use the payment box when the office is unattended. High river levels, heavy rain or strong winds may close the bridge.
- Getting thereTake a Kintaikyo-bound bus from bay 1 at Iwakuni Station; the ride takes about 20 minutes. Walk about a minute from the Kintaikyo (錦帯橋) stop to the bridge. Routes 11 and 21 via Muronoki (室の木) cost ¥300 one way or ¥600 return per adult; check fares separately for routes via other stops. Buses from Shin-Iwakuni Station take about 15 minutes and provide a different approach.
Open the official Kintaikyo Bridge guideIwakuni tourism transport guideIwakuni Station–Kintaikyo fares for routes 11 and 21Iwakuni Bus current fare tables
Karato Market
唐戸市場
Visit Karato Market's sushi event on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Japanese public holiday if you want to choose sushi for lunch. The fish market's general business hours differ from the sushi event's days and hours.
- AdmissionFood costs depend on the stalls you choose and how much you buy.
- Hours and closuresThe sushi event runs Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese public holidays. From May 15, 2026, it starts at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 8:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays. Closing times and temporary schedules vary by stall; check the notice for your visit date. The event does not run Monday–Thursday unless it is a Japanese public holiday.
- Getting thereTake a Karato-bound bus from Shimonoseki Station, get off at Karato (唐戸) and walk to the market. The operator lists a roughly 7-minute Kokudo Line ride from station bays 1 or 2, followed by a 3-minute walk. The regular adult fare is ¥260 one way. Use the Shimonoseki Station-bound stop for your return.
Open the official Karato Market guideKarato Market sushi event scheduleSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line faresShimonoseki Station bus bays
Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel
関門トンネル人道
Walk through the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel to cross beneath the sea from Yamaguchi Prefecture to Fukuoka Prefecture. Use the pedestrian entrance, which is separate from the road and JR rail tunnels.
- AdmissionFree for pedestrians. Bicycles and mopeds cost ¥20 and must be pushed through the tunnel.
- Hours and closuresOpen daily, 6:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Check for facility changes and access restrictions before visiting.
- Getting thereTake the elevator down at the Shimonoseki pedestrian entrance and walk through the 780-metre tunnel. Going to Moji and back is 1.56 kilometres within the tunnel alone. From Shimonoseki Station, take a Kokudo Line bus to Mimosusogawa (御裳川), then walk about a minute to the entrance. Use bay 6 when leaving from Karato. The regular adult fare is ¥300 one way; buses leave station bays 1 and 2. Before setting out, check both services for your travel date and the location of the return stop at Mimosusogawa.
Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guideSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares
Kikko Park
吉香公園
Walk about five minutes beyond Kintaikyo Bridge to reach Kikko Park. It makes an easy addition if you want a park walk after crossing the bridge. Admission is free, and the official guide suggests about 30 minutes for a visit.
- AdmissionFree admission.
- Hours and closuresOpen 24 hours, with no regular closures. No reservation required.
- Getting there and backCross Kintaikyo Bridge and walk about five minutes towards the park. From Iwakuni Station, take a Kintaikyo-bound bus first.
Rurikoji Temple's Five-storied Pagoda
瑠璃光寺五重塔
See the pagoda's architecture and the grounds of Kozan Park. Regular exterior viewing is free; allow 45–60 minutes for the pagoda and park. Special interior visits are a separate paid program on specified dates. Allow additional time for the JR ride, waiting and meals.
- AdmissionRegular exterior viewing is free. Special interior visits cost ¥1,700 separately and are excluded from the basic itinerary.
- Hours and closuresExterior viewing and the tourist information centre have different hours. The centre in front of Kozan Park is open 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; illumination runs from sunset to 10:00 p.m. Special interior visits operate only on specified dates and time slots.
- Getting there and backFrom Shin-Yamaguchi Station, take a local JR Yamaguchi Line train towards Yamaguchi and get off at Yamaguchi Station. The city's tourism guide gives a roughly 25-minute ride. Use the official city map to locate the station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park, then walk about 25 minutes to Rurikoji. Before leaving, choose a return train that allows time to walk back to the station. Retrace your walking route after visiting and take a local JR Yamaguchi Line train towards Shin-Yamaguchi. Leave enough time to finish sightseeing and the walk, and allow for your next connection after reaching Shin-Yamaguchi. The adult local-train fare is ¥240 one way or ¥480 return, included in subtotals for itineraries using this section. Look up outward and return departures for your travel date.
Rurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural officeRurikoji special interior visit conditionsOpen the official guideJR 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 searchOfficial JR adult local-train fares by section: checked October 9, 2026
Akama-jingu Shrine
赤間神宮
Pass through the red Suitenmon gate to visit the shrine, then see records of the Genpei War and other exhibits in the treasure hall. Allow 45–60 minutes for the paid hall visit and approach to the entrance, plus bus waiting time.
- AdmissionTreasure hall admission is ¥100. The cost table includes the hall and return bus fares.
- Hours and closuresThe treasure hall is listed as open daily, 9:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m. This itinerary visits within those hours.
- Getting there and backFrom Shimonoseki Station, take a Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line bus on routes 10–24 towards Akama Jingu-mae (赤間神宮前), then walk about a minute. The operator gives a roughly 8-minute ride; the regular adult fare is ¥270 one way. Return from the stop of the same name serving Shimonoseki Station-bound buses.
Akama Shrine tourism guideSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares
Kaikyokan Aquarium
海響館
Compare different kinds of pufferfish and see other marine life. Allow 2–3 hours for the exhibits; if you want to see a performance, plan around that day's schedule. Hands-on programs have their own application conditions, separate from general admission.
- AdmissionGeneral admission costs ¥2,500 for high school students and older, ¥1,200 for elementary and junior high school students and ¥500 for preschool children aged 3 and older. Special activities cost extra.
- Hours and closuresNormally open daily, 9:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m., with last entry at 5:00 p.m. Maintenance, weather or animal conditions may change the schedule.
- Getting there and backTake a regular Kokudo Line bus on routes 10–24 from Shimonoseki Station to Kaikyokan-mae (海響館前), then walk about three minutes. The ride takes about five minutes and the regular adult fare is ¥260 one way. Semi-express routes 121 and 127 do not stop here; choose a regular bus serving Kaikyokan-mae. Return on a regular station-bound bus.
Current Kaikyokan admission pricesKaikyokan official access guideSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessCurrent Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares
Yuda Onsen Tourist Information Center Footbath
湯田温泉観光案内所前足湯
Rest your feet in the free footbath outside the tourist information centre. Allow 45–60 minutes for the footbath and a nearby walk. This is separate from a full-body hot-spring bath; on your last day, leave enough time between the return train and your onward departure.
- AdmissionThe footbath is free. Towels, meals, cafés and footbaths at other facilities are separate costs.
- Hours and closuresThe tourist information centre is open daily, 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Its outdoor free footbath is open 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. This itinerary plans a visit between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., while the centre is open.
- Getting there and backFrom Shin-Yamaguchi Station, take the JR Yamaguchi Line towards Yamaguchi or Tsuwano to Yuda Onsen Station (湯田温泉駅), then walk about 10 minutes to the tourist information centre. Return from the same station on a Shin-Yamaguchi-bound train. The adult local-train fare is ¥240 one way or ¥480 return, included in subtotals for itineraries using this section. Look up outward and return departures for your travel date.
Yuda Onsen footbath tourism guideYuda Onsen ryokan association footbath hoursYuda Onsen ryokan association's current footbath listOfficial JR adult local-train fares by section: checked October 9, 2026
Frequently asked questions
Does Akiyoshido admission change by date?
Individual admission for high school students and older is normally ¥1,600, or ¥1,350 from December to February. It is ¥1,900 on April 27–May 7 and July 1–August 31, 2026. Peak periods for hours and prices differ; check both for your visit date.
Does the ¥500 Kintaikyo ticket include the ropeway and castle?
The ¥500 ticket is an individual bridge return ticket for junior high school students and older. The adult combination ticket including the ropeway and Iwakuni Castle costs ¥1,550 separately. The current basic itinerary cost includes the bridge only.
Does Karato Market's sushi event run on weekdays?
It runs Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Japanese public holidays. Do not plan it on Monday–Thursday unless it is a Japanese public holiday. From May 15, 2026, it starts at 9:00 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 8:00 a.m. on Sundays and holidays. Check individual stalls' arrangements and the closing notice for your visit date.
Open the official Karato Market guideKarato Market sushi event schedule
Is viewing inside the pagoda free too?
Regular exterior viewing at Rurikoji is free. Special interior visits in October–December 2026 cost ¥1,700 separately and have specified dates, time slots and reservation conditions. The basic itineraries include exterior viewing only.
Rurikoji special interior visit conditionsRurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural office
When does the footbath open?
The free footbath outside the tourist information centre is open 10:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. The centre itself is open 9:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; this itinerary visits between 10:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Other footbaths and regular bathhouses have their own hours and prices.
Yuda Onsen footbath tourism guideYuda Onsen ryokan association footbath hoursYuda Onsen ryokan association's current footbath list
Official sources and check dates
- Current Bocho bus timetable ·
- Open the official Akiyoshido guide ·
- Open the official Kintaikyo Bridge guide ·
- Iwakuni tourism transport guide ·
- Open the official Karato Market guide ·
- Karato Market sushi event schedule ·
- Open the official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel guide ·
- Kikko Park tourism guide ·
- Open the official guide ·
- Akama Shrine tourism guide ·
- Kaikyokan official access guide ·
- Yuda Onsen footbath tourism guide ·
- Current Kaikyokan admission prices ·
- Current Sanden Kotsu Kokudo Line fares ·
- Sanden Kotsu stops and walking access ·
- Rurikoji special interior visit conditions ·
- Yuda Onsen ryokan association footbath hours ·
- JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi Station ·
- Rurikoji general visits and walk from the prefectural office ·
- Shimonoseki Station bus bays ·
- Iwakuni Station–Kintaikyo fares for routes 11 and 21 ·
- Iwakuni Bus current fare tables ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Bocho bus timetable revised in October 2026 ·
- JR Sanyo-San'in Area Pass prices and covered trains ·
- JR-WEST All Area Pass prices and covered trains ·
- 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 ·
- Yuda Onsen ryokan association's current footbath list ·