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Yamaguchi in 3 nights / 4 days: east/centre or a western stay?

Stay one Iwakuni night, then two Shin-Yamaguchi nights to give pagoda and cave separate days. Visit the cave the day after moving hotels. For aquarium, market, tunnel and Akama Shrine, stay three Shimonoseki nights and return to the same hotel daily.

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Choose a 4 days / 3 nights itinerary

4 days / 3 nights A

Iwakuni, Yamaguchi City and cave

Stay one night near Iwakuni Station, then two near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Without continuing to Shimonoseki, allow time for the eastern bridge and central pagoda, cave and footbath.

Iwakuni, Yamaguchi City and cave →4 days / 3 nights B

Shimonoseki aquarium and strait

Stay three nights near Shimonoseki Station. Give indoor aquarium viewing and outdoor walks separate days, without travelling to the cave or Iwakuni.

Shimonoseki aquarium and strait →
4 days / 3 nights A

Iwakuni, Yamaguchi City and cave

Stay one night near Iwakuni Station, then two near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Without continuing to Shimonoseki, allow time for the eastern bridge and central pagoda, cave and footbath.

Day 1: Iwakuni Station → Kintaikyo/park → station

Visit Kintaikyo and the park from Iwakuni Station, then return to the station.

  1. Iwakuni Station → Kintaikyo and Kikko Park

    From Iwakuni stand 1, take a Kintaikyo-bound bus. Routes 11/21 via Muronoki (室の木) cost adults 300 yen one way, 600 return. Walk about one minute from Kintaikyo (錦帯橋) stop to the bridge entrance. Do not apply this fare to other routings.

    Official Kintaikyo informationIwakuni tourism transport informationIwakuni–Kintaikyo routes 11/21 faresCurrent Iwakuni bus fare lists

  2. Kintaikyo and Kikko Park entrance → Bridge/park viewing and meals

    Use the adult 500-yen bridge return ticket to cross the river, then walk about five minutes to Kikko Park. Official park guidance suggests about 30 minutes; allow a suggested 90–120 minutes for the bridge, park and lunch together. Ropeway and castle admission are extra.

    Official Kintaikyo informationIwakuni tourism transport informationKikko Park tourism informationIwakuni bus October changes

  3. Kintaikyo and Kikko Park → Iwakuni hotel

    Walk about five minutes back from park to bridge and cross with your return ticket. Walk another minute to the stop for an Iwakuni Station-bound bus, distinct from Shin-Iwakuni services. Stay in Iwakuni on this first night.

    Official Kintaikyo informationIwakuni tourism transport informationKikko Park tourism informationIwakuni bus October changes

Day 2: Iwakuni → Shin-Yamaguchi → Rurikoji → Shin-Yamaguchi

Move from Iwakuni to Shin-Yamaguchi, visit Rurikoji and return to Shin-Yamaguchi.

  1. Iwakuni Station and hotel → Yamaguchi Station and Rurikoji

    Travel by JR from Iwakuni to Shin-Yamaguchi. Sanyo Main Line local trains and Shinkansen from Shin-Iwakuni have different departure stations and fares; choose your route in official searches below. Take a Yamaguchi-bound local JR train from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi Station, a reference 25 minutes in city tourism guidance. Check the station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park on the official map, then walk about 25 minutes to Rurikoji. Before setting out, choose a return train allowing the walk back to the station.

    JR Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi accessOfficial prefectural guide: about 25 minutes on foot Yamaguchi Station–RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR train and fare search

  2. Rurikoji and Kozan Park entrance → Rurikoji and Kozan Park exterior views

    Allow 45–60 minutes for Rurikoji’s pagoda exterior and Kozan Park. Special interior visits with separate dates/booking conditions are excluded.

    JR Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi accessRurikoji ordinary viewing and prefectural-office walksRurikoji special interior-visit conditions

  3. Rurikoji and Yamaguchi Station → Shin-Yamaguchi hotel

    After viewing, walk back by the same route to Yamaguchi Station and take a Shin-Yamaguchi-bound local train. Choose a departure after viewing and station access, leaving time for your next journey after reaching Shin-Yamaguchi.

    JR Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi accessOfficial prefectural guide: about 25 minutes on foot Yamaguchi Station–RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR train and fare search

Day 3: Shin-Yamaguchi → Akiyoshi-do → same hotel

Make a return trip from Shin-Yamaguchi to Akiyoshi-do, then go back to the same hotel.

  1. Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Akiyoshi-do

    Take an Akiyoshi-do-bound Bocho bus from Shin-Yamaguchi north-side bus terminal stand 2. Choose outward and return services allowing cave viewing, lunch and a return to Shin-Yamaguchi. See the link below for the current official timetable.

    Current Bocho timetableOfficial Akiyoshi-do informationBocho timetable revised October 2026

  2. Akiyoshi-do entrance → Cave viewing and meals

    From Akiyoshi-do bus stop, walk through the shops to the front entrance. Follow the standard visitor passage, then retrace your route to the same entrance. Official viewing guidance suggests about 90 minutes; allow entrance access and lunch separately.

    Current Bocho timetableOfficial Akiyoshi-do informationBocho timetable revised October 2026

  3. Akiyoshi-do → Shin-Yamaguchi hotel

    Leave through the front entrance and walk through the shops to Akiyoshi-do bus stop. Return on a Shin-Yamaguchi Station-bound bus, allowing time to reach the stop. Stay in Shin-Yamaguchi tonight.

    Current Bocho timetableOfficial Akiyoshi-do informationBocho timetable revised October 2026

Day 4: Shin-Yamaguchi → Yuda footbath → station

Visit Yuda’s footbath from Shin-Yamaguchi, then return to the station.

  1. Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Yuda tourist-information footbath

    Take JR Yamaguchi Line towards Yamaguchi/Tsuwano from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yuda Onsen. Look up Shin-Yamaguchi-bound returns and fares too.

    Yuda footbath tourism informationYuda ryokan association footbath hoursCurrent Yuda ryokan association footbath list

  2. Yuda tourist-information footbath entrance → Footbath and nearby walks

    Walk about ten minutes from Yuda Onsen Station to tourist information. The free footbath opens 10:00–22:00. This course visits during information-centre hours, 10:00–18:00; allow 45–60 minutes for the footbath and nearby walks.

    Yuda footbath tourism informationYuda ryokan association footbath hoursCurrent Yuda ryokan association footbath list

  3. Yuda tourist-information footbath → Shin-Yamaguchi Station and hotel

    After the footbath, walk about ten minutes back to Yuda Onsen Station and take a Shin-Yamaguchi-bound train. For this final day, choose a return allowing station arrival and preparation for your onward departure.

    Yuda footbath tourism informationYuda ryokan association footbath hoursCurrent Yuda ryokan association footbath list

Partial total of checked items: 5,100–5,650 yen

Included: Kintaikyo 500 yen + seasonal Akiyoshi-do admission + free park/pagoda exterior/footbath. Iwakuni–Kintaikyo routes 11/21 bus 300 × 2. Adult JR: Iwakuni–Shin-Yamaguchi local train 1,690 + Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi 240 × 2 + Shin-Yamaguchi–Yuda Onsen 240 × 2 = 2,650, buying each section’s ticket separately.

Extra costs and conditions: Unverified Shin-Yamaguchi–Akiyoshi-do return Bocho bus fares are excluded. For Shinkansen, look up departure-station access and separate basic/limited-express charges; do not apply the local-train figures unchanged. Flights, accommodation, meals, arrival-station access, luggage storage, extra transport and activities are also separate.

Official Kintaikyo informationOfficial Akiyoshi-do informationKikko Park tourism informationRurikoji ordinary viewing and prefectural-office walksYuda footbath tourism informationYuda ryokan association footbath hoursIwakuni–Kintaikyo routes 11/21 faresCurrent Iwakuni bus fare listsBocho information officesJR train and fare searchJR Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi accessOfficial prefectural guide: about 25 minutes on foot Yamaguchi Station–RurikojiOfficial Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkOfficial adult local-JR section fares, checked 2026-10-09

4 days / 3 nights B

Shimonoseki aquarium and strait

Stay three nights near Shimonoseki Station. Give indoor aquarium viewing and outdoor walks separate days, without travelling to the cave or Iwakuni.

Day 1: Shimonoseki Station → Kaikyokan → station

Visit Kaikyokan from Shimonoseki Station, then return to the station.

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Kaikyokan Aquarium

    From Shimonoseki stands 1/2, take a regular Kokudo Line service numbered 10–24 stopping at Kaikyokan-mae (海響館前). Allow a reference five-minute ride and about three minutes on foot to the entrance. Semi-express routes 121/127 do not stop here.

    Official Kaikyokan accessCurrent Kokudo Line timetableSanden stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus stands

  2. Aquarium entrance → Aquarium viewing and meals

    Kaikyokan opens at 09:30, last admission 17:00. Allow two to three hours; choose shows from that day’s guidance. Adult admission of 2,500 yen and the bus return of 520 are included; meals and separate activities are excluded.

    Official Kaikyokan accessCurrent Kaikyokan feesCurrent Sanden Kokudo fares

  3. Kaikyokan Aquarium → Shimonoseki hotel

    Walk about three minutes back to Kaikyokan-mae for a regular Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. To see shows through to the end, plan their timing alongside your return. Stay in Shimonoseki.

    Official Kaikyokan accessCurrent Kokudo Line timetableSanden stops and walking access

Day 2: Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market → station

Visit Karato Market from Shimonoseki Station, then return to the station.

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market

    From Shimonoseki stands 1/2, take a Kokudo Line bus towards Karato (唐戸). Allow a reference seven-minute ride and about three minutes on foot from stop to market.

    Karato Market sushi-event operationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableSanden stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus stands

  2. Karato Market entrance → Market viewing and meals

    The sushi event starts Fridays/Saturdays at 09:00 and Sundays/Japanese public holidays at 08:00. Check event closing guidance and individual shop hours. Allow 90–120 minutes for dining and coastal walks. The adult bus return costs 520 yen; food costs extra. Swap aquarium/tunnel days if the event falls on another day.

    Official Karato Market informationKarato Market sushi-event operation

  3. Karato Market → Shimonoseki hotel

    Walk about three minutes back to Karato stop for a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. Check your chosen service’s stand among the officially listed 5/7; distinguish sightseeing-direction stand 6. Return to your Shimonoseki hotel.

    Current Kokudo Line timetableSanden stops and walking accessKarato return bus standsCurrent Sanden Kokudo fares

Day 3: Shimonoseki Station → tunnel return → station

Make a return tunnel walk from Shimonoseki Station, then return to the station.

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel

    From Shimonoseki stands 1/2, choose a regular Kokudo Line service numbered 10–24 stopping at Mimosusogawa (御裳川). Allow a reference 11-minute ride and about one minute on foot to the tunnel entrance. The adult bus return costs 600 yen.

    Official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access

  2. Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel entrance → Tunnel return walk

    Descend by lift, walk to the Moji side and return through the same undersea passage. Pedestrians enter free, 06:00–22:00. Allow a suggested 60–90 minutes for the 1.56-km return walk.

    Official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access

  3. Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel → Shimonoseki hotel

    Take the Shimonoseki-side lift up, then walk about one minute to Mimosusogawa stop. Return on a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus, distinct from Shin-Shimonoseki services. Spend your third Shimonoseki night here.

    Official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access

Day 4: Shimonoseki Station → Akama Shrine → station

Visit Akama Shrine from Shimonoseki Station, then return to the station.

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Akama Shrine Treasure Hall

    From Shimonoseki stands 1/2, choose a regular Kokudo Line service numbered 10–24 stopping at Akama-Jingu-mae (赤間神宮前). The operator gives a reference eight-minute ride, then about one minute on foot to the shrine.

    Akama Shrine tourism informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access

  2. Akama Treasure Hall entrance → Treasure Hall viewing

    Akama’s Treasure Hall opens 09:00–16:30 and costs 100 yen. Allow 45–60 minutes and visit within its opening hours.

    Akama Shrine tourism informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access

  3. Akama Shrine Treasure Hall → Shimonoseki Station and hotel

    After viewing, walk about one minute back to the shrine-front stop for a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus. The adult bus return costs 540 yen. Look up returns from this stop towards the station. This course ends at Shimonoseki; for Shin-Shimonoseki departures, add separate JR travel and fares.

    Akama Shrine tourism informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access

Partial total of checked items: 4,780 yen

Included: Kaikyokan 2,500 yen + Karato bus return 520 + aquarium bus return 520 + tunnel-access bus return 600 + shrine bus return 540 + Treasure Hall 100.

Extra costs and conditions: Specified regular Kokudo Line return buses for Shimonoseki sightseeing are included. Flights, accommodation, meals, airport/arrival-station access, luggage storage and unlisted extra transport/activities are separate.

Current Kaikyokan feesCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresOfficial Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel informationAkama Shrine tourism information

Frequently asked questions

Does the cave visit fall on the day I move from Iwakuni?

No. Day 2 moves Iwakuni–Shin-Yamaguchi and visits Rurikoji’s exterior. Visit the cave on Day 3 after a Shin-Yamaguchi night. This separates city travel from the cave return. Local Iwakuni–Shin-Yamaguchi 1,690 yen and Yamaguchi JR return 480 are included; cave-bound Bocho return fares are extra.

JR train and fare searchJR Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi accessBocho timetable revised October 2026Official adult local-JR section fares, checked 2026-10-09

Do all buses stop at Kaikyokan-mae?

Choose regular services numbered 10–24 stopping at Kaikyokan-mae. Semi-express 121/127 do not stop there. Marathons and other events may alter services/access; check current facility/operator notices.

Sanden stops and walking accessKaikyokan event traffic restrictions

Official sources and check dates