Yamaguchi in 3 days and 2 nights: change cities or stay in Shimonoseki?

Move from Iwakuni to Shin-Yamaguchi to visit Kintaikyo Bridge and the park, then Akiyoshido and Rurikoji’s pagoda. Alternatively, spend two nights in Shimonoseki to visit the market, tunnel and Treasure Hall on separate days. Course A includes the JPY 1,690 adult Iwakuni→Shin-Yamaguchi local-train fare. Add the return Bocho Bus fare to the cave separately.

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Choose a 2 nights, 3 days itinerary

2 nights, 3 days A

From the bridge to the cave and pagoda

Spend one night near Iwakuni Station, then one near Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Visit the bridge and cave before ending with the pagoda exterior on the final day.

Day 1 · Iwakuni Station → Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park → station

Iwakuni Station → Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park → station

  1. Iwakuni Station → Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park

    Take a bus to Kintaikyo Bridge from stand 1 at Iwakuni Station. Routes 11 and 21 via Muronoki (室の木) cost JPY 300 one way or JPY 600 return for adults. Walk about 1 minute from Kintaikyo (錦帯橋) stop to the bridge entrance. Do not apply this fare to routes travelling via other stops.

    Open Kintaikyo Bridge’s official guideIwakuni tourism transport guideIwakuni Station–Kintaikyo routes 11/21 fare tableIwakuni Bus current fare-table list

  2. Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park entrance → Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park visit and meal

    Cross the bridge with the JPY 500 adult return ticket, then walk about 5 minutes to Kikko Park. The official suggested park visit is about 30 minutes. Allow 90–120 minutes for the bridge, park and lunch. The ropeway and castle admission cost extra.

    Open Kintaikyo Bridge’s official guideIwakuni tourism transport guideTourism guide to Kikko ParkIwakuni Bus October changes

  3. Kintaikyo Bridge and Kikko Park → Accommodation in Iwakuni

    Walk about 5 minutes from Kikko Park back to the bridge and cross using your return ticket. Walk another minute to the bus stop and board for Iwakuni Station, distinguishing it from buses to Shin-Iwakuni Station. Stay in Iwakuni tonight.

    Open Kintaikyo Bridge’s official guideIwakuni tourism transport guideTourism guide to Kikko ParkIwakuni Bus October changes

Day 2 · Iwakuni → Shin-Yamaguchi → Akiyoshido → Shin-Yamaguchi

Iwakuni → Shin-Yamaguchi → Akiyoshido → Shin-Yamaguchi

  1. Iwakuni Station and accommodation → Akiyoshido

    Travel by JR from Iwakuni to Shin-Yamaguchi Station, then take an Akiyoshido-bound bus from north-terminal stand 2. Sanyo Main Line local trains and Shinkansen services departing Shin-Iwakuni use different departure stations and fares. Use official journey searches to choose the JR journey and both cave buses together. If there is insufficient time for the cave and lunch, move the cave to the final day and adjust your departure journey too.

    Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen Akiyoshido’s official guideBocho Bus October 2026 revised timetableJR journey and fare search

  2. Akiyoshido entrance → Akiyoshido visit and meal

    From Akiyoshido bus stop, walk through the shopping street to the front entrance. Follow the ordinary cave route out and back to the same entrance. The official suggested visiting time is about 90 minutes; allow extra time for the walk to the entrance and lunch.

    Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen Akiyoshido’s official guideBocho Bus October 2026 revised timetable

  3. Akiyoshido → Accommodation in Shin-Yamaguchi

    Leave through the front entrance and walk through the shopping street to Akiyoshido bus stop. Take a bus back to Shin-Yamaguchi Station. Choose a return service that allows time to reach the stop on foot. Stay in Shin-Yamaguchi tonight.

    Current Bocho Bus timetableOpen Akiyoshido’s official guideBocho Bus October 2026 revised timetable

Day 3 · Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Yamaguchi Station → Rurikoji → station

Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Yamaguchi Station → Rurikoji → station

  1. Shin-Yamaguchi Station → Yamaguchi Station and Rurikoji

    From Shin-Yamaguchi Station, take a JR Yamaguchi Line local train towards Yamaguchi and alight at Yamaguchi Station. The city’s tourism guide gives a journey time of about 25 minutes. Locate 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 that also allows time to walk back to the station.

    JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural travel guide · about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiYamaguchi City official map · station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR journey and fare search

  2. 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 visits inside the pagoda have separate dates and booking conditions and are excluded from this course.

    JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationRurikoji ordinary visits and walk from the prefectural officeRurikoji special interior-visit conditions

  3. Rurikoji and Yamaguchi Station → Shin-Yamaguchi Station and accommodation

    After visiting, retrace your walking route to Yamaguchi Station and take a JR Yamaguchi Line local train to Shin-Yamaguchi. Choose a train you can catch after the visit and walk, and allow time for your next journey after reaching Shin-Yamaguchi.

    JR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural travel guide · about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiYamaguchi City official map · station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkJR journey and fare search

Subtotal of confirmed items: JPY 4,620–5,170

Included: Kintaikyo Bridge JPY 500 + Akiyoshido JPY 1,350–1,900 + free park and pagoda exterior. Iwakuni Station–Kintaikyo buses 11/21: JPY 300 × 2. Adult JR fares: Iwakuni→Shin-Yamaguchi local train JPY 1,690 + Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi JPY 240 × 2, giving a JR subtotal of JPY 2,170 with separate tickets for each segment.

Extra costs and conditions: The return Bocho Bus fare between Shin-Yamaguchi and Akiyoshido remains unconfirmed and is excluded. If choosing the Shinkansen, check access to its departure station and both the basic fare and limited express charge separately; do not apply the local-train amount above. Flights, accommodation, meals, access to the arrival station, luggage storage, additional transport and activities also cost extra.

Open Kintaikyo Bridge’s official guideOpen Akiyoshido’s official guideTourism guide to Kikko ParkRurikoji ordinary visits and walk from the prefectural officeIwakuni Station–Kintaikyo routes 11/21 fare tableIwakuni Bus current fare-table listBocho Bus information centres and officesJR journey and fare searchJR access from Shin-Yamaguchi to Yamaguchi StationOfficial prefectural travel guide · about 25 minutes on foot from Yamaguchi Station to RurikojiYamaguchi City official map · station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan ParkOfficial JR adult local-train segment fares · searched 2026-10-09

2 nights, 3 days B

Market, underwater tunnel and Akama Shrine

Spend two nights near Shimonoseki Station. Stay in the same accommodation and give the strait’s food, walking and history a day each. Match the market visit to an event day.

Day 1 · Shimonoseki Station → meal at Karato → station

Shimonoseki Station → meal at Karato → station

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market

    From stand 1 or 2 at Shimonoseki Station, take a National Route Line bus towards Karato (唐戸). Allow about 7 minutes on the bus and a 3-minute walk from the stop to the market.

    Current National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus stands

  2. Karato Market entrance → Karato Market visit and meal

    The sushi event starts at 09:00 on Fridays and Saturdays, and 08:00 on Sundays and Japanese public holidays. Check the event’s closing notice and individual stalls’ hours. Allow 90–120 minutes for food and a waterfront walk. The adult return bus fare is JPY 520; food costs extra. Swap this day with the tunnel visit to match the event schedule.

    Open Karato Market’s official guideKarato Market sushi-event scheduleSanden Kotsu current National Route Line fares

  3. Karato Market → Accommodation in Shimonoseki

    Walk about 3 minutes back to Karato bus stop and board towards Shimonoseki Station. Check which of the officially listed stands 5 and 7 your chosen bus uses. Distinguish these from sightseeing-direction stand 6, then return to your Shimonoseki accommodation.

    Current National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessKarato return bus stands

Day 2 · Shimonoseki Station → Mimosusogawa → Kanmon Tunnel return walk

Shimonoseki Station → Mimosusogawa → Kanmon Tunnel return walk

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel

    From stand 1 or 2 at Shimonoseki Station, choose an ordinary National Route Line bus on routes 10–24 that stops at Mimosusogawa (御裳川). Allow about 11 minutes on the bus and a 1-minute walk to the pedestrian tunnel entrance. The adult return bus fare is JPY 600.

    Open the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel’s official guideCurrent National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus stands

  2. Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel entrance → Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel return walk

    Take the lift down, walk to the Moji side and return through the same underwater passage. Pedestrians enter free, from 06:00 to 22:00. Allow 60–90 minutes for the suggested 1.56 km return tunnel walk.

    Open the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel’s official guideCurrent National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access

  3. Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel → Accommodation in Shimonoseki

    Take the lift up on the Shimonoseki side and walk about 1 minute to Mimosusogawa bus stop. Return by bus to Shimonoseki Station, distinguishing it from services towards Shin-Shimonoseki. Return to the same Shimonoseki accommodation tonight.

    Open the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel’s official guideCurrent National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access

Day 3 · Shimonoseki Station → Akama Shrine Treasure Hall → station

Shimonoseki Station → Akama Shrine Treasure Hall → station

  1. Shimonoseki Station → Akama Shrine Treasure Hall

    From stand 1 or 2 at Shimonoseki Station, choose an ordinary National Route Line bus on routes 10–24 that stops at Akama Jingu-mae (赤間神宮前). The operator gives a journey time of about 8 minutes, followed by a 1-minute walk to the shrine.

    Tourism guide to Akama ShrineCurrent National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking accessShimonoseki Station bus stands

  2. Akama Shrine Treasure Hall entrance → Akama Shrine Treasure Hall visit

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

    Tourism guide to Akama ShrineCurrent National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access

  3. Akama Shrine Treasure Hall → Shimonoseki Station and accommodation

    After visiting the hall, walk about 1 minute back to the stop in front of the shrine and take a bus to Shimonoseki Station. The adult return bus fare is JPY 540. Search for station-bound services from this stop. This course ends at Shimonoseki Station; add a separate JR journey and fare if departing from Shin-Shimonoseki.

    Tourism guide to Akama ShrineCurrent National Route Line timetableSanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresSanden Kotsu stops and walking access

Subtotal of confirmed items: JPY 1,760

Included: The subtotal includes JPY 520 for Karato buses, JPY 600 for tunnel-access buses, JPY 540 for shrine-access buses and JPY 100 for the Treasure Hall.

Extra costs and conditions: Includes ordinary National Route Line return buses for the specified Shimonoseki sightseeing journeys. Flights, accommodation, meals, airport/arrival-station access, luggage storage, unlisted transport and activities cost extra.

Sanden Kotsu current National Route Line faresOpen the Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel’s official guideTourism guide to Akama Shrine

Frequently asked questions

Can I visit the cave on the day I move from Iwakuni?

After reaching Shin-Yamaguchi Station by JR, choose the cave bus and return service together. Allow about 90 minutes for the cave’s return visit plus entrance walks, lunch and bus waits. If arriving late, move the cave to the final day and adjust your departure too. The course subtotal includes JPY 1,690 adult Iwakuni→Shin-Yamaguchi local-train travel; add the return Bocho Bus fare separately.

Bocho Bus October 2026 revised timetableJR journey and fare searchOpen Akiyoshido’s official guideOfficial JR adult local-train segment fares · searched 2026-10-09

How should I divide the market, tunnel and shrine visits in Shimonoseki?

The two-night Shimonoseki course gives each of the market, tunnel and Akama Shrine a day. If the market event fits only day two, swap it with the tunnel visit. On the final day, return after the Treasure Hall by bus from in front of the shrine to Shimonoseki Station. Check the actual return departure at the shrine stop.

Open Karato Market’s official guideTourism guide to Akama ShrineCurrent National Route Line timetable

Official sources and check dates