Yamaguchi in 1 night / 2 days: cave/pagoda or market/tunnel
Stay in Shin-Yamaguchi for Akiyoshi-do and Rurikoji’s pagoda, or Shimonoseki for Karato Market and the tunnel. Match market visits to sushi-event days. Reduce sightseeing for late arrival or a morning Day 2 departure.
Choose an itinerary for 2 days, 1 night
Cave and five-story pagoda
Stay one night near Shin-Yamaguchi. Give cave walks and pagoda views separate days without moving hotels to another city.
Cave and five-story pagoda →2 days, 1 night BWeekend market and undersea tunnel
Stay one night near Shimonoseki Station. With Day 1 on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Japanese public holiday, visit the market and walk by the strait on separate days.
Weekend market and undersea tunnel →Cave and five-story pagoda
Stay one night near Shin-Yamaguchi. Give cave walks and pagoda views separate days without moving hotels to another city.
Day 1: Shin-Yamaguchi → Akiyoshi-do → Shin-Yamaguchi
Travel from Shin-Yamaguchi to Akiyoshi-do, then return to Shin-Yamaguchi.
- 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
- 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
- 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 2: Shin-Yamaguchi → Rurikoji exterior → station
Travel from Shin-Yamaguchi to see Rurikoji’s exterior, then 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. City tourism guidance gives a reference ride of about 25 minutes. Check Yamaguchi Station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park on the official city map, then walk about 25 minutes to Rurikoji. Choose a return train before setting out, 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
- 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
- Rurikoji and Yamaguchi Station → Shin-Yamaguchi Station and 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
Included: Seasonal Akiyoshi-do admission + free pagoda exterior views. Adult JR: Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi local train 240 yen × 2 = 480, based on 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 Akiyoshi-do informationRurikoji ordinary viewing and prefectural-office walksBocho 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
Weekend market and undersea tunnel
Stay one night near Shimonoseki Station. With Day 1 on a Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Japanese public holiday, visit the market and walk by the strait on separate days.
Day 1: Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market → station
Visit Karato Market from Shimonoseki Station, then return to the station.
- Shimonoseki Station → Karato Market
From Shimonoseki stands 1/2, take a Kokudo Line bus toward 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
- 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.
Official Karato Market informationKarato Market sushi-event operationCurrent Sanden Kokudo fares
- 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 stands
Day 2: Shimonoseki Station → tunnel return walk → station
Travel from Shimonoseki Station for a return tunnel walk, then return to the station.
- 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
- Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel entrance → Tunnel return walk
Descend by elevator, 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
- Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel → Shimonoseki Station and hotel
Take the Shimonoseki-side elevator up, then walk about one minute to Mimosusogawa stop. Return on a Shimonoseki Station-bound bus, distinct from Shin-Shimonoseki services. On the final day, allow time to prepare for departure after reaching the station.
Official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel informationCurrent Kokudo Line timetableCurrent Sanden Kokudo faresSanden stops and walking access
Included: Karato Kokudo Line return 520 yen + Mimosusogawa Kokudo Line return 600 + free pedestrian tunnel.
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 Sanden Kokudo faresOfficial Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel information
Frequently asked questions
Should I combine Kintaikyo and Akiyoshi-do in two days?
Choose one base rather than both. Reach Kintaikyo by bus from eastern Iwakuni, and Akiyoshi-do by bus from Shin-Yamaguchi. Shin-Yamaguchi courses give cave and pagoda a day each; Shimonoseki courses give market and tunnel a day each. For Kintaikyo too, compare two-night or longer courses starting in Iwakuni and moving to Shin-Yamaguchi.
Current Bocho timetableOfficial Akiyoshi-do informationOfficial Kintaikyo informationOfficial Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel information
Can I finish in Moji after crossing the tunnel?
The current one-night Shimonoseki course returns to the Shimonoseki side. Walk to Moji and back for 1.56 km inside the tunnel, then return from the ground-level entrance to Mimosusogawa stop for a station-bound bus. To finish in Moji, replan luggage left at your Shimonoseki hotel and travel to your onward departure station.
Official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel informationSanden stops and walking accessCurrent Kokudo Line timetable
Official sources and check dates
- Current Bocho timetable ·
- Official Akiyoshi-do information ·
- Official Kintaikyo information ·
- Official Karato Market information ·
- Karato Market sushi-event operation ·
- Official Kanmon Pedestrian Tunnel information ·
- Current Kokudo Line timetable ·
- Current Sanden Kokudo fares ·
- Sanden stops and walking access ·
- Rurikoji special interior-visit conditions ·
- JR Shin-Yamaguchi–Yamaguchi access ·
- Rurikoji ordinary viewing and prefectural-office walks ·
- Shimonoseki Station bus stands ·
- Karato return bus stands ·
- Bocho information offices ·
- JR train and fare search ·
- Bocho timetable revised October 2026 ·
- Official prefectural guide: about 25 minutes on foot Yamaguchi Station–Rurikoji ·
- Official Yamaguchi city map: station, Ichinosaka River and Kozan Park ·
- Official adult local-JR section fares, checked 2026-10-09 ·