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Considered a leader in shipbuilding who helped construct the Tategami dock, said to have been the best dock in all of Asia at the time. In his youth, Watanabe studied at the Shoka Sonjuku before traveling to the United States and United Kingdom to study naval architecture. He returned to become one of the heads of the Nagasaki Shipyard. The house is larger than most in Hagi. In addition to the main house, there is also a storehouse, a tearoom, and a garden.
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明倫館
Established by the Choshu-han, this school for gifted children used to be on the third floor of Hagi Castle, but moved to its own facilities in 1863. The school building is still in use as a part of elementary school. Visitors are free to tour the grounds, but not the interior.
山口県立萩美術館・浦上記念館
Features displays of Asian pottery and Japanese ukiyo-e (wood-block prints).
旧田中別邸
The summer villa of Tanaka Giichi who served as a decorated member of the Imperial Army before becoming Prime Minister of Japan from 1927-1929. As a military officer, he influenced armywide policies and developed strategies that aided in Japan's victory in the Russo-Japanese War. After the war, he worked in Manchuria to protect Japanese interests and directed the military to go after Communists and stifle Chinese attempts at reunifying with ambitions to make Manchuria a part of the Japanese Empire and expanding from there. Not long after he became Prime Minister, the ruler of Chinese Manchuria and ally of Japan, Zhang Zuolin, was assassinated by rogue members of the Japanese army. The assassination was condemned in both China and Japan. After Emperor Hirohito made a statement against Tanaka, he and many members of his cabinet stepped down. He died just a few months after resigning.
The villa features pictures and items of Tanaka, along with his army uniforms. Outside there is a natsu mikan orchard, which was planted by the man who lived here before Tanaka.
桂太郎旧宅
The second-longest serving Prime Minister of Japan who served from 1901 to 1913 and the first to be removed from office after a no-confidence vote, this is his childhood home. He studied at the Meirinkan from here. He was well-accomplished before becoming Prime Minister as a general in the Sino-Japanese War and the Governor-General of Taiwan. As Prime Minister, he oversaw Japanese victory in the Russo-Japanese War and the annexation of Korea. His popularity waned as the public believed he was more concerned with military expansion than with improving domestic life. Eventually the Diet also lost faith with a no-confidence vote.
The house has a nice garden with a statue of Katsura Taro.
藍場川
It was built for transportation of goods, and also to supply water for extinguishing fires. Today, the path along the canal makes for a nice stroll.
旧湯川家屋敷
A samurai residence that uses water from the canal to form an attractive garden. The water is even directed into part of the house for domestic use.