RegionOutline guide

Yamaguchi (prefecture)

Prefecture of Japan

Photo: Saigen Jiro, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県 Yamaguchi-ken) is in the western Chugoku region of the main Japanese island Honshu. It is the westernmost prefecture in the island.

Getting there and around

Getting there

By train
There are five shinkansen stations in this prefecture: Shin-Shimonoseki, Asa, Shin-Yamaguchi, Tokuyama and Shin-Iwakuni.
By bus
By ferry
Several ferries depart from Shimonoseki Port International Terminal:

Read in the guide

Airports and nearby hotels

Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.

Yamaguchi Ube Airport

Ube · Regional · UBJ

Search stays near UBJ

Search flights

Cities

Yamaguchi

the prefectural capital

Hagi

one of the most beautiful castle towns in Japan

Hofu

old city with a famous shrine which is dedicated to Sugawara no Michizane, kami of scholarship

Iwakuni

castle town with the beautiful bridge "Kintaikyo"

Mine

See also Mining tourism. Mine (美祢市 Mine-shi, pron.

Sanyo-Onoda

Sanyo-Onoda (山陽小野田市 Sanyō-Onoda-shi) is a city in Yamaguchi prefecture.

Shimonoseki

historical city guarding the Straits of Kanmon, and the largest city in the prefecture

Ube

modern city with sculpture, park and airport

Show all 12

Yanai

city with culturally important Shirakabe No Machi

Akiyoshidai Quasi-National Park

See also Mining tourism. Mine (美祢市 Mine-shi, pron.

Shunan

Shunan (周南市 Shūnan-shi) is a city in Yamaguchi prefecture.

Suo-Oshima

Suo-Oshima (周防大島町, Suō-Ōshima-chō) is a town and island in Yamaguchi Prefecture on the Seto Inland Sea. It is well known for its mandarin oranges and ties to Hawaii.

Read before you go to Yamaguchi (prefecture)

Articles and travel topics about Yamaguchi (prefecture) and Japan.

Travel tips

Do I Need a Visa for Japan? Entry Rules and Visit Japan Web

Check if you need a visa for Japan in 2026. Discover visa-exempt nationalities, eVisa eligibility, stay durations, and how to use Visit Japan Web QR codes.

Oct 18, 20267 min read

Travel tips

Japan New Travel Costs: Departure Tax and Hotel Fees (2026)

Plan for Japan's new travel costs in 2026. Learn about the ¥3,000 international departure tax, tiered hotel taxes in Kyoto, and Mt Fuji trail fees.

Oct 18, 20267 min read

Travel tips

Tourist Taxes and Access Fees: Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto (2026)

Complete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Itineraries

Japan with Kids: A Complete 10-Day Family Itinerary (2026)

Plan a trip to Japan with kids in 2026. Discover a family-tested 10-day itinerary with theme parks, bullet trains, and practical parenting tips.

Oct 18, 20268 min read

Full travel guide

Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.

UnderstandSituated at Honshu's westernmost tip, Yamaguchi Prefecture is largely rural. It is well-known as having produced 8 of Japan's Prime Ministers, more than any other prefecture.

TalkPeople speak Yamaguchi Dialect, which is very similar to the dialect that is spoken in Tokyo, but the vocabulary is somewhat different.

Get inThere are five shinkansen stations in this prefecture: Shin-Shimonoseki, Asa, Shin-Yamaguchi, Tokuyama and Shin-Iwakuni.

See

Eat

DrinkBars are concentrated in Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi and Shunan.

Go next

Sources and licences

Guide text adapted from the Wikivoyage article "Yamaguchi (prefecture)" by its contributors, available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read on Wikivoyage · Contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0
Summary from the Wikipedia article "Yamaguchi Prefecture", available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Wikipedia
Photo: Saigen Jiro, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons

Improve this guide on Wikivoyage