Experience
Historical Road of Hagiokan
After the Mori clan built Hagi Castle in 1604, the Hagiokan (Hagi Road) was developed as the official road for Lord Mori’s entourage to use when traveling to and from the capital of Edo (present-day Tokyo). The road, which is about 53 km long (approximately 33 miles) connects the city of Hagi on the Sea of Japan coast through Yamaguchi City to Mitajiri Port (the city of Hofu) on the Seto Inland Sea, running in nearly a straight line.
The Hagiokan played an important role in history. For commoners during the Edo period (1603 – 1868), it was an important transportation route connecting the San’in region with the Sanyo region (the areas to the north and south, respectively, of the Chugoku mountains in the western part of Honshu Island). At the end of the Edo period, the leaders of the Meiji Restoration, who plotted to overthrow the shogun’s government and advocated restoration of Imperial power, busily traveled back and forth on the Hagiokan, as many of them were from Hagi.
Experience the historical romance of the Hagiokan by taking a walk in the footsteps of samurai and commoners of days gone by and the Imperial loyalists who gave birth to modern Japan.
Certain, as I am, There shall be no return from this journey,
All the more do my tears wet this teary pine
A poem by Yoshida Shoin* composed as a final farewell to his hometown. It was written on the Hagi Okan alongside a pine tree known as Namidamatsu (teary pine), the last point from which his hometown of Hagi could be seen, when he was being taken under guard to prison in Edo (Tokyo) in 1859.
*Yoshida Shoin (1830-1859), a samurai of Hagi Domain, intellectual and teacher whose students played pivotal roles in the Meiji Restoration
For inquiries on guides from the storytellers' association, enquire by e-mails at ya_kataribe@yahoo.co.jp
Languages spoken: English
Address
Tenge Ascent (8 Kamitenge-machi, Yamaguchi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, 753-0891)
Contact
Yamaguchi Hagiokan Tour Guide Association Tel: +81 83 920 3323
Time required
Tenge Ascent to Border Monument “Ichinosaka 42 Bends Course” About 3 km (approx. 2 hours)
Fee
6,000 yen per group (Tours are also available for 500 yen per person on weekends and holidays.)
Closed
Never (The Yamaguchi Hagiokan Tour Guide Association is closed on weekends and holidays.)
