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Daishoin Temple (大照院), constructed in 1656, is the Mori Clan family temple. The Mori Clan governed Hagi during the Edo Period (1603-1868). Daishoin Temple belongs to the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism.  Visitors can see a small Zen garden behind the large wooden main hall.

In the woods behind the temple is an impressive burial site of the Mori lords. Half of the lords are buried here, at Daishoin Temple, with the other half buried at Tokoji Temple.  The first lord and odd numbered successors are laid to rest at Daishoin Temple.  Visitors are greeted by the hundreds of stone lanterns (donated) which line the pathway to the graveyard.  Led by the light from the stone lanterns and being surrounded by the woods, the atmosphere at the burial site is both peaceful and spiritual.

NOTE:   There is construction being done to renovate the main hall of Daishoin Temple. Renovation works are expected to continue until 2015. Visitors are still allowed in the temple and can observe the main hall from a makeshift corridor which surrounds the site.
The burial site is not affected by this construction

Access Information:
Daishoin Temple stands south of the city center in a somewhat rural environment.
**By bus:  take either the West Loop or East Loop of the "Maru Bus" and disembark at the Daishoin Iriguchi bus stop. From there, it is a five minute walk to the temple.
**By bicycle, it is a 5-10 minute from Hagi Station.
Hours: 8:00 to 17:00 (last entry until 16:30)
Closed: Opened all year round
Admission: 200 yen

The Hagi Uragami Museum, located in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, was rated by  “Michelin Green Guide Japan 2009” as a two-star tourist attraction.  Next to Iwakuni’s  “Kintai-kyo Bridge”, one of the three most beautiful bridges in all of Japan, this is the highest ranked attraction in Yamaguchi Prefecture.

The Hagi Uragami Museum is located within a short walking distance from the former castle town. It was founded in 1996.  It displays the donated collection of Hagi-born entrepreneur Toshiro Uragami.

Hagi Uragami Museum
The museum features art works of Hagiyaki Pottery, ukiyo-e and contemporary art. Among them are valuable Hagiyaki pieces, some of which have been preserved for centuries. Also on display are documents and films on Hagiyaki wares.

Hours: 9:00 to 17:00 (entry until 16:30)
Closed: Mondays (if Monday is a national holiday, the museum will be closed on the following day), New Year holidays
Admission: 300 yen

Access Information:
**a short walk to the south from the former castle town

Yamaguchi Daijingu (山口大神宮, Yamaguchi Daijingū) is a much smaller and simpler version of the Ise Shrines. It was built in 1518 after the local lord had traveled to Ise and returned home wishing to have a shrine that houses the same deities as those at Ise. Henceforth, the locals who were unable to travel to Ise in person had the opportunity to visit Yamaguchi Daijingu instead, and the shrine became known as the "Ise Shrines of the West".

Like the Ise Shrines, Yamaguchi Daijingu consists of an outer and an inner shrine, which are rebuilt every 20 years. Unlike the Ise Shrines, however, the shrines of Yamaguchi Daijingu are located just next to each other. The shrine structures come with a simple, wooden appearance, portraying a purely Japanese architectural style with little influence from mainland Asia. Yamaguchi Daijingu is located within a forest at the outskirts of the city, providing the serene setting for a tranquil visit.

Access:
Yamaguchi Daijingu stands about two kilometers northwest of Yamaguchi Station. It can be reached on foot (30 minutes) or by rental bicycles, which are available outside the station (300 yen for two hours or 700 yen for the whole day).
Alternatively, take a bus from the station bound for Yamaguchi Daigaku (山口大学) or Nakaoguchi (中尾口)　and stop at Kenchomae (県庁前) bus stop (6 minutes, 170 yen, 2-3 departures per hour). From the bus stop it takes five minutes to walk to the shrine.

Hours: Always open
Closed: No closing days
Admission: Free

Along the Japan Sea coastline of Yamaguchi Prefecture is the small historic town of Hagi. This small town contains both artistic elements (Hagiyaki Pottery) as well as cultural remnants (samurai town). And here, visitors can see how religion can co-exist in a single location.

Enseiji Temple has both a temple and shrine within its grounds. This Shinto and Buddhism coexistence was quite common in the past, but during the Meiji Period, the two religions were separated.

Built in 1254, Enseiji Temple was the worship place for the Ouchi clan.  Another interesting historic fact is Japan’s first Prime Minister, Ito Hirobumi, learned calligraphy and reading here when he was a child.

Hours: 8:00 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 200 yen

Hagiyaki Pottery (萩焼), the local pottery style of Hagi City, located in Yamaguchi Prefecture, is very well-known both in Japan and overseas. Hagiyaki’s techniques were brought to Japan from Korea in the early 1600’s.  During the Edo Period, Hagiyaki was very popular with its tea wares being highly praised at tea ceremonies.

One unique characteristic of Hagiyaki is the color of the items change over time.  It is said tea residuals enter the microscopic openings within the items causing the color change. Tea enthusiasts are particularly delighted by this.

Hagiyaki is popular even today.  Visitors to Hagi will find more stores around this old-fashioned town selling tea ware, cups and bowls of Hagiyaki.  There are museums here as well where visitors can learn more about Hagiyaki as well as places offering visitors a chance to try their hand to create their own Hagiyaki.

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Visitors to Hagi Town in Yamaguchi Prefecture will see many stores around the town selling items produced in the local Hagiyaki Pottery style.  Hagiyaki is highly regarded in Japan and a favorite among tea lovers.

Visitors interested in Hagiyaki may be interested to visit the Hagiyaki Pottery Museum.

Located on the second floor of a souvenir store outside the entrance gates of the Hagi Castle Ruins, this small museum displays valuable Hagiyaki pieces from the 1600’s.
 

Hagiyaki Pottery Museum
Hours: 9:00 to 17:00
Closed: Opened All Year Round
Admission: 500 yen