Yamaguchi is known as “The Kyoto of the West” and is a city characterized by its historic streets and culture. The New York Times in the United States announced “52 places to visit in 2024”, and Yamaguchi City from Japan was chosen as the third place, which has become a hot topic.
In this article, we will introduce 7 nightlife spots that you should definitely visit to enjoy Yamaguchi at night.
Highlights and characteristics of Yamaguchi at night
Yamaguchi is surrounded by the sea on three sides, so it has many sea-related spots. Night view spots with ocean views and the night views of large factories along the coast are spots you should definitely visit when sightseeing in Yamaguchi. In addition, Kintaikyo Bridge, one of the “Three Famous Bridges of Japan”, is lit up at night, so you can enjoy a beautiful view.
Furthermore, mentioning Yamaguchi’s typical dish is mentioning “pufferfish” (or “Fugu” in Japanese). There are many restaurants in Yamaguchi where visitors can easily enjoy pufferfish. Therefore, pufferfish restaurants are recommended culinary destinations for tourists.
In this way, the characteristic of night spots in Yamaguchi is that you can enjoy beautiful night views and taste gourmet food that is unique to Yamaguchi.
Nightlife spots in Yamaguchi
Recommended #1: Kintaikyo Bridge
Kintaikyo Bridge is a wooden bridge spanning the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It has a five-arch structure. It is known as one of the “Three Famous Bridges of Japan” and is a popular tourist spot. It is lit up at night, allowing you to enjoy a fantastic view.
You can also enjoy a variety of different landscapes from Kintaikyo Bridge throughout Japan’s four seasons. In spring, the cherry blossoms bloom and the bridge is enveloped in pink. This sight has led to it being selected as one of “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots”. In summer, fireworks festivals are held, vividly coloring the bridge. In autumn, the leaves change color, and in winter the bridge is enveloped in a fantastic snowscape. With different scenery to be seen throughout the four seasons, it’s a spot you’ll want to visit again and again.
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| Official website | https://kintaikyo.iwakuni-city.net/ |
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There are Yakatabune houseboats operating around the Kintaikyo Bridge, so we recommend boarding one to enjoy the view of the bridge.
Recommended #2: Kaikyo Yume Tower
Kaikyo Yume Tower was built in 1996 as a landmark of the Kanmon Strait (the strait that separates Yamaguchi and Fukuoka). It is notable that not only the observation deck but the entire tower is made of glass. At night, the tower itself is lit up.
From the observatory 143m above the ground, you can enjoy the night view of the illuminated Kanmon Straits. Because of the romantic atmosphere, it has been chosen as a “sacred place for lovers”, a date spot for couples. For that reason, it is a recommended tourist spot for couples.
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| Official website | https://www.yumetower.jp/ |
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The lighting colors of Kaikyo Yume Tower change depending on the day of the week. Special illuminations are also held around Christmas, New Year and International Women’s Day. Please refer to the official website for more details.
Recommended #3: Shunpanro Restaurant
(Source: https://www.shunpanro.com/location/shimonoseki/)
Shunpanro is a long-established pufferfish restaurant. It is known as the first restaurant in Japan to be approved to serve pufferfish dishes by the first Prime Minister of Japan, Ito Hirobumi. It is said that Ito Hirobumi also loved pufferfish dishes at Shunpanro. It has also been a historical place, it was here at Shunpanro that the Sino-Japanese Peace Treaty was signed in 1895.
In Japanese cuisine, pufferfish is known as a luxury ingredient. Not only is it low in calories, fish skin also contains a lot of collagen, which is very good for beauty and health. Fish meat is highly elastic and chewy. For this reason, pufferfish sashimi is sliced very thinly compared to other types of sashimi. In addition to sashimi, pufferfish can be cooked in a variety of ways, such as deep-frying or in a hotpot. Pufferfish cuisine is a gourmet treat that you definitely cannot miss when visiting Yamaguchi.
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| Official website | https://www.shunpanro.com/ |
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Shunpanro also has accommodation facilities. For dinner, you can choose a full course of pufferfish, which is recommended as a little luxury.
Recommended #4: Higashi Ushiro Bata Rice Terraces
“Higashi Ushiro Bata Rice Terraces” are rice terraces located in a port town overlooking the Sea of Japan. Rice terraces are rice paddies that extend in a stepped pattern. Usually, rice terraces are located in mountainous areas, but Higashi Ushiro Bata Rice Terraces are located in a terrain where successive hills close to the coast. This creates a rare landscape where the sea and rice terraces seem to blend together.
At dusk, the gradation of the setting sun spreads across the sky, sea, and rice fields, creating a truly beautiful scene. Also, from May to August, you can see the lights of squid fishing boats floating on the sea after sunset, creating an especially beautiful scene. It is a great photo spot that is visited by many photographers.
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| Official website | https://yamaguchi-tourism.jp/ |
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Recommended #5: Shunan Factory Night View
“Shunan Factory Night View” is a night view of the factories that spread across the coastal area of Shunan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. This area is called the “Shunan Industrial Complex” and is also known as a tourist spot. Here you can enjoy a fantastic night view of the factories.
There are several ways to enjoy the factory night view. We recommend joining a cruise tour to take the view from the sea or a bus tour to see the scenery from a bus. You can also see the factory’s night view up close from nearby Harumi Shinsui Park. This park has become a popular spot for those who want to enjoy the night view of the factories.
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| Official website | https://yamaguchi-tourism.jp/ |
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Recommended #6: Kamon Wharf
Kamon Wharf is a commercial facility consisting of restaurants, mainly seafood restaurants, and souvenir shops.The waterfront is a boardwalk, so you can take a stroll and enjoy a panoramic view of the Kanmon Straits. With Karato Market next door, it is a popular gourmet spot where you can eat Sushi, Donburi bowls, and pufferfish dishes made with fresh ingredients.
Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, where Kamon Wharf is located, is known for its pufferfish specialty. As a result, the area is characterized by a large number of restaurants serving pufferfish dishes. Some restaurants are open until late at night, making it a recommended spot for night sightseeing. In addition to restaurants, there are also plenty of pufferfish related products available as souvenirs.
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| Official website | https://kamonwharf.com/ |
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Recommended #7: Ganso Kawara Soba Takase
“Ganso Kawara Soba Takase” is a specialty store for “Kawara Soba”, a local dish that represents Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is also known as the birthplace of Kawara Soba, and is a famous restaurant that attracts many tourists. There are several branches in Yamaguchi Prefecture, but “Yume City Shin-Shimonoseki Branch” is a good choice for visiting at night as it is open until 9 p.m.
Kawara Soba is a dish where Soba noodles are served on a Kawara (a Japanese tile used for roofing). Typically, flavorful Cha Soba noodles (Soba noodles kneaded with Matcha) are placed on top of a heated tile, and topped with ingredients such as shredded egg and sweet and salty simmered beef. Cha Soba noodles baked on a high-temperature tile have a chewy texture on top and a crunchy texture on the bottom. It’s a dish you should definitely try when visiting Yamaguchi.
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| Official website | https://www.kawarasoba.jp/ |
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