Motonosumi Inari Shrine was the final stop on our Klook tour, and to be honest, I was starting to get a bit impatient on the way there—the ride from Karato Market took about 1.5 hours. Since we were on a smaller coaster bus navigating narrow roads, it felt more prone to motion sickness. But once we arrived—especially when we reached the actual shrine—it was absolutely worth it. The walk through the rows of torii gates, with the sound of waves crashing nearby and the view of the sea, was nothing short of mesmerizing. There’s something really calming and powerful about the place that photos just can’t fully capture. The area itself is quite simple: a small souvenir shop, a little ice cream stand, and a public restroom with limited cubicles—so don’t expect a lot of amenities. There’s a shortcut going back up: once you reach the shrine at the bottom, look for a small path with a few steps leading to a viewing deck. From there, it's mostly flat terrain back to the area near the shops—no need to climb back up the original stairs. The return trip to the city took around 3.5 hours, as Japan requires rest stops on long drives (there's a mandatory break every 2 hours or so), so factor that into your schedule. If you have the time, I highly recommend visiting via a Klook tour or similar option like hiring a private vehicle - the area is remote, and there’s no direct public transportation

Beautiful place. There are many other things to do other than the Torii shrine. When you get to the end of the walk through the gates there is a lot of beautiful spots to take photos with the Sea of Japan in the background. You do have to pay for parking with yen, there are also lots of places to make wishes so bring your coins!

When the weather is nice, the color of sea surface is a vibrant blue, and paired with brightly colored red birdhouses, it's beautiful! But since there are many stairs, older visitors should pay attention to the safety of their feet when visiting here.

⛩️ Motonosumi Shrine (Nagato, Yamaguchi) Review Motonosumi Shrine is one of the most breathtaking and photogenic spots in Japan. Located in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, it’s famous for its 123 bright red torii gates that stretch dramatically along the hillside toward the blue sea. The contrast between the vivid vermilion gates, the lush greenery, and the deep ocean creates an unforgettable view — it’s no surprise this site has been featured in many travel magazines as one of Japan’s most scenic shrines. The path of torii gates leads you down toward the cliffs, where you can feel the ocean wind and hear the sound of waves crashing below. It’s a peaceful yet powerful place that perfectly captures Japan’s harmony between nature and spirituality. One of the fun traditions here is the offering box located high above the main torii gate — visitors try to toss coins into it for good luck. It adds a playful, unique touch to the visit. The surrounding area is also worth exploring: there are small cafés, souvenir stands, and observation points with panoramic views of the coastline. The shrine staff and locals are welcoming, and the whole area is clean and well maintained. Whether you’re interested in photography, Japanese culture, or simply beautiful seaside landscapes, Motonosumi Shrine is an absolute must-visit. It’s a place that leaves you with both serenity and awe — a perfect blend of natural beauty and sacred tradition.

Is a beautiful place. be careful if you drive here, the roads are narrow. google took me a road but ended up the road was closed due to road work. parking is not free. I paid 300 yen for about an hour.

Visited early in the morning since we were staying within a 15mins’ drive so there were hardly anyone. It’s not a big place but the setting is beautiful. Sunlight was harsh so the photos do not represent the actual beauty.

It is a beautiful place! The Tori gate path was closed though so we could t go through it, the view you get from there of the sea is hypnotizing!

Beautiful park with a postcard worthy scene. Has a large field and a play area for kids. Picnic tables are available for use and there's also a small coffee shop on site. Be careful of the hawks flying over your area is you have food! A hawk swooped in to grab food from our picnic table! Plenty of parking available.

Was here in 2006. The scenery is still as beautiful as my memory. The sea, mountains, padi fields, the windmill and the garden maze are just so picturesque. Picnic tables plenty if not the inviting grassy grounds will also do. Heard from the the keepers that when the fog could be so thick that it is only 2m visibility.

Another quiet but beautiful place. There is a campground. We plan to come back and camp during the cooler weather.

Amazing view and great place to relax or meditate. Great field for picnic. Get the ice cream on the local shop there, is very good.

This camp site is overlooking the ocean. Unfortunately there is no access for camper vans, so we needed to stay on the big parking lot. The toilet facilities are brand new and there is hand sanitizer provided as well.

Great place to camp, bbq, play, and explore. View is breathtaking. Recommend eating at Country Kitchen.

A wide space for kids to running around and play. And they also have tables for picnic.

The restored redoubts and moat of ancient Hagi Castle. Some shops selling a wide selection of Hagi Yaki Pottery in front. A nice walk with a somewhat spooky inner sanctum shrine. Definitely worth a visit when in Hagi.

A nice, quite secluded place. Very few locals around. A bicycle-riding postman, some fishermen fishing from the stone jetty on the beach. The streets and buildings seem frozen in time from the old feudal days. Most seem old and original. A must-go-to town for lovers of old Japan. The Hagi Castle ruins are just big rock walls. But pretty impressive even without the old castle. Very accessible by highway bus from Shin Yamaguchi station.

Quite beautiful in spring and a large castle ground where people even come to practice some sports drills. Note that the castle has been destroyed and removed, leaving only the grounds. There's also a shrine built here. There is a small fee (about 300 yen) to enter.

Lovely place to when cherry blossoms are in bloom.

Escape into nature and history in this large and peaceful park on the edge of the city. You can hike a small hill to the ruins at the top, wander around a large pond and watch the ducks, admire old stone walls and huts, or visit an old shrine.

Can enjoy quiet historical imagination of Japanese castle. Main castle tower is no more, but it is worth visiting to feel atmospheres.

It's a nice hike up the hill if you take a few breaks.

Truly grateful to make a decision to travel to Akiyoshidai during the spring break! What a majestic plateau! I would definitely return here one day again in the future!

Great place, I understood that you can use your ticket for the day, so I could have got in by the cave, hiked the plateau and come back by the cave. The cave is amazing with explanations in English.👍

Amazing hiking trails that aren’t challenging. The landscape looks like New Zealand and it just great. The area is isolated and is a great place to take long exposure pictures.

There's a lovely forest that holds a small monument commemorating the heike soldiers that escaped to this area after their defeat in dan no ura.

The Akiyoshidai (秋吉台) plateau’s karst-strewn fields are about a 15-minute drive away from the Akiyoshidō cave system. Originally part of a coral reef millions of years ago, the landscape is now steep hills dotted with thousands of boulder-like limestone karsts (pictured). The karsts vary in size from football to small car, and no matter what the season, walking among them is a totally unique experience. DURATION 2hrs DIFFICULTY Easy DISTANCE 5km

The park has many trails! If you visit in summer be sure to have UPF clothes or you will regret it! The landscape is unique and totally worth it!

About 15-20 mins walk inside the cave, very nice experience

been here today. the view is another level of gorgeousness yet the facilities are insufficient. neither food store nor staffs are available along the karst road so no one we can ask in case we meet trouble during our trip, especially if we are cycling. and the cave staff said that bringing food are not allowed. even at the camping ground you will not meet any foodstore or restaurant or cafe whatsoever. even if you stay at the camping ground food are not sold except you have reserved the previous day. i think this place has huge potential but unfortunately they have poor management.

I went via the cycling route from Ogori, the table land was vast and although it was a weekend it wasn't crowded at all. There are benches to sit and enjoy the view. They have clean toilets as well, but I only found japanese toilets for women🥲

Today is the Japanese public holiday. I rushed for coming here from Tokyo. It was so big to have a trip by walk in a day. But I was satisfied because I could watch the biggest Karst area in Japan. This area is connected with Akiyoshi Cave too.

not the best view, but worth a visit.

Had a great experience around Akiyoshidai. Beautiful scenery. Must check out the view points and caves around with the wildlife safari. I made a day trip from Hiroshima to Yamaguchi prefecture

Lovely hills with beautiful wild flowers and grasses. Great walks available and nearby caves, and views of the surrounding mountains in the distance. Definitely worth a look if you are interested in road trips :)

The cave is a great summer day activity—nice and cool inside! Parking for the day was ¥500. Then we drove up to the fields, where there was free parking. Beautiful and fun day trip!

An unforgettable experience! Akiyoshidō Cave is huge, beautifully lit, and easy to walk through — perfect for all ages. The atmosphere is peaceful and cool (about 17°C year-round), making it a great place to visit even in the summer. The cave is full of amazing natural features like underground waterfalls, crystal-clear pools, and unique rock formations. The “100 Plates” (Hyakumai-zara) were especially stunning. It’s not too dark or claustrophobic, and the walking path is very well maintained with handrails and lights. You can walk the whole main route in about an hour, and there’s even an elevator that takes you up to the Akiyoshidai Plateau above if you want to explore more. The entrance fee is reasonable (around ¥1,200), and definitely worth it. It’s not super touristy, which makes it feel even more special. Just wear comfortable shoes — some spots are a little slippery. Highly recommended if you’re in Yamaguchi Prefecture!

I first visited the Akiyoshidai Observatory and then parked at the nearby elevator parking lot to explore Akiyoshi Cave. The day was a bit humid, but inside the cave it was cool and refreshing, and I had a great time. I had seen many photos of the impressive cave entrance before, but the inside was just as mysterious and stunning. It may go without saying, but since there are no restrooms inside the cave, it’s probably better not to drink too much water before entering. From the observatory to the cave, the whole experience was wonderful — truly something Yamaguchi can be proud of.

very solemn place, the negative ion Nature can be a source of motivation by improving mood, reducing stress, and fostering creativity and a sense of awe. Spending time in natural environments can also provide inspiration, promote physical activity, and teach valuable life lessons about patience, adaptability, and selflessness🩷

An amazing experience for everyone that love exploring the beauty of what lies beneath. The cave lightening and ambiance are done perfectly to enhance your experience while exploring this marvel of nature. The newly finished mural is a wonderful in itself. A must visit.

I highly recommend against visiting this cave, the entire area is just a tourist trap and when you get into the cave, not only the ticket price is expensive, you need to pay more if you want to go into a special "adventure" path, the cave is bland at best and I wouldn't even put it in the top 10 caves I visited. My verdict: really not worth it

It’s a must visit limestone cave when you are in Mini City in Yamaguchi, especially during summer. The beautiful and clean cave temperature is about 17 degree. The walkway is all nicely and carefully paved with safety and comfort in consideration. Entrance fee is JPY1300 per person for 1 hour walk. Remember to wear comfortable walking shoes. There are 2 types of walks, the up course and down course walk. We took the down course walk and completed in about 45 mins. Up course requires a fee of JPY300. We love the walk. The cave is dimly lit to give a feel of darkness in the cave but not too dim so you can see the steps and surroundings. We enjoyed the walk very much and wouldn’t mind coming again if we happen to be Yamaguchi.

I went there on a rainy day. Took the bus from shin-yamaguchi to the cave, it was really easy to get there! The Cave was really really beautiful the guide in english really interesting and you can re-enter the cave if you take the elevator to the observation deck and want to go back in. Just show the ticket again. I think it war okay didnt need a jacket had t-shirt and a long sleeve shirt on (took the long sleeve off later) the cave had a temperature of 17 °C. For me it was worth it!