TOURS
SHŌIN SHRINE & TŌKŌJI TEMPLE
ABOUT 4H
SHŌIN SHRINE
Shōin Shrine is one of the most popular tourist spots in Hagi City, deeply revered by the local community. This shrine is dedicated to Yoshida Shōin, a brilliant intellectual from the late Edo period, making it a truly special place where visitors can connect with his spirit and historical legacy.
As you step onto the shrine grounds, you’ll discover the Shōka Village School (Shōka Sonjuku), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Though this humble, small wooden building may appear simple, it holds within its walls a rich history of fostering future leaders who went on to shape Japan’s destiny. The story of young minds nurtured under Shōin’s guidance, who later became pivotal figures in Japan’s transformation, is sure to leave you deeply moved.
Shōin Shrine and the Matsushita Village School offer more than just a sightseeing experience—they allow you to feel the weight of history and the indomitable spirit of Yoshida Shōin. A visit here is like stepping back in time to the closing days of the Edo period, where you can feel the excitement and inspiration of that era.
Come and immerse yourself in this historical atmosphere—you won’t be disappointed.
TŌKŌJI TEMPLE
Visit Tōko-ji, a temple of the Obaku Zen sect founded in the fourth year of the Genroku era (1691). This temple, designated as Important Cultural Property by the government, showcases a traditional beauty of wooden architecture commonly found in temples and shrines. Particularly noteworthy is the breathtaking scene of approximately five hundred stone lanterns lining the gravesite of the Mōri clan’s lords.
A silent ambience of the forest that surrounds the evenly arranged stone lanterns creates a majestic atmosphere. Standing there, one can sense the breath of the Mōri clan, who once governed Hagi, and the people who shared their lives.
- Price 25,500 yen/group of 2 persons
*including guide fee, admission fee, and transportation costs
- Available all year round.