Hagi

Hagi is a remarkably well-preserved castle town that played a disproportionate role in shaping modern Japan. This small coastal city produced key figures of the Meiji Restoration, including Yoshida Shoin, Ito Hirobumi (Japan's first Prime Minister), and Takasugi Shinsaku, whose former residences and schools can still be visited. The atmospheric samurai district of Horiuchi retains its original white-walled compounds and narrow lanes, while the merchant district of Kikuya showcases Edo-period commercial architecture. Hagi is equally celebrated for Hagi-yaki pottery, one of Japan's most prized ceramic traditions, with numerous kilns and galleries open to visitors. The town is best explored by bicycle, pedaling past citrus-lined white walls, through quiet temple grounds, and along the scenic coastline.