Hōfu-shi

Understand

Tourist information site The local tourist association has a multilingual guide site.

Getting there

By plane Yamaguchi Ube Airport (山口宇部空港,Yamaguchi Ube Kūkō) (UBJ IATA) is about 45 minutes away by car, though this only offers flights to Tokyo Haneda and seasonal services to Seoul Incheon. By public transport, take a bus to Shin-Yamaguchi station (35 min, ¥890), then take the train. The more intrepid traveller can walk 10 minutes from the airport to Kusae station and take a train from there to Shin-Yamaguchi, which takes about 40 minutes but saves ¥480. The nearest airport with regular international flights is Kitakyūshū, but it may be preferable to use Fukuoka or Hiroshima Airports.

By train Hōfu is on the San'yō Main Line but not the San'yō Shinkansen, which runs through the north of the city without stopping. The nearest Shinkansen stations are Tokuyama to the east (25 min, ¥500) and Shin-Yamaguchi to the west (15 min, ¥320); Shin-Yamaguchi has somewhat better service. Journey times via Shinkansen are broadly as follows:

Tokyo: 5 hours 20 minutes (longer if avoiding Nozomi trains) and ¥20,690 (¥21,560 if going via Shin-Yamaguchi) Shin-Osaka: 2 hours 30 minutes and ¥12,400 (via Tokuyama) Hiroshima: 1 hour 15 minutes and ¥4190 (via Tokuyama) Hakata: 1 hour 20 minutes and ¥6020 (via Shin-Yamaguchi) Local trains run to Shimonoseki (1 hour 30 minutes, ¥1490) and Iwakuni (1 hour 25 minutes, ¥1320). A journey to Hiroshima using San'yō Main Line local trains, changing at Iwakuni, takes 2 hours 50 minutes and costs ¥1940. As an alternative to the Japan Rail Pass, JR West offers three passes serving Hōfu, which are available to Temporary Visitors with foreign passports:

The Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass covers all JR stations in Yamaguchi prefecture and services as far east as Miyoshi and Onomichi. It can also be used for the non-reserved seats of all San'yō Shinkansen trains (including Nozomi and Mizuho trains) between Mihara and Hakata, and the JR Miyajima Ferry. It lasts five days and costs ¥11,000 (12,000 if bought in Japan). The Okayama-Hiroshima-Yamaguchi Pass e

See

1 Hōfu Tenman-gū (防府天満宮), 14-1 Matsuzakichō (bus to Temmangū from Stop 2 of Hōfu Station). A Shinto shrine. (updated Sep 2017) 2 Mōri Museum (毛利博物館), 1-15-1 Tatara (bus to Mōri-Hontei-Iriguchi from Stop 2 of Hōfu Station), ☏ +81 835-22-0001, [email protected]. 09:00-17:00 (last admission 16:30). Formerly the residence of the Mōri Clan, this museum houses four of Japan's National Treasures. Garden only ¥400, everywhere ¥1200. (updated Sep 2017)

Drink & nightlife

1 Laughable (ラーフエブル), 1-7-31 Tenjin (7 minutes walk from the Tenjin Exit of Hōfu Station), ☏ +81 835-22-1023. 20:00-03:00. Hōfu's main bar, most easily found by looking for the neon yellow shower curtain that serves as its door. (updated Sep 2017)

Go next

Yamaguchi Shunan Kudamatsu Ube Hikari Yanai Tabuse Kaminoseki Hirao