Profile of Yamaguchi Prefecture

Yamaguchi Prefecture is located at the western end of Honshu Island. The prefecture, surrounded by the sea on three sides and the Chugoku Mountains running from east to west, is roughly divided into three areas: the Seto Inland Sea Coastal Area, the inland mountainous area, and the Japan Sea Coastal area.

The prefecture has a population of approximately 1,410,000 in an area of about 6,100 km2. Its prefectural capital is Yamaguchi City.

Essentially blessed with a warm climate, the prefecture is viewed as comfortable to live in in general terms.

The seas, facing the prefecture along an about 1,500-km shoreline, have different features by area: the calm Seto Inland Sea is beautifully dotted with many islands, and the Japan Sea, with the beauty of wild-looking washed shorelines, is represented by the Kita Nagato Kaigan National Park. The coastal and offshore sea areas are dotted with approximately 240 islands.

Green mountains located at the western end of the Chugoku Mountains embrace multiple sightseeing spots, including the Akiyoshidai National park containing Japan’s largest karst plateau, and limestone caves, and the Western Chugoku Mountain National Park with primary forests and beautiful valleys. These tourist destinations change dramatically in different seasons.