Kikugahama is a first-rate, beautiful beach with white sands and green pines.

One of Yamaguchi prefecture’s foremost stretches of sand, it has been selected among the country’s top 100 beaches by the Japanese Ministry of Environment.

While the surrounding scenery is sublime, Kikugahama Beach is also known for its beauty.
From the beach, you have a view of Mt. Shizuki as well as the islands floating in the sea, and you can see Kasayama located to the north, too. [Link to dedicated article: https://setouchifinder.com/en/detail/701].

However, the charms of Kikugahama don’t end with the scenery:
If you take a good look at the opposite shore to the west, you can see a white plaster wall.

Actually, Hagi Castle is located at the foot of Mt. Shizuki. A castle wall facing the sea remains.
If you feel like it, you can swim to the other shore, but if you just walk along the beach, you’ll reach the castle in no time.

This is the full view of Kikugahama as seen from the remains of Hagi Castle!
Pushing out into the Sea of Japan, Mt. Shizuki plays the role of a natural breakwater and calms the waves.

Though only part of the white plaster wall is left, a very long stone wall still continues along the sea shore.
If you grow tired of swimming, you can stroll up to the castle remains while admiring the sea!

If you head a little further inland, you can also tour Hagi Castle’s inner citadel. An admission fee (Adults JPY210) is charged to enter the interior mound by the moat, but touring the outside is free.
Counted among the top 100 castles in Japan, Hagi Castle can be even called the hometown of the leading spirits of Japan’s restoration, which occurred at the end of the Edo era.

The complexly built moat and castle tower are the highlights, and although a 5-layered, 5-storey tower overlooked over the surroundings during the Edo period, it was demolished in 1874. What remains today are only the foundations and pedestals.
By the way, in the square in front of the JR Sanin Main Line’s Higashi Hagi station, there is a 1:6 model reconstruction of the now lost Hagi Castle Tower.
If you have time, do stop by!

Kikugahama is also famous for its sunsets, and has been selected among the best 100 spots in Japan to see them.
Summer is the best season for admiring the evening sun. Near the easternmost tip of Kikugahama Beach, which has a total length of 1.2 km, you can see the sun set into the Sea of Japan.

I wonder if the leading spirits of Japan’s restoration watched sunsets here at the end of the Edo period, too?! It’s a beach that lets you feel history.
Picturesque Kikugahama, with views of Mt. Shizuki and the islands floating in the outing…
Here, you can also enjoy a walk around the remains of nearby Hagi Castle, and the evening sun setting into the Sea of Japan is superb!
Next summer, how about heading to the beach at Hagi?

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Kikugahama Beach
Location: 398 Horiuchi, Hagi city, Yamaguchi prefecture
http://eco.pref.yamaguchi.jp/beach/beach044.html (Japanese)

Hagi Castle Shizuki Park
Location: 1-1 Horiuchi, Hagi city, Yamaguchi prefecture
Open: April-October 8:00-18:30, November-February 8:30-16:30, March 8:30-18:00
Admission: Adults JPY210 / Elementary & Middle school students JPY100
http://hagishi.com/search/detail.php?d=100049 (Japanese)
Setouchi FInder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka