[For Seniors] Yamaguchi Prefecture Local Quiz! Feel like traveling with questions on specialty products, historic battles, and sightseeing spots

Shōka Sonjuku

Shōka Sonjuku is a private academy from the late Edo period that still exists in present-day Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Led by Yoshida Shōin, a samurai of the Chōshū Domain, it produced many great figures—such as Takasugi Shinsaku, Itō Hirobumi, and Yamagata Aritomo—who later spearheaded the Meiji Restoration and laid the foundations of modern Japan. It is known for opening its doors widely to motivated young people regardless of social status or class. The small building from that time still remains today, and as part of a UNESCO World Heritage site, it has become a historic landmark in Yamaguchi Prefecture visited by many tourists.

omikuji (a Japanese fortune slip typically drawn at Shinto shrines or Buddhist temples)

It is said that a company called Joshidōsha, located in Shūnan City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, produces about 70% of all omikuji in Japan. It began in the Meiji era with the aim of supporting women’s independence, and many of the omikuji you often see at shrines and temples across the country are in fact made in Yamaguchi Prefecture. If you have a chance to draw an omikuji during New Year’s shrine visits or sightseeing, please take a moment to think of Yamaguchi.

white tiger

Akiyoshidai Natural Animal Park Safari Land is a safari-park-style zoo located in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The zoo is widely known for being the first in Japan to begin keeping white tigers. White tigers are a leucistic variant of the Bengal tiger, and their striking, rare appearance has endeared them to many visitors, making them a symbolic presence of Safari Land to this day. Why not visit with your grandchildren or family?

Kawara Soba (tile-grilled green tea soba)

Kawara-soba is a local specialty that originated in Toyoura, Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. Tea soba noodles, beef, shredded omelet, nori, grated daikon with chili (momiji oroshi), lemon, and other colorful toppings are arranged on a heated Japanese roof tile and eaten by dipping them into warm noodle broth. It is said to have been inspired by an episode from the Satsuma Rebellion, where Satsuma soldiers grilled meat and vegetables on roof tiles between field battles. Its striking appearance never fails to amaze tourists.

Torii (Shinto shrine gate)

Motonosumi Shrine in Nagato City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, is known as a breathtaking spot where vivid red torii gates stretch for about 100 meters—there are an impressive 123 of them. The contrast between the blue sea, lush greenery, and the bright red gates is stunning, drawing many visitors from both Japan and abroad. The shrine is also famous for its offering box placed high up, said to be the most difficult in Japan to toss a coin into. It’s believed that if you manage to land your offering, your wish will come true. If you’re confident you can make the shot, why not pay a visit?

pufferfish

Yamaguchi Prefecture—especially the city of Shimonoseki—is nationally famous as the home of fugu. In Yamaguchi, fugu is called “fuku” and is cherished as an auspicious fish. In fact, in some areas such as Shimonoseki, fugu is occasionally served in school lunches as part of food education. It is offered in kid-friendly forms, such as karaage (fried pieces) or a chiri-nabe-style soup, providing a valuable opportunity to learn about local food culture. Serving fugu—considered a high-end ingredient—in school lunches is a unique practice characteristic of Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Kanmon Strait

The strait between Shimonoseki in Yamaguchi Prefecture and Kitakyushu in Fukuoka Prefecture is called the Kanmon Strait. It is an important location separating Honshu and Kyushu, and it has flourished since ancient times as a key hub for transportation and logistics. It is also known for Dannoura, the site of the final battle of the Genpei War, and for Ganryu Island, famous for the duel between Miyamoto Musashi and Sasaki Kojiro.