At the far end of Honshu, Japan’s main island, Yamaguchi prefecture is home of several unique features. Aside the famous shape of the Kintai-kyo, Iwakuni’s bridge, the area is famous for the quasi-national park of Akiyoshidai. A 130 km² plateau with the highest concentration of karst formations in Japan. And under the green landscape, many caves are to be found, including Akiyoshido, the largest of the country. The area is one of the Heisei 100 landscapes.

Another impressive group of Karst formations is to be found on the Tengu plateau, in Southern Shikoku.

How to get there?

Akiyoshidai is located in Mine, in Yamaguchi prefecture. Some buses are reaching the park points of interest, including the cave main entrances, either from Yamaguchi city (JR bus, 60 minutes, 1210 yen, 6 round-trips a day, JR pass OK) or Shin-Yamaguchi (Bocho bus, 45 minutes, 1170 yen, 7-9 round-trips every day).

To reach Yamaguchi from Tokyo, the Sanyo Shinkansen ride is about 5 hours and 20000 yen. The plane with a low-cost airlines might be to consider, with Star Flyer offering flights from Tokyo Haneda to Ube-Yamaguchi from 13000 one way. Another option is to visit the prefecture as a day-trip from Hiroshima, only 1 hour away using the Shinkansen (5800 yen). Iwakuni’s bridge is then half-way.