Hagi prospered for 260 years as a castle town after Mori Terumoto built Hagi Castle in 1604. White or earthen walls and black board hedges line the beautiful town, which has preserved the townscape from Edo Period so well that people say, “You can use the map from Edo Period to this day.”
In 2015, the town went into the world heritage as an “industrial revolution heritage of Japan in Meiji Period.” This is one of the five properties which make up the heritages from the early period of adapting to industrial technology in Hagi area. This property reflects the politics, town management and economy while the local society was adopting to industrialization at the end of samurai ruling. It consists of the castle ruin, former upper-class samurai residential area and former merchant residential area. You can see the mansions of Mori family and other upper-class samurai, homes where Takasugi Shinsaku and Kido Takayoshi were born in. Meander the castle town and take a peek at its history.
In May, Japanese summer oranges begin to bloom, filling the town with sweet, tart scent. Oranges against the white walls are well-known as a picture of Hagi.
Highlights
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The world heritage as an “industrial revolution heritage of Japan in Meiji Period.”
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The ambience of the castle town from Edo Period still remains.
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The homes of historical heroes at the end of samurai period stand to this day.
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Pleasant area to meander, especially for history lovers.
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