Tourism NYT ranked Yamaguchi third in '52 Places to Go in 2024'

[thomas]

The New York Times has picked Yamaguchi City in western Japan as one of the "52 Places to Go in 2024." The city is the third choice among this year's favoured travel destinations, behind total solar eclipse viewpoints in North America and Paris, stating that Yamaguchi is often called the "Kyoto of the West" and describing it as a compact city that has considerably less "tourism pollution" than the ancient capital.

Yamaguchi is often called the Kyoto of the West, though it's much more interesting than that — and it suffers from considerably less "tourism pollution." A compact city of about 190,000, it lies in a narrow valley between the Inland and Japan seas. With its impeccable gardens and its stunning five-story pagoda, Rurikoji Temple is a national treasure. The city's small winding lanes offer an assortment of experiences: pottery kilns like Mizunoue, situated on the grounds of Toshunji Temple; chic coffee shops like Log and Coffeeboy, and older-style options like Haraguchi; and wonderful counter-only shops that serve oden, or one-pot dishes. Just a 15-minute walk south is the hot-springs village of Yuda Onsen. Given the tourist crush in Kyoto, Yamaguchi has also been offering a smaller scale — but no less historic — alternative to Kyoto's Gion summer festival for some 600 years. Yamaguchi's Gion Festival, which features parades, costumes and dancing, also takes place in July; 2024 will be its first year operating again at full tilt since the pre-Covid era.

Yamaguchi City chosen among The New York Times '52 Places to Go in 2024' | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

The New York Times has picked Yamaguchi City in western Japan as one of the "52 Places to Go in 2024."

www3.nhk.or.jp

52 Places to Go in 2024

No matter why you travel, our list offers inspiration.

www.nytimes.com

 

[Mikawa Ossan]

Yamaguchi prefecture is actually quite a nice place, not just Yamaguchi City.

There's Akiyoshidai and Shuhodou, Hagi, Shimonoseki, Iwakuni...

And the people are very nice, or at least they were more than 20 years ago when I lived there for a time.

 

[mdchachi]

I've already booked three locations in the eclipse path. I'll decide which to go to based on the weather a few days before. We saw the total eclipse in 2017 and it was incredible.

 

[musicisgood]

And l live here. It's beautiful. So much to see and do.

 

[thomas]

And l live here. It's beautiful. So much to see and do.

Which shrine was that, @musicisgood?


After making it on the New York Times' top travel list, Yamaguchi hopes for more tourists from abroad this year. One problem, however, is that the city's most iconic sightseeing spot, the five-story pagoda at Rurikoji temple, will not be available for tourists to see for quite some time, as it is closed until 2025.

It is one of the "three famous pagodas of Japan" along with those at Horyuji temple in Nara and Daigoji temple in Kyoto, and it is the only national treasure in Yamaguchi. However, the entire structure is completely covered in sheets, and it will likely remain that way throughout the year after work to replace the hinoki bark roofing began last year, the first major project to replace the entire roof in 70 years. Removing the safety sheeting covering the pagoda is scheduled to begin in March 2025. However, the scaffolding will not be removed and the pagoda will not appear in its original glory, until the fall of 2025. So much for the "place to go in 2024." "It is unfortunate that (visitors) will not be able to see the beauty of the pagoda, but we hope to convey the significance of the fact that they are witnessing a historic moment of work being done to preserve the pagoda for future generations," said Yukie Yoshitani, general manager of the prefectural tourism federation. On 10 January, a couple in their 60s who came from Tokyo to Yamaguchi visited the temple site. They said they had known that the pagoda was under construction and "were disappointed" that they could not see any of it at all.

Yamaguchi aims for more tourism after listing in New York Times | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

 

[Hiroyuki Nagashima]

Speaking of a noted product of Yamaguchi, it is globefish dishes.

 

[musicisgood]

Which shrine was that, @musicisgood?


After making it on the New York Times' top travel list, Yamaguchi hopes for more tourists from abroad this year. One problem, however, is that the city's most iconic sightseeing spot, the five-story pagoda at Rurikoji temple, will not be available for tourists to see for quite some time, as it is closed until 2025.

View attachment 110837​

Yamaguchi aims for more tourism after listing in New York Times | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

Yes it is true. I live very close to it also. It's been said to have a 5 year remodel plan. There is a very beautiful park next to it. Many tourist visit it. Yamaguchi station has a staff that speaks English in their tourist office. A few Japanese here offer personal tours. I met one of them and he speaks several languages. Also our university in town has 100's of foreign students and that says something about the life style out in what many consider the countryside of rural Japan. It's actually one of the cheapest places to live in Japan. University student apartments can be found for as little as 10000 yen here.
Welcome to Yamaguchi, folks.

 

[musicisgood]

Speaking of a noted product of Yamaguchi, it is globefish dishes.

You know, I"ve never tried to eat them. It is not very expensive either here.

 

[musicisgood]

Which shrine was that, @musicisgood?


After making it on the New York Times' top travel list, Yamaguchi hopes for more tourists from abroad this year. One problem, however, is that the city's most iconic sightseeing spot, the five-story pagoda at Rurikoji temple, will not be available for tourists to see for quite some time, as it is closed until 2025.

View attachment 110837​

Yamaguchi aims for more tourism after listing in New York Times | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

I know the name but I wrote it down, i need to find it in my notebook. It is a shrine on the way to Akiyoshidou. I usually come here and meditate. Have to take the shoes off though in certain areas.