Kasa-yama

Western Honshū


About 6km northeast of central Hagi is this 112m dormant volcano. The top has gorgeous views of the Sea of Japan and a tiny 30m-deep crater. There is also a walking track around the coast. From late February to late March, a beautiful grove of camellias blooms here.

The pond at the mountain's base, Myōjin-ike (明神池), is connected to the sea and shelters a variety of saltwater fish. Look and listen for birds in the surrounding trees.

About a five-minute walk up the mountain from the pond is Hagi Glass, where quartz basalt from the volcano is used to make extremely tough Hagi glassware. The showroom and shop display beautiful coloured vases and you can watch the glassblowing process. Next door is Hagi's own beer and citrus-juice factory, Yuzuya Honten. Stop in here to see the very small team at work, taste juice in the attached shop, or have a refreshing mikan-flavoured (satsuma) soft cream.

Buses go to Kasa-yama from Higashi-Hagi Station once every one to 1½ hours (¥280, 15 minutes); get off at the Koshi-ga-hama stop, about eight minutes' walk from the base of the mountain and Myōjin-ike.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Western Honshū attractions

1. Yuzuya Honten

0.48 MILES

On Kasa-yama, this is Hagi's own beer and citrus-juice factory, where you can stop in to see the very small team at work, taste juice in the attached shop…

2. Hagi Glass

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At Kasa-yama, 6km north of Higashi-Hagi, this Hagi glassware showroom and shop displays some beautiful coloured-glass vases and cups, and you can watch…

3. Shizuki-kōen

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Within this park, there's not much of the old Hagi-jō to see, apart from the castle's typically imposing outer walls and the surrounding carp-filled moat…

4. Shizuki-yama-jinja

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The Shizuki shrine houses the remains of some lords of the Mōri clan.

5. Hanano-e Tea House

2.69 MILES

Within the Shizuki-kōen, this mid-19th-century teahouse serves matcha (powdered green tea). It's sometimes closed for renovations, so check ahead.

6. Hagi-jō

2.72 MILES

There's not much of the old Hagi-jō to see, apart from the typically imposing outer walls and the surrounding moat. The castle was built in 1604 and…

7. Hagi-yaki Museum

2.79 MILES

This small hagi-yaki (Hagi ceramic ware) museum displays bowls, cups and interesting ornamental figures, mostly from the 1600s.

8. Hagi-jō Kiln

2.82 MILES

Hagi-yaki (Hagi ceramic ware) is noted for its fine glazes and delicate pastel colours, and connoisseurs of Japanese ceramics rank it as some of the best…