Tsuwano Getting there & around

Getting there & away

The JR Yamaguchi line runs from Shin-Yamaguchi on the south coast through Yamaguchi to Tsuwano and on to Masuda on the north coast. There are connections from Tsuwano to Shin-Yamaguchi (¥1110, 1¾ hours) and Masuda (¥570, 40 minutes). Seven buses a day (¥2080, two hours) and two expresses buses (¥2080, 1¼ hours) run between Tsuwano and Hagi.

From mid-March to late November there’s a popular steam-locomotive service from Shin-Yamaguchi to Tsuwano. It mainly runs on weekends, the Golden Week holiday (late April to early May) and from late July to late August. The SL Yamaguchi-gō service is operated with two restored 1930s locomotives pulling antique carriages that travel between Shin-Yamaguchi and Tsuwano. The trip costs ¥1620 and takes two hours. Ask for up-to-date details and book well ahead at JR and tourist information offices. Details in Japanese at www.c571.jp.