Sights in Yamaguchi
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Yamaguchi Furusato Heritage Centre
The ground floor of the 1886 sake merchant building (the Manabi-kan; まなび館) has a small display of local crafts, including some Ōuchi dolls, but the building itself is interesting. Go upstairs to get a closer look at the large dark-wood beams, and don't miss the delightful tea-ceremony room made from old sake-brewing barrels – it's in the garden. The modern learning centre is behind the old building, where you can see lacquer ware being made, or make your own lacquer-ware chopsticks (¥840) – reservation required.
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St Francis Xavier Memorial Church
Yamaguchi was a major centre of Christian missionary activity before the religion was outlawed in 1589. The church has the look of a large tent, and sits above the town in Kameyama-kōen. Built in 1952 in honour of St Francis Xavier, it burned down in 1991 and was rebuilt in 1998. The ground-floor Christian museum contains exhibits on the life of Xavier and the early history of Christianity in Japan, most of it in Japanese only. Steps opposite the church lead up the hill to views of Yamaguchi.
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Kōzan-kōen
North of the town centre is Kōzan Park , where the five-storey pagoda of Rurikō-ji (瑠璃光寺), a National Treasure dating from 1404, is picturesquely situated beside a small lake. The park is also the site of the Tōshun-ji (洞春寺) and the graves of the Mōri lords.
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Jōei-ji
About 4km northeast of the JR station, Jōei-ji is notable for its Zen garden, Sesshutei, designed by the painter Sesshū. From the garden, a trail leads uphill through the woods to several more shrines.
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