Forgo Japan’s tourist hotspots and instead, discover Hagi, a coastal city in Yamaguchi Prefecture beloved for its natural beauty, cultural heritage, nostalgic castle town, and exquisite seafood.
Here, the country’s powerful samurai legacy still pervades daily life, preserved in its mountain trails, former post towns, and castle town. One of the best ways to explore the city’s history is with an e-biking tour hosted by Discover HAGI Tours. Founded in 2026, this locally based travel service aims to introduce visitors to the authentic landscapes and everyday life of rural Japan through experiences that are often difficult to find in major tourist destinations. The company works closely with local residents, artisans, and small businesses to create experiences that reflect the true character of the area.
In this article, we will introduce two immersive, samurai-related cycling e-biking tours: Hagi-Okan Samurai Trail E-Bike Adventure and Hagi Samurai Town Cycling.
Not only are these tours physically and mentally engaging, they are also available in English, so you don’t need to worry about a language barrier. If you so wish, you can even combine the two tours for a full-day adventure.
Tour #1: Hagi-Okan Samurai Trail E-Bike Adventure
Follow the footsteps of samurai past with the Hagi-Okan Samurai Trail E-Bike Adventure.
This fascinating tour follows a section of the historic Hagi-Okan, a mountain trail samurai once used to travel between Hagi and Edo—present-day Tokyo. The trail is now designated as a cultural property of Yamaguchi Prefecture.
Bike along stone paths and forest trails where lush foliage encircles you. In summer, you can even refresh in burbling streams dotted with moss-adorned rocks. Once you exit the forest, wide sceneries of farmland framed by distant mountains greet you. Along the way, you will also take breaks at scenic viewpoints to fully appreciate the surrounding landscape.
The tour also introduces two former post towns known for their red Sekishu roof tiles. These historical places of rest capture the atmosphere of old Japan with their wooden facades and traditional aesthetics. You will truly feel as though you have stepped into another era.
As you cycle, you can rely on your e-bike to ease any fatigue. The e-bikes ensure that a variety of riders can join the tour regardless of their fitness level. You can also ride easy knowing that an experienced guide trained in first-aid will accompany you. A support vehicle equipped with water, first aid supplies, and repair tools will also be available at each stop.
Itinerary
- Meet at Discover HAGI Tours’ office
- Ride in a car for about 20 minutes to the starting point
- Enjoy the biking adventure for approximately three hours
- Return to Discover HAGI Tours’ office
Logistics
- Duration: four hours (three hours of cycling)
- Difficulty: moderate
- Distance: approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles)
- Elevation gain: approximately 450 meters (1,500 feet)
- Price: ¥24,800 per person (¥49,600 per two people)
- Minimum group size: two people
Important notes
- Please book the tour at least one week in advance.
- The minimum age is 12 years old.
- You must be able to ride a bike independently to join this tour.
- You must have appropriate travel insurance covering accidents and medical expenses.
- Please bring: comfortable clothing for biking, suitable shoes, warm layers, a backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen, a rain jacket and pants (recommended), and snacks (recommended).
Please review the official page for more details about inclusions, exclusions, and the cancellation policy.
Tour #2: Hagi Samurai Town Cycling
Hagi flourished as a castle town between the 17th and 19th century. Largely unscathed by natural disasters and war, Hagi’s castle town still stands today and is regarded as one of Japan’s most extensively preserved castle towns from the Edo period (1603–1868). In fact, it is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
This leisurely bike ride avoids crowds and follows traditional streets and a scenic coastline, introducing you to quiet, lesser-known spots. The tour goes beyond typical sightseeing, highlighting how Hagi’s residents continue to preserve their home for the present and future.
Again, since the tour offers e-bikes, various riders can enjoy cycling no matter their fitness level.
Itinerary
- Meet at Discover HAGI Tours’ office
- Explore Hagi’s castle town on bike for approximately 3.5 hours
- Return to Discover HAGI Tours’ office
Logistics
- Duration: three hours and 30 minutes
- Difficulty: easy
- Distance: approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles)
- Price: ¥12,100
Important notes
- Please book the tour at least one day in advance.
- The minimum age is 12 years old.
- You must be able to ride a bike independently to join this tour.
- You must have appropriate travel insurance covering accidents and medical expenses.
- Please bring: comfortable clothing for biking, suitable shoes, warm layers, a backpack, sunglasses, sunscreen, drinks, a rain jacket and pants (recommended), and snacks (recommended).
Please review the official page for more details about inclusions, exclusions, and the cancellation policy.
Explore more of Hagi
In addition to the biking tours, Hagi offers a plethora of activities and sightseeing spots that you can enjoy before and after your cycling journeys.
- Mt. Kasayama Camellia Grove - a 10-hectare grove home to around 25,000 camellias. Best seen between mid-February and late March.
- Susa Hornfels - oceanside cliffs with alternating striations of black shale and light gray sandstone, resulting in a unique striped appearance.
- Chomonkyo - a captivating gorge designated as both a National Site of Scenic Beauty and a Yamaguchi Prefectural Natural Park. The most popular time to visit is autumn.
- Myojin-ike Pond - a tree-encircled, saltwater lake listed on the National Register of Natural Monuments. You can observe saltwater fish, hawks, and similar birds of prey.
- Daishoin Temple - home to the Mori Clan graveyard. Located in the forest behind the temple, this cemetery is filled with over 600 stone lanterns donated by the clan’s loyal vassals. The Mori Clan followed a burial system in which odd- and even-numbered generations were buried separately. The graves of the first lord and even-numbered generations lie here.
- Tokoji Temple - in the woods behind the temple, the Mori Clan graveyard features over 500 donated stone lanterns and multiple torii gates. Here, the clan’s odd-numbered generations were laid to rest.
- Unrinji (“Cat Temple”) - the complex is home to a variety of wooden cat statues, cat-inspired ema (votive tablets) and protective amulets, and cat-themed artwork.
- Hagi Yaki - one of Japan’s most celebrated types of pottery, frequently used in tea ceremonies. It is renowned for its soft, porous texture, which allows tea to seep into the surface and subtly chain the color over time.
- Yukawa Family Old Residence - a former collective residence for samurai, located along the Aibagawa Waterway. The building has numerous rooms that illustrate past life through their designs and displayed artifacts.
- Hagi Meirin Gakusha - a local museum and tourist facility located in Meirin Elementary School’s former building—Japan’s largest wooden schoolhouse.
- Hagi Uragami Museum - an art museum that preserves and exhibits a core group of oriental arts from the world’s most valuable collections, including ukiyo-e (Japanese woodblock prints) and oriental ceramics.
- Kikugahama Beach - a popular summer time retreat for swimming, sunbathing, water sports, and sunset viewing.
Access to Hagi
You can reach Hagi by plane, shinkansen, and express bus.
Plane
The two closest airports to Hagi are Yamaguchi Ube Airport and Hagi Iwami Airport. From Tokyo Haneda Airport, flights to these airports depart on a daily basis and take about 95 minutes. From the airports, Hagi is 70 to 80 minutes away via taxi or rental car. There are also numerous bus options available.
Train
JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station is the closest shinkansen station to Hagi and accessible via the Sanyo Shinkansen. It is about four hours and 30 minutes from Tokyo, two hours from Osaka, 32 minutes from Hiroshima, and 35 minutes from Fukuoka. Once you reach JR Shin-Yamaguchi Station, you can take a bus to Hagi, which takes between 70 and 90 minutes.
Express bus
Lastly, you can reach Hagi via an express bus from Tokyo Station (14 hours and 30 minutes), Kyoto Station (13 hours and 15 minutes), Shin-Osaka Station (12 hours and 20 minutes), and Sannomiya Bus Terminal in Kobe (10 hours and 45 minutes).
Uncover a new side of Japan
Discover HAGI Tours’ cycling adventures offer immersive and comfortably athletic experiences that highlight Hagi’s cultural and natural wonders. For a less touristy look into one of Japan’s hidden gems, we highly recommend checking out these biking tours!
