“Discover HAGI Tours” is a travel service brand founded in 2026 and based in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in western Japan, with the mission of sharing the authentic landscapes and everyday life of rural Japan.
Hagi City is a truly rare place on a global scale. Its castle town layout, established over 400 years ago, remains so perfectly preserved that historical maps from that era can still be used today. Beyond its castle and samurai districts, traditional Japanese countryside scenery—rice fields, the sea, and surrounding mountains—coexists within a compact and easily accessible area.
Hagi City was one of the earliest towns designated under Japan’s Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings system. Under this designation, an exceptionally large area of historic townscapes, including samurai neighborhoods, has been preserved—covering approximately 8 times the area of Kyoto City, 9 times that of Takayama City, and twice that of Kanazawa City.
In addition, Hagi is home to several sites registered as part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, reflecting the city’s significance in Japan’s modern history.
Meanwhile, Kyoto City receives roughly 1,200 times, Takayama City about 110 times, Kanazawa City about 324 times, and nearby Hiroshima City about 995 times as many inbound international visitors as Hagi. As a result, these destinations have become symbols of overtourism, now recognized as a major challenge across Japan.
This makes Hagi City an exceptionally rare destination: a place where travelers can experience Japan’s traditional townscapes and living culture across a vast area—without the crowds.
Hagi City is conveniently located about 1.5 hours from Hiroshima, one of Japan’s most popular cities for international travelers.
Through the experiences offered by Discover HAGI Torus, we hope you will encounter the “Authentic Japan” that guidebooks rarely show.
