Yamaguchi City

① Climate

Reference: JMA normals 1991–2020 / Yamaguchi Station

• Annual mean temperature: 15.3 °C
• Typical highs/lows: Aug 26.5 °C / Jan 4.3 °C
• Humidity: Peak ~84% in Jul / Lowest ~68% in Mar
• Annual snowfall: Little (a few cm per year)
• Sunshine hours: Longest around Oct–Nov
• Annual precipitation: ~1,790 mm (wettest ~270 mm in Jul / driest ~70 mm in Jan)

② Landform

 Located in central Yamaguchi, the city sits in a basin encircled by the Chūgoku Mountains.
 The Fushino and Niho rivers run through the urban area, forming fertile alluvial plains.
 The south shows Setouchi-type climate, while the northern Ato area is a cooler inland highland.
 Mountainous zones include Tokusagamine and Tōhōbeyama with rich natural forests.

③ Industry

 As the prefectural seat, service sectors for government, education, and healthcare are strong, alongside tourism centered on Yuda Onsen and balanced agro-forestry across basins and hills. Local food processing, wood-related businesses, and small manufacturers are scattered throughout.
Specialties

• Uirō (sweet rice cake): A classic Yamaguchi confection.
• Yuda Onsen manju: A signature bun from the hot-spring district.
• Tokusa Apples: A leading brand fruit grown in the Ato area.

④ Local Culture & Traditions

 In the Muromachi era, the Ōuchi clan fostered a capital of culture known as the “Kyoto of the West.”
 Traditions such as the Gion Festival modeled on Yasaka Shrine and notable syncretic Shinto-Buddhist culture remain.
 Today it’s still a hub of arts, education, and international exchange.

• Yamaguchi Gion Bayashi: Festival music of Yasaka Shrine dating back to the Ōuchi period.
• Niho Shishi-mai (lion dance): A ritual performing art with origins in the Muromachi era.
• Yuda Onsen White-Fox Dance: A creative folk dance inspired by the hot-spring legend.