Kikugahama is a popular Hagi destination in summer!
This beach, with its blue ocean water and white sand, is open as a swimming beach from mid-July to mid-August each year.
The clarity of the water and the beautiful beach attract numerous visitors.

Kikugahama is also famous for its beautiful sunsets. The ocean and sky change color at sunset, and dramatic cloud formations provide breathtaking views that change from one moment to the next.

We have one more sight to recommend. It’s the observation deck at the summit of Mt. Kasa. From the summit of Mt. Kasa, a small volcano with a height of 112 meters, visitors can enjoy an expansive view of the ocean. The observation deck has a café, so visitors are invited to relax and sip one of its proprietary beverages while enjoying the view. The sunset view is also wonderful, of course.

At the summit, there is a volcanic crater roughly 30 meters deep that you can climb down into to see the red rock surface up close. At the foot of Mt. Kasa, there is a spot called a “wind cave” that is cool all year round and recommended for hot summer days.

A fireworks festival takes place at Kikugahama on August 1 each year. Visitors can experience the power and incredible booms of the fireworks close up as they are launched from the water’s surface.

The Hagi Mantoe Festival takes place on August 13 and 15 each year. Traditionally, in Japanese Buddhism, the spirits of one’s ancestors are venerated during a summer period called Obon. The Mantoe Festival takes place at the gravesites of the Mori family at Daisho-in Temple and Toko-ji Temple to mourn the passing of the Mori family members who historically ruled the Hagi domain as feudal lords. At night, the 500-plus stone lanterns that line these gravesites are lit with candles, creating a magical atmosphere of soft lighting.

We cannot discuss summer flowers without mentioning sunflowers. Some 330,000 sunflowers bloom each summer in the Mutsumi area of Hagi. It’s quite some distance from downtown Hagi, so you will need to take a car or local bus to get there. The best viewing period is from late July to early August. Unrin-ji Temple, the famous “cat temple,” is a 30-minute walk from the sunflower field.