Noyama Prison Ruins & Iwakura Prison Ruins

These Municipal Historic Sites are about a 10-minute walk from Higashi-Hagi Station. In 1645, an incident occurred in which the upper-class retainer samurai Iwakura Magobe was drunk and broke into the residence of fellow retainer Noyama Rokuemon and killed his family. Iwakura was sentenced to decapitation, and both clans were broken up and their lands confiscated. The domain later used both houses as prisons, and since the primary guilt lay on Iwakura, the Noyama house was used as a prison for upper class samurai, while Iwakura's was a prison for commoners. Noyama Prison hosted many patriots imprisoned, such as Yoshida Shoin after his failed plot to stowaway to escape abroad, Takasugi Shinsaku, and Katori Motohiko. Iwakura Prison once held Kaneko Shigenosuke, a former attendant of Yoshida Shoin. These ruins offer a glimpse into the turmoil that swept the Hagi domain during the time of the Meiji Restoration.

Spot details

Noyama Prison Ruins & Iwakura Prison Ruins

Address: Yamaguchi Hagi-shi Map
Area: Hagi Area
Phone: 0838251750
Hours: Open 24 hours
Closed: open everyday
Fees: [Visit fee] Free
Parking Lot: Not available
Smoking: Not available
Wi-Fi: Not available
Note: *The phone number leads to the Hagi City Tourist Association.
https://www.hagishi.com/search/detail.php?d=100003(Noyama prison)
https://www.hagishi.com/search/detail.php?d=100004(Iwakura prison)
Estimated stay time: 0-30 minutes
Wheelchair accessible: Available
Infant friendly: Available
Pet friendly: Available