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Voykit pocket guide · Japan
Mine
美祢市
Spend a half‑day to a full day in Mine to see Akiyoshi Cave and the karst plateau; no need to stay overnight.
Mine is a small city in Yamaguchi Prefecture, best known for Akiyoshidai plateau and Akiyoshi Cave, the longest cave in Japan. The sights are clustered, so a single day is enough for the main attractions.
- Country
- Japan
- Local name
- 美祢市
- Best months
- Mar–May, Oct–Nov
- Avoid
- Jul–Aug (hot, humid)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- JPY
- Money
- Cities are increasingly cashless; temples, small restaurants and some lodging taxes still want cash.
- Daily spend
- Budget ¥5,000–7,000 excl. bed · Mid ¥7,000–12,000 excl. bed · High ¥12,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Data-only eSIMs are the easy route: buy before you fly; voice SIMs need a residence card.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · Fire and ambulance 119
- Plugs
- Types A, B · 100 V · 50 Hz east (Tokyo), 60 Hz west (Osaka) · Most sockets are two flat pins without earth; European and UK plugs need an adapter. Phone and laptop chargers handle 100 V.
- Tipping
- Restaurants and bars: No tip; staff will chase you to return money left on the table.; Taxis: No tip; pay the meter.; Ryokan: Optional: ¥1,000–3,000 in an envelope for the room attendant; never loose cash.; Private guide: Not expected; a small gift or a thank-you meal is more usual.; Hotel porter: No tip.
- Water
- Safe from the tap everywhere; stations and parks have fountains.
- Toilets
- Free, clean public toilets in stations, parks and konbini; paper goes in the toilet. Rural and old stations may have squat toilets.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee at a café | ¥300–¥500 |
| Bento box | ¥600–¥1,200 |
| Taxi (5 km (3.1 mi))Taxi (3.1 mi (5 km)) | ¥2,000–¥2,500 |
| Akiyoshi Cave entry | ¥1,200 |
| Karst taxi day pass | ¥800 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- UBJ · Yamaguchi Ube Airport
- Bus or train to Mine about 1 h (check)
Typical fares
- Shin‑Yamaguchi → Akiyoshi Cave (bus)
- about ¥1,200, 45 min (check)
- Karst taxi day pass
- ¥800 for unlimited rides (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Local buses from Shin‑Yamaguchi Station reach the plateau; a ‘karst taxi’ can take you to remote caves. Walking is common on the plateau trails.
See and do
Known for
- Akiyoshi Cave
- Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau
- Karst landscape
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Akiyoshi Cave | Bus from Shin‑Yamaguchi Station (≈45 min) or karst taxi; walk 10 min to cave entrance | ≈1 h total |
| Akiyoshidai Plateau | Same bus/karst taxi; follow marked walking trails | ≈1 h from city centre |
Sleep
- Mine City centre
- Small guesthouses and ryokan; suitable for a night if you prefer rest after hiking.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | すみませんsumimasen |
| Thank you | ありがとうございますarigatō gozaimasu |
| How much is it? | いくらですか？ikura desu ka |
| Where is the toilet? | トイレはどこですか？toire wa doko desu ka |
| Can I pay by card? | カードで払えますか？kādo de haraemasu ka |
| I need help | 助けてくださいtasukete kudasai |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: A small bow; a handshake if the other person offers; avoid: Hugs, back slaps, loud greetings
- Names: Family name plus -san; avoid: First names unless invited; adding -san to your own name
- Paying: Put money in the tray at the register; avoid: Tipping, or leaving loose cash for staff
- Trains: Queue at the floor marks, phone on silent, ask before reclining on the Shinkansen; avoid: Phone calls, eating on crowded commuter trains, blocking doors with bags
- Escalators: Stand on the side locals use — left in Tokyo, right in Osaka; stations now ask people to stand still on both; avoid: Stopping at the top or bottom
- Shoes: Off at the step-up entrance; toilet slippers only inside the toilet; avoid: Stepping on tatami in shoes or slippers
- Shrines: Rinse hands at the basin; bow twice, clap twice, bow once; avoid: Walking down the centre of the approach, which is for the deity
- Gifts: Offer and receive with both hands; bring a small omiyage for hosts; avoid: Sets of four; cash outside an envelope
Scams and watch-outs
- Cave opening hours are 08:30‑16:30; check for seasonal closures.
- Winter snow can block some trail sections; bring proper footwear.
Mine is low‑risk; main concerns are cave lighting and winter trail conditions.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Mine yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Akiyoshi Cave
- Akiyoshidai Karst Plateau
- Karst landscape
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Mine city official site: www2.city.mine.lg.jp/
- Akiyoshi Cave tourist site: akiyoshido.karusuto.com/
- Akiyoshidai Quasi‑National Park: karusuto.com/
- Wikivoyage: Mine, revision 5311938 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5311938
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/mine). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.