Life in a Castle Town Built on Magma
The Hagi region’s varied geological and geographic features enabled the development of specific businesses and industries. The specific qualities of the volcanic clay found around Hagi made possible the production of distinctive ceramics, called Hagi ware. The rocky seabed off the coast supports a fertile bay. The castle town thrived over the centuries through the benefits of its geologic history. Hagi’s townscape from the Edo period (1603–1867) remains well preserved, a testimony to its inhabitants’ coexistence with and reliance on their geological heritage.
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Old Castle Town
Hagi area
Diagram text above the torii
The 150 years since the Meiji Restoration (1868)
Samurai residences
Temples and shrines
Sake breweries
Ishiya stonemasons’ area
Original Hagi ware kilns
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Hamlet life
Abu Coastal Area
Oku-Abu Area
Tatara ironworks
Oku-Hagi∙Chōmonkyō area
Forestry settlements
Hagi Ōkan road area
Post towns
Mishima Island area
Hagi area
Oku-Abu area
Tokusa Basin area
Farming settlements
Mishima Island area
Hagi area
Susa and Esaki bays area
Abu Sea Coast area
Fishing settlements
Titles:
Industries
Climate and Ecosystem
Geology and Topography
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Hagi ware clay was originally magma
Suited for farmland
A craggy seabed attracts fish
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Formation of Continental Magma
100 million–30 million years ago
Formation of Japan Sea Magma
20 million–12 million years ago
Formation of Island Arc Magma
2 million–8800 years ago
Bottom row
Plate Tectonics
