Mohri Museum / Mohri Garden

Mori Museum is located at the base of Mt. Tatarayama in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. It is comprised of one part of the principal residence of the former Mori clan, who were the feudal lords of the Choshu Domain, and around 20,000 pieces of historical documents and fine arts and crafts affiliated with the clan are on display. Also designated as an Important Cultural Property of Japan, the Japanese-style architecture of this mansion brought together some of the most cutting-edge facilities of the time, and its dignified figure stands in harmony with the nature surrounding it. Extending out in front of the Mori estate is Mori Clan Teien Garden, a Japanese teien garden selected as a National Place of Scenic Beauty. Here, visitors can enjoy vibrant scenery in each season: cherry blossoms in spring, green maple leaves in summer, and changing colors in autumn. The garden is particularly well known for its autumn colors, and from mid-November to early December the line of maple trees extending out from the front gate becomes a curtain of red, a charming sight for the many visitors. Visitors can see the maple trees lining the path from the front gate to the garden for free, but every year during the season of autumn colors an exhibit of national treasures is held at the museum, so we recommend both stopping by the exhibit and taking a stroll through the colorful trees in one trip.