For those looking to explore beyond Hiroshima, Yamaguchi makes for an excellent day excursion. This small city has a spectrum of sights from the ancient to the hyper-modern, with the prism-like architecture of Francis Xavier church creating a striking contrast with the ancient zen temple of Joei-ji. Yamaguchi also boasts one of the finest examples of a five-tiered pagoda at Ruriko-ji temple, and one of Japan’s few remaining steam trains which runs on an irregular schedule to nearby Tsuwano.