Waki, town in Kuga district, Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan
Waki is a small town at the mouth of the Oze River on the border between Yamaguchi and Hiroshima prefectures. The main part sits near the river where the town hall and busy streets are located, while the surrounding areas blend lowlands with hills and scattered hamlets along tributary streams.
Waki has ancient roots with burial sites from the Kofun period dating back about 1500 years, showing early human settlement. During the Edo period it was part of Iwakuni Domain, and the town was officially established in 1973 after centuries of existence as a local administrative unit.
The name Waki reflects a harmony between people and the land, a concept visible in local festivals and traditions that celebrate the seasons and honor nature. Residents gather in communal spaces to share meals and maintain close-knit ties, keeping this sense of continuity alive in their daily interactions.
The town is easily accessible by train since Waki Station sits on the San'yo Main Line with regular service to Iwakuni and Hiroshima. Major highways also run through the town, linking it to larger expressways and making car travel convenient for visitors and residents.
Waki has maintained a sister city relationship with Eniwa in Hokkaido since 1979, rooted in the migration of families from Waki during the late 1800s. This surprising connection between two distant communities is still celebrated through mutual visits and shared commemoration of their linked history.
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