The birthplace of Yoshida Shoin, born in 1830 as the second son of Choshu samurai Sugi Yurinosuke. Only the foundation stones remain on a hill overlooking Hagi. Nearby lies the tomb of Shoin and his family, said to hold his hair after his execution during the Ansei Purge.

Yoshida Shoin was born on August 4, 1830, at Chinto in Hagi, as the second son of Choshu samurai Sugi Yurinosuke. His childhood name was Torajiro; he later took the Yoshida family name upon being adopted by his uncle, Yoshida Odai. The family home stood on a hilltop called Dango-iwa, commanding a pa…