Meirinkan, the Hagi domain school, was opened by Mori Yoshimoto, lord of the Hagi domain, in 1719, in order to educate the children of the domain’s retainers. Later, in 1849, it relocated to its present location and expanded in size. The school premises were 50,000 square meters in area, which was enormous for a domain school. This building functioned as the domain school for about 150 years, and it played a major role in Hagi.

The premises include the stately South Gate, which was built to serve as the school’s main entrance, as well as the remains of the Yubikan, where martial arts training with swords and spears was conducted, and Suiren Pond, the only remaining pond in Japan where swimming and horseback riding in water were practiced. The interior of the Yubikan is open to the public, and the building can be toured by visitors.

The premises include a tourist facility called Hagi Meiringakusha. This building displays historical artifacts related to Meirinkan, the Hagi domain school. There is also the Bakumatsu Museum, which exhibits tools and other artifacts used in Japan during the Edo period; the World Heritage Visitor Center, which educates visitors about the Hagi’s World Heritage sites; and other information and facilities for teaching visitors about Hagi.