West Japan, which includes Osaka and Kyoto, offers impressive views of magnificent scenery created by nature, beautiful night views, and historic buildings with over a thousand years of history. Here are five superb views you shouldn’t miss when travelling in the western regions of Kansai and Chugoku.
1.【Tottori】 Tottori Sand Dunes
Sand dunes are hilly mounds of sand formed by the wind. Counted among the most magnificent scenic spots in Japan, the Tottori Sand Dunes (鳥取砂丘 Tottori Sakyu) are made up of rocks from mountains, sand from rivers, and sand from the coast transported over many years.
With the scenic beauty of its sandy dunes, this area covering 131 hectares makes a perfect spot for photography. First gather some information at the Tottori Sand Dune Visitor Center, then take a walk through the dunes! The observation deck facing the sightseeing lifts and the guided tour are recommended.
Tottori Sand Dunes Visitor Center (鳥取砂丘ビジターセンター)
Address: 2164-971 Fukubecho Yuyama, Tottori-shi, Tottori 689-0105
Nearest station: JR Tottori Station (鳥取駅)
2. 【Wakayama】 Hashiguiiwa Rocks
Located in the town of Kushimoto (串本町) in Wakayama Prefecture (和歌山県), at the southernmost tip of Honshu, the Hashiguiiwa Rocks (橋杭岩) offer some of the most spectacular scenery on the coastline.
From the coast to the isle of Oshima (大島) at sea, 40 rocks of various sizes are arrayed in a straight line for about 850 meters, creating a marvellous landscape that gives a sense of nature’s wonder. The rocks resemble the pillars used for building bridges, so they were named Hashiguiiwa, which means “bridge pillar rocks” in Japanese.
Although these odd-looking rocks were actually formed by marine erosion, legends hold that the legendary mysterious scenery was created overnight by Kobo Daishi (弘法大師), an ancient Japanese Buddhist teacher.
Be sure to drop into the adjacent Kushimoto Hashiguiiwa Roadside Station (道の駅くしもと橋杭岩 Michi-no-Eki Kushimoto Hashiguiiwa). The soft-serve ice cream made using locally produced ponkan citrus is exquisite.
Hashiguiiwa Rocks (橋杭岩)
Address: Kujinokawa, Kushimoto-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama 649-3500
Nearest station: Kushimoto Station (串本駅)
Michi-no-Eki Kushimoto Hashiguiiwa (道の駅くしもと橋杭岩)
Address: 1549-8 Kujinokawa, Kushimoto-cho, Higashimuro-gun, Wakayama 649-3511
Nearest station: Kushimoto Station (串本駅)
3. 【Tokushima】 Naruto Strait
The Naruto Strait (鳴門海峡 Naruto-kaikyō) is a narrow strait, only 1.3km wide, between Awaji Island (淡路島 Awaji-shima) and Magosaki (孫崎) in the city of Naruto (鳴門市) on the island of Shikoku (四国). The strait is one of the most spectacular views of Japan due to the Naruto whirlpools, which can only be seen here.
Whirlpools are formed of swirling seawater caused by the ebb and flow of the sea. Take a trip on a cruising boat to see spectacular whirlpools right before your eyes, some up to 20 meters in diameter. Witness the intense flow of tides, splashing and swirling up close!
Take the Onaruto Bridge Uzu-no-Michi Whirlpool Walkway (大鳴門橋遊歩道 渦の道 Ōnarutohashi-yūhodō Uzu-no-michi) and walk along the bridge while viewing the whirlpools directly below you. The best time to see the whirlpools changes daily, so be sure to check in advance!
Onaruto Bridge Uzu-no-Michi Whirlpool Walkway (大鳴門橋遊歩道 渦の道)
Address: 65 Fukuike, Naruto-cho, Toadomariura, Naruto-shi, Tokushima 772-0053
Nearest station: Naruto Station (鳴門駅)
4. 【Hyogo】 Kobe Night View
Kobe (神戸), a leading port city of the Kansai Region, is also famous for its beautiful night views. The city boasts many spots for superb night views, and many people visit the city to see the glittering lights that resemble jewels.
One of the most popular night view spots is the Kikuseidai Observatory Plaza (掬星台) near the peak of Mount Maya (摩耶山 Maya-san). The night view of Kobe from here is counted among Japan’s three top night views, along with Mount Hakodate in Hokkaido and Mount Inasa in Nagasaki.
The Mount Rokko Tenran Observatory Deck (六甲山天覧台) at Rokko Sanjo Station on the Rokko Cable Line is also recommended!
Kikuseidai Observatory Plaza (掬星台)
Address: 2-2 Mayasancho, Nada-k, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0105
Nearest train station: Ojikoen Station (王子公園駅)
Tenran Observatory Deck (六甲山天覧台)
Address: 1-32 Ichigatani, Rokkosancho, Nada-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 657-0101
Nearest train station: Rokkō Station (六甲駅)
5. 【Shiga】 Enryaku-ji Temple, Mount Hiei
Enryaku-ji Temple (延暦寺) on Mount Hiei (比叡山 Hiei-zan) is a sacred place for Buddhist training that was founded 1,200 years ago by the Buddhist monk Saicho. Since then, it has produced many famous monks up to the present day, and is known as “the mother mountain of Japanese Buddhism”.
Enryaku-ji is not the name of a single temple, but rather a collective term for the Buddhist temples in this mountain area. About 100 Buddhist temples are scattered across a vast mountainous area of 1,700 hectares, including Konpon Chudo Hall (根本中堂), which is listed as a National Treasure. Don’t miss these many historical Buddhist buildings built in the name of religious dedication.
Enryaku-ji Temple (延暦寺)
Address: 4220 Sakamotohonmachi, Otsu, Shiga 520-0116
Nearest station: Sakamoto-hieizanguchi Station (坂本比叡山口駅)
Closing
Beyond the five superb views introduced here, the West Japan is home to many other outstanding spots. Why not go a little further on your journey and seek out your own favourite Japanese landscape?
Header image credit: KANSAI Tourism Bureau
This article is contributed by the KANSAI Tourism Bureau. For more information, visit:
All information presented is accurate as of 01/09/2020.
