[Western Kochi Prefecture, Otsuki Town] The last resort where you can see floating ships! Enjoy "Kashiwajima" to the fullest

What kind of place is Kashiwajima? How do I get there?

View of Kashiwajima from Wataba fishing port. Boats appear to be floating (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

Located in the southwestern tip of Shikoku, the farthest point from Tokyo, just above Cape Ashizuri Misaki, a familiar spot from typhoon coverage, is the island of Kashiwajima, connected to the tip of the Otsuki Peninsula, which juts out to the west, by two bridges. This is a small island with a circumference of 4km, and most of it is inhabited by very few flat areas.

Many people from all over Japan, and indeed the world, come to this small island in search of its idyllic rural town scenery and the crystal clear waters that rival those of Okinawa and its remote islands, where boats are said to appear to float in the air.
It is also immensely popular as a mecca for marine resorts where over 1,000 species of marine life can be seen that inhabit the seas to the east, west, north and south.

By plane or car: From either Kochi Ryoma Airport or Matsuyama Airport, it takes about 3.5 hours to get to the roadside station "Fureai Park Otsuki " near the center of Otsuki Town . From there, it is about a 20-minute drive to Kashiwajima.

If you are using public transport only: ( Kochi Ryoma Airport → Bus →) Kochi Station → Connect to JR and Tosa Kuroshio Railway (about 2 hours 20 minutes) → Sukumo Station → Bus (about 25 minutes, few buses) → Roadside Station Fureai Park Otsuki → Bus (about 40 minutes, very few buses) → Kashiwajima

Don't miss this place! Once you see it, you'll never forget it!

Scenic spot No. 1: Kashiwajima Bridge

Kashiwajima Bridge in summer (Photo by Lagoon Racing)

There are two bridges connecting Kashiwajima to the mainland of Shikoku, an old one and a new one, but it is the old Kashiwajima Bridge that is used for filming movies, etc. The water is so clear and close that you can see fish from the bridge, and depending on the strength and angle of the light, and the lack of waves, the boats floating nearby look as if they are "floating."

The area under the bridge is a great spot for splashing around in the water and snorkeling. There are toilets and a large parking lot nearby, so it's convenient. In the summer, there are many stalls and it gets very crowded. Please be careful as cars also pass by.

Scenic spot No. 2: Shirahama

Shirahama Beach in summer (Photo by Lagoon Racing)

This is the private beach of Kashiwajima. Located beneath a cliff that cannot be seen from the road, this white sand beach is rare in Otsuki Town and Kashiwajima, and many visitors come here in search of a private beach.

If you go up the new Kashiwajima Bridge a little on the mainland side, you will come across a gap in the guardrail on the sea side, where you will find stairs leading down to the beach. It is a small beach blocked on both sides by huge rocks, but it has been kept beautiful thanks to the efforts of local people. It is a shallow beach where it is easy to play.

Scenic spot number 3: Kannon Rock and Omangataki Falls

Kannon Rock (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

This strange rock, resembling a 30m-tall Kannon statue, suddenly appears on the cliffs of Odo Beach. There is also a legend that this rock once glowed and guided shipwrecks to the area.

On the way towards Kashiwajima from the national highway, just past the drop-off point for Ryugahama Campsite, there is a large space on the left. At the Oku of this space is the trailhead to Kannon Rock. There are signs and road signs, so you shouldn't get lost.
After climbing about 30 steps from the trailhead, Kannon Rock will soon come into view.

If you go to the right at the T-junction, you will reach the Kannon Rock Observatory at the end of a steep road. You cannot see Kannon Rock from here, but instead you can enjoy a magnificent view of the magnificent cliffs of Odo Coast.

If you go left at the T-junction, you can enjoy the magnificent view of Kannon Rock from different angles, and if you continue Oku, you can head towards Omanga Falls. Unlike a waterfall with flowing water, Omanga Falls offers a great panoramic view overlooking Kashiwajima from a height of about 130m. If you are in good condition, you can reach the top by climbing the well-maintained promenade from Kannon Rock in about 20 minutes, but we recommend wearing comfortable shoes (not sandals) and bringing a drink.

Spectacular view from Omanga Falls (Photo courtesy of Lagoon Racing)

Scenic spot #4: Issai Pass Rest Area

A view of Kashiwajima in summer from the Issai Pass Rest Area. Behind Kashiwajima is an island off the coast of Sukumo City. Part of Birou Island is also visible (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

On the way from the national highway towards Kashiwajima, when you turn into a side road called Kashiwajima Tunnel, the shorter of two tunnels, the view suddenly opens up and you will see a triangular-roofed gazebo.

From here, you can get a panoramic view of Kashiwajima Island from a height of about 100m, as well as a view of Sukumo Bay in its entirety. On the right is Koumomisaki Cape (Ainan Town, Ehime Prefecture ), and on clear winter days you can see all the way to Kyushu.

Scenic spot No. 5: Oodoyama Observatory

Kashiwajima and the tip of the Otsuki Peninsula in winter as seen from the Odoyama Observatory. Okinoshima and Birou Islands can be seen in the background. (Photo courtesy of Lagoon Racing)

If you go back a little from the above mentioned Issai Toge Rest Area towards Sukumo, you will see a sign pointing to "Monkey Park and Observation Deck." Follow this up the mountain path (there are some places where it is difficult to pass other vehicles) and you will come to a fairly large parking space called Odoyama Parking Lot.

You can also see the magnificent view of Odo Coast from here, but if you go left, you will reach Monkey Park. If you go up on the right (you will not be able to pass other vehicles if you try to go up by car), you will reach Odoyama Observatory. From an altitude of about 240m, you can see the Pacific Ocean and Sukumo Bay. The beauty of Kashiwajima Island, floating majestically in the middle, is worth the view.

So many options you'll be confused! Sea and land! A variety of activities to choose from

How to play 1: Scuba diving

Many people say that scuba diving is the most popular activity on Kashiwajima, and it is one of the most popular activities on the island.
There are many other operators outside the Kashiwajima area, and you can choose from a variety of options to suit your tastes, from empty-handed introductory diving to full-scale license acquisition and underwater photography.

How to play #2: Snorkeling and SUP

The customers who saw the turtles were lucky (Photo provided by 7me)

Snorkeling is an activity that allows you to enjoy the beautiful sea and creatures of Kashiwajima with just a mask and snorkel (and fins and a life jacket if necessary).

You can bring your own equipment and enjoy it at a campsite (equipment rental is also available) or on the beach, but there are also activity operators that rent out all the equipment and provide guided tours.

Two SUP boats having fun in Shirahama(Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

This is an activity where you ride a specially designed board similar to a surfboard and enjoy paddling and floating on the calm ocean with few waves.

Please bring your own and enjoy on the beach where it is not prohibited. There are also businesses that offer rentals.

How to play #3 "Clear Canoe"

Clear canoe at Kuroshio Experience Center

This is an underwater activity where you can paddle a canoe with a transparent bottom.
You can learn about the ocean while listening to lectures from fish experts, making it a popular spot for families and couples.

How to play #4 "Island walking"

Fish can be seen at Kashiwajima Fishing Port (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

The sea of ​​Kashiwajima is an aquarium! Not only that, the town of Kashiwajima, which also functioned as a castle town, is made up of straight roads arranged in a grid pattern, and there are many nostalgic scenes such as old houses and temples and shrines. There are also Toyotomi things to see, such as the town planning and embankments, which were made in an area prone to typhoons. There are also many local cats, which is a paradise for cat lovers.

I recommend climbing up the dike at the Oku of the town to see the magnificent ocean, then walking along the dike to the lighthouse and visiting the Inari Shrine. Be sure to enjoy the colorful and mysterious town! (One lap takes about 30 minutes)

If you would like a guide, we recommend the service called "Photo Venture" provided by the company listed below.
Lagoon Racinghttps ://automaaudio.wixsite.com/lagoon

How to enjoy #5: Glass boat cruise ship

Glass boat overlooking the Shin-Kashiwajima Bridge (Photo courtesy of Otsuki Town Tourism Association)

With your clothes on, you can see the fish and coral swimming on the ocean floor through a glass at the bottom of the boat. On days with no waves, you can sail out to the open sea and see the Kannon Rock and the magnificent white walls of Odo Beach.
If you're lucky, you might encounter turtles or mother and baby dolphins.

How to play #6 "Fishing"

Fishing on a ferry (Photo courtesy of Otsuki Town Tourism Association)

The sea around Otsuki Town is a fishing paradise. You can enjoy fishing from the reef using a ferry, fishing from a boat, or casual fishing from a pier or bridge. Squid fishing is also very popular!

How to play #7 "Buggy"

Winter Buggy Tour (Photo courtesy of Lagoon Racing)

This tour does not start at Kashiwajima, but instead starts at Lagoon Racing near the roadside station, where you board a one-seater, four-wheeled vehicle called a "buggy" and head for Kashiwajima (you can also go to other islands besides Kashiwajima).
The owner, who is also a guide, will take you to spectacular views and interesting courses that even locals don't notice.

You will practice thoroughly at the start, so even beginners can feel at ease. There are also courses with great deals for groups. During the buggy tour, you can enjoy sightseeing at tourist spots and lunch, and you will receive free photos along the way.

How to play #8 "Camping"

A parent and child pitching a tent on a wooden deck (Photo courtesy of Otsuki Town Tourism Association)

Why not relax in a tent while looking out at Kashiwajima, play in the sea, or have a barbecue using delicious Otsuki ingredients? Tents are available for rental, so you can come empty-handed and still have fun.

How to Play #9 "Night Venture"

Kashiwajima just after sunset as seen from the Odoyama Observatory (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

If you are staying in Otsuki or Kashiwajima, we will pick you up at your accommodation. This is a secret night tour limited to one group per night, where you can participate empty-handed even if you drink!
Even on a cloudy day, you can listen to the sound of the waves and the insects, or walk through the night town of Kashiwajima to the lighthouse. You can spend a romantic evening! You can also go to places other than Kashiwajima. Reservations can be made up until the evening of the day.

Don't miss out on the local gourmet food that you can only eat here!

Local gourmet food #1: "Sea bream rice bowl"

Fish Heart Sea Bream Rice Bowl (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

The sea bream that is specially made for Sakanagokoro is farmed in the sea right in front of the restaurant, so you can enjoy the freshness and plumpness of the fish. The sea bream bowl, which is topped with sashimi and mixed with sweet sauce and egg, is delicious, but the various other set meals that come with sashimi are also very filling and popular.

Local gourmet food #2: Kimisan no Tokoroten

Kimi Shokudo's Tokoroten (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

Kimisan, a famous lady who has been in business for over 40 years, makes handmade tokoroten by carefully washing, drying, and boiling down the amagusa Amakusa she harvests from the sea off Kashiwajima during the winter.
The tokoroten, made right in front of you using old-fashioned tools, is served in a dashi stock with a sweetness unique to Kashiwajima, not with vinegar or brown sugar syrup, and topped with simple condiments of ginger and green onions. It is light and easy to eat, and is popular as a souvenir at roadside stations and the Kashiwajima Information Center.

Local gourmet #3: Cafe Mitchan

In addition to Kashiwajima's local cuisine, you can also enjoy Showa Showa-era cafe menus, noodles, and delicious curry. Shaved ice is also recommended in the summer.

Local gourmet #4: "Aged tuna bowl at Kashiwajima Village"

Aged tuna bowl at Kashiwajima Village (Photo courtesy of Kashiwajima Village)

Local gourmet food No. 5: Matsumoto Shoten's pickled tuna rice bowl (takeout)

Enjoying a takeaway tuna bowl while looking out at the ocean is the best (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

Kashiwajima is also known as a town for bluefin tuna farming, and this restaurant offers convenient takeout bowls of tuna grown right in front of you.

It takes about 20 minutes from ordering to picking up, so we recommend calling in advance. The tuna bowl is best enjoyed with a spectacular view of Kashiwajima.

The warmth of the countryside: accommodation

B&B

Hotel

camp

Please check this out when you leave.

Recommended as a souvenir

Tokoroten, strawberry shaved ice (shaved ice made by slicing ice with strawberries still inside), bankan juice and jelly, and other products related to the famous Kawachi bankan, Tosa Otsuki binchotan charcoal, fresh and dried squid and fish, local vegetables such as eggplant, and coral products.

Nearby attractions

Within Otsuki Town: Kashiwa Nishi Kaigan Benten Island(a scenic coastline), Mount Gassan Shrine (an extra temple on the pilgrimage route), Ryugasako (Tatsugasako - terraced fields), Roadside Station Fureai Park Otsuki(bicycle rentals, etc.), Wahahaha Tourist Farm (grape picking, summer), Coral Fruit Farm (tangerine picking, autumn), squid fishing experience (summer), etc. Outside the town: Sukumo City, Tosashimizu City(Tatsukushi, Cape Ashizuri Misaki), Shimanto River, etc. - all within an hour's drive

Benten Island is a popular swimming spot with showers nearby, featuring Benten Island, a cave created by sea erosion. It is about 25 minutes from Kashiwajima. (Photo provided by Lagoon Racing)

Finally

Kashiwajima is a place with beautiful sea, but there are many other important things that we want to protect, such as warm people, delicious food, Kashiwajima's unique rocks and cliffs, and rare plants and fish. We ask that visitors be kind to the local residents, be considerate of the environment, and take any trash home with you.

Kashiwajima and Otsuki Town are not just places to visit in the summer, but also places where you can enjoy beautiful scenery, fields, and food that change with the seasons. Please drop by whenever you feel like it and can make time for it. I'm sure you'll make new discoveries and encounters!

(Photo courtesy of Lagoon Racing)

If you want to know more about Otsuki Town, please see here.