Discover Kushimoto

Kushimoto is considered the southernmost town on Honshu. The seas to the east and west of Kushimoto have different characteristics; at the same time, the coastal waters are recognized as an internationally important Ramsar wetland. The designated areas include the Sabiura Coast, at 355 hectares; the west coast of Shionomisaki, at 205 hectares; and the north coast of Tsuyajima, at 13.7 hectares. The Sabiura area is larger than the other two areas mentioned.

Coastlines, a cape and protected marine areas

Along the Kumano Sea, the Arafune Coast stretches for 3 kilometers. Unusual rock formations line the coast, which is also part of Yoshino-Kumano National Park. At Hashiguiiwa, powerful waves have shaped striking rock pillars. The area is a national natural monument, especially impressive at sunrise and dusk. A local legend says that Kōbō Daishi and Amanojaku built Hashiguiiwa in a single night after making a wager.

Shionomisaki offers a variety of other landscapes. The cape, which faces the Pacific Ocean, is considered a particularly scenic spot where you can experience the curvature of the Earth. At the tip of Shionomisaki lies Bōrō no Shiba, a grassy area covering about 100,000 square meters. Soshima is also part of the Kushimoto area: the island is described as a symbol of Yoshino-Kumano National Park and is suitable for activities along its rocky coast and for fishing.

Art and history in Kushimoto

The Okyosekkankan at Muryōji Temple displays 96 paintings from the Muromachi, Momoyama and Edo periods, including works by Maruyama Ōkyo and Nagasawa Rosetsu. At the Turkish Memorial Museum, a model, artifacts and photographs offer insights into the disaster involving the ship Ertuğrul.

The ship’s story is also connected to the restaurant Daiyūmarutei: it is located in a historic house more than 100 years old on Ōshima, the birthplace of Okin Shū. The village head at the time played a central role in the 1890 rescue effort following the disaster involving the Turkish warship. The restaurant serves local fish dishes, including the branded fish Kishu Ume Madai and Kishu Ume Kue, farmed in Kushimoto Town. It also serves freshly landed seafood such as spiny lobster, tuna and bigfin reef squid.

Experience the sea and understand the landscape

The aquarium at Kushimoto Marine Park features a 24-meter-long underwater tunnel. Blue sharks and spotted eagle rays swim above visitors. From the underwater observation tower, located 140 meters offshore, you can observe the seabed at a depth of 6.3 meters. The underwater sightseeing boat Stella Maris also offers views of a table coral colony described as the northernmost in the world.

The Nanki Kumano Geopark Center presents the formation of the landscape and the nature of southern Kumano in an engaging way, with projection mapping on a large relief model of the Kii Peninsula, hands-on geological exhibits and river experiments led by staff. If you want to visit a viewpoint on Ōshima, you can follow a hiking trail of about 1 kilometer from the Kanayama trailhead. It leads to a viewpoint at an elevation of 80 meters; from there, the view stretches across Kushimoto and the Shionomisaki Highlands to Nachisan and Taiji. Check trail conditions locally.

Getting around and planning your visit

The town buses serve different directions: the Wasemi route heads toward Kushimoto Marine Park, while the Shionomisaki–Izumo route goes to the Shionomisaki Lighthouse and Bōrō no Shiba. The Ōshima route goes to Kushimoto Ōshima and Kashino Lighthouse; the Sabe–Uetahara route heads toward Hashiguiiwa and Kōza. Routes and timetables may change, so check the current timetable before traveling.

The Shionomisaki Lighthouse has a 68-step spiral staircase leading to a platform with views of the Pacific Ocean. As visiting arrangements may change, check the latest visitor information for the lighthouse and the Turkish Memorial Museum in advance.

Discover more destinations: Taiji, Nachikatsuura.

For the broader travel overview: Higashimuro District.