Amanohashidate

Introducing Amanohashidate

Amanohashidate (the Bridge to Heaven) is rated as one of Japan’s ‘three great views’, along with Miyajima and the islands of Matsushima-wan. The ‘bridge’ is really a long, narrow tree-covered (8000 pine trees!) sand-spit, 3.5km in length. There is good swimming, as well as beach showers, toilet facilities and covered rest areas the length of the spit. It’s a good example of a Japanese tourist circus, but it is pleasant enough and there are some decent attractions like Ine in the vicinity.

The town of Amanohashidate consists of two separate parts, one at each end of the spit. At the southern end there are a number of hotels, ryokan, restaurants, a popular temple and Amanohashidate station. There’s an information counter (22-8030; 10am-6pm) at the station. To get to the bridge from the staion, take a right out of the station and walk along the main road for 200m to the first light and take a sharp left.

At the southern end of the bridge, Amanohashidate View Land (chairlift/monorail round-trip ¥850; 9am-5pm) is serviced by chairlift and monorail. From here, you are supposed to view Amanohashidate by turning your back to it, bending over and observing it framed between your legs! (It supposedly makes Amanohashidate look like it is ‘floating’.)

At the northern end, Kasamatsu-kōen (funicular/chairlift round-trip ¥640; 8am-5.30pm) offers similar views and another chance to view the world from between your legs.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009