Amanohashidate: One of the Top Three Scenic Places in Japan

The 3.6 km sandbar with 5,000 pine trees growing on top is what makes Amanohashidate so famous. When you view it from the observation decks on top of the hill, Amanohashidate looks like a flying dragon and a Bridge to Heaven when seen upside down. Other ways to explore the charm of Amanohashidate include cycling on top of the dragon or taking a boat ride to see it from various angles.

There are several ways to get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto and Osaka. Depending on your mode of transportation, the time required is approximately 2-3.5 hours.

Please refer to our Guide to How to Get to Amanohashidate article for more information. There is also information about the sightseeing train you can take!

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Amanohashidate is a sandbar at Miyazu Bay (宮津湾) in northern Kyoto. The 3.6 km long sandbar, with a width ranging from 20 to 170 meters, was formed by crustal movements, connecting the north and south ends of Miyazu Bay.

The land created by crustal movement slowly develops grass growing atop it. Gradually, trees began to appear, and a pine forest formed in Amanohashidate.

Nowadays, various types of birds call Amanohashidate home. If you visit it in summer, you might be able to see a couple of seasonal birds.

According to ancient myths recorded in the documentation of the Tango (丹後) area, Amanohashidate was the ladder used by the gods Izanagi (イザナギ) and Izanami (イザナミ) when they descended from heaven to visit the Earth. One day, when Izanagi was taking a nap, the ladder collapsed and became Amanohashidate when it landed on Earth.

To get a clear view of such a geographical spectacle, if you don’t make your way up to the observation decks at Amanohashidate View Land and Kasamatsu Park, you will have a pretty hard time persuading your families and friends that you have been to Amanohashidate!

For more information, refer to our ‘How to Travel Between Attractions in Amanohashidate‘ article for details.

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Like Kinosaki Onsen, Amanohashidate also has a couple of services that you may find convenient.

• Next to the station’s main exit, there are umbrellas you can borrow for free. Please return it to the station before leaving Amanohashidate.
• Coin-operated lockers are available at the station.
• The souvenir shop in front of the station offers luggage storage service. The cost is lower here. You can also leave your belongings with them for a couple of days.
  • The shop closes on Wednesdays.
  • Refer to the 3rd photo in the IG post.
• Amanohashidate’s car rental shop is diagonally opposite the station.
  • Refer to the last photo in the IG post.

Amanohashidate is much more than a famous viewpoint. The true beauty of this “bridge to heaven” extends to its coastline, where two distinct beaches offer visitors different experiences. On the south end of the sandbar, you have the lively Amanohashidate Beach, perfect for a refreshing swim after exploring the main town. On the north end, the tranquil Amanohashidate Fuchū Beach provides a serene setting for sea kayaking and SUP.

For more information, refer to our article on Swimming at Amanohashidate!

• Chie Hot Spring is open from 12 am to 9 pm from Friday to Tuesday.
• The admission fee is
  • 800 yen for adults
  • 400 yen for elementary school students
  • Free for one pre-school child per adult
• Chie no Yu is next to Amanohashidate Station.

If you have limited time and can only visit one of the two observation parks, we recommend visiting Amanohashidate View Land. It is closer to the station, and from Kasamatsu Park, the sandbar appears as a straight line.

For more information, refer to our article on Amanohashidate View Land!

Chionji Temple is ranked first of the three temples in Japan dedicated to the Monju Bodhisattva (文殊菩薩). It is the third closest attraction to Amanohashidate Station. The Monju Bodhisattva is renowned as the bodhisattva possessing the greatest wisdom. So many objects, including food on the temple’s ground and the surrounding area, have “wisdom” in their name. For example, the wisdom pine or even the wisdom mochi/rice cake.

For more information, refer to our article on Chionji!

Close to Chionji Temple’s main gate, a couple of cafes and restaurants sell the local specialty, Chie no Mochi or Wisdom Rice Cake, in English.

The cafe we recommend the most is Hikobee Chaya (彦兵衛茶屋). They sell the best Chie no Mochi in Amanohashidate. You will hardly miss it when you walk towards Chionji’s Sanmon Gate. The large lady figure in Kimono is really eye-catching.

For more information, refer to our article on Chie no Mochi and Hikobee Chaya!

While it may seem clichéd, boarding the sightseeing boat at Amanohashidate is highly recommended. Unless you hate birds and don’t want them to be near you, you will enjoy your time on the Amanohashidate Sightseeing Boat very much. Not only can you see the famous sandbar from various angles, but the seagulls surrounding the boat are a highlight of the boat ride.

For more information, refer to our Amanohashidate Sightseeing Boat article!

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In the past, along the waterway, the Chienowa stone lantern was originally installed to ensure the safe sailing of the ships around the shore.

It is now a monument relating to Chionji Temple. Rumor has it that you will be blessed with wisdom if you manage to pass through the lantern three times. This excludes inserting your body through the ring. So, whether the blessing comes or not, after you figure out your way of doing it, we are sure you will become wiser than before.

Near Chienowa, there is a red bridge with pine trees on either side. It is a great spot for taking photos that capture the traditional Japanese atmosphere. And if you are lucky enough, you can see it rotating to allow ships to enter the waterway on the other side of Amanohashidate.

Going north from Amanohashidate Beach, you will soon find this shrine in the pine forest.

The shrine was originally built as a guardian shrine for the Chionji Temple, which we mentioned earlier. Nowadays, it is said to be a shrine that will fulfil your prayers related to romantic relationships.

The most amazing thing about the shrine is this well, called Isoshimizu. Located in the middle of the sea, the water coming out of the well is surprisingly not salty at all! This is why the spot was chosen as one of Japan’s 100 Famous Water Sources (日本名水百選) and the reason why pine trees can grow on the sand

The water is a layer of rainwater stored underground. So if you want to drink it, it is recommended that you boil it first, just in case.

If you are trekking or cycling your way to the north of Amanohashidate, you will go past the Motoise Kono Shrine on your way to Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park. The shrine is the highest-ranked shrine in the San’in region and was once the home of the god at the famous Ise Jingū (伊勢神宮) in Mie Prefecture.

The shrine also features a few rare elements.

For more information, refer to our article on Motoise Kono Shrine.

Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park is where you discover another face of Amanohashidate. The view from here is called Shōryū-kan (昇龍観), meaning ascending dragon.

Compared to Amanohashidate View Land, Kasamatsu Park offers a more natural scenic setting. On the way to the top of the mountain, the surroundings are covered by cherry blossoms in spring and bright-colored leaves in autumn!

For more information, refer to our article on Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park!

Among all the attractions in Amanohashidate that have lookouts and observation decks, Nariaiji is the one we enjoyed the most. It is the most scenic place in the area throughout the year, especially in the autumn foliage season from early to mid-November. Located further up from Kasamatsu Park, you might see the fantastic sea of clouds scenery from the observation deck in the early morning. Additionally, the temple is the 28th stop on the 33 Saigoku Kannon Pilgrimage.

For more information, refer to our article on Nariaiji!

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If you plan to visit one of Japan’s Three Views, Amanohashidate, and are unsure where to head for dinner, how about Ajikōbō Mamaya? The restaurant is conveniently located near the Rotating Bridge, which is easily accessible from the station. Sitting at Ajikōbō Mamaya’s window seats means enjoying the waterfront view while enjoying mouthwatering food.

Specializing in Kyoto’s traditional home cooking (Obanzai), Ajikōbō Mamaya’s menu features Kyoto’s freshest vegetables. In fact, the restaurant looks different from a well-maintained traditional private house. So from the point that Ajikōbō Mamaya is in your sight, it would feel like you were going to dine at your Japanese friend’s place!
Important: We have confirmed with them that Ajikōbō Mamaya uses non-vegetarian broth.

Important: We have confirmed with them that Ajikōbō Mamaya uses non-vegetarian broth.

• Ajikōbō Mamaya is open daily from 6:30 pm to 11 pm.
• The restaurant is a 5-minute walk from JR Amanohashidate Station (天橋立駅).

Extend your exploration of Japan’s rural landscape from Amanohashidate to Ine Bay! There is a quiet fishing village located in the northern part of the Tango Peninsula (丹後半島). Along Ine Bay, where the waves are calm, a unique townscape is formed by the type of private houses called Funaya (舟屋).

For more information on how you can enjoy this fishing village, please refer to our article on Ine Bay Funaya!

The Kurama and Kibune area is the perfect place to escape the summer heat in Kyoto city center. Up in the mountain, enjoying Japanese cuisine on the platform above the river, and visiting the famous Kurama-dera Temple and Kifune Shrine is the best way to enjoy Kyoto’s summer!

For more information, please refer to our article on Kurama and Kibune!