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 can be cycling on top of that dragon or taking a boat ride to see it from various angles.

There are several ways to get to Amanohashidate from Kyoto or Osaka. Depending on how you get there, the time required is around 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 created by crustal movements, connecting Miyazu Bay’s north and south end.

The land created by the crustal movement slowly has grass growing atop. Gradually, trees appeared, and a pine forest was 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.

From the ancient myth recorded in the Tango (丹後) area’s documentation, Amanohashidate was the ladder used by gods named Izanagi (イザナギ) and Izanami (イザナミ) when they visited the Earth from heaven. 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!

So refer to our How to Travel Between the Attractions in Amanohashidate for more information!

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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.

• Chie Hot Spring is open from 12 am to 9 pm daily except Wednesdays.
• 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 go to one of the two observation parks, we recommend going to Amanohashidate View Land. It is closer to the station, and from Kasamatsu Park, the sandbar just looks like 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 known as the bodhisattva who has the most 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 might seem to be a cliche, when you visit Amanohashidate, boarding the sightseeing boat 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 the best highlight during 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 will come or not, after you figure out your way of doing it, we are sure you will become wiser than before!

Close to Chienowa, there is a red bridge with pine trees at the sides. It is a great spot for some photos full of the traditional Japanese atmosphere. And if you are lucky enough, you might able to see it rotating to allow ships to enter the waterway on the other side of Amanohashidate.

Just a 7-minute walk from Amanohashidate Station, the Amanohashidate Beach is especially popular with families with young kids. The open beach from late July to mid-August for you to enjoy all sorts of beach activities.

Essential facilities such as change rooms, shower facilities with warm water, toilets, a first aid room, and cafes are all available for you to utilize when needed.

If you are driving, there are car parks close by, but you will have a hard time securing a parking space if you arrive late in the morning on weekends and public holidays.

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 that we mentioned before. Nowadays, it is a shrine that is said will fulfill your prayers relating to romantic relationships.

The most amazing thing about the shrine is this well, called Isoshimizu.

Locating 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 to be one of the 100 Selection of Japan’s Famous Water Source (日本名水百選) and the reason why pine trees can grow on the sandbar.

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.

The beach at the northern part of Amanohashidate, which is also open from late July to mid-August, is called Amanohashidate Fuchū Beach. This is the beach you want to be at for those who want to do SUP and/or sea kayaking.

The Amanohashidate Activity Center, with all the necessary equipment, is just next to the beach. Even if you have no experience, they have well-trained instructors who can guide you throughout the session.

• Sea Kayak
  • 6,000 yen for adults, 4,000 yen for elementary school students
  • 2 sessions, one at 9:30 am, and one at 1:30 pm
  • Each session lasts for 120 minutes, including the introduction.
  • There are also two 60 minutes sessions held at 7 am and 4:30 pm.
    • The cost is 4,000 yen for adults, 3,000 yen for elementary school students

• The center is open from 9 am to 6 pm.
• From Amanohashidate Station, it is a 35-minute walk
• From Kasamatsu Park, it is a 15-minute walk
• If you are taking a bus from Amanohashidate Station, get off at Amanohashidate Kono Jinja Shrine (天橋立元伊勢籠神社).
  • Refer to HERE for the timetable.
• If you are taking the sightseeing boat, Motoise Kono Shrine is just a one-minute walk from Ichinomiya Ferry Terminal.
  • Refer to HERE for the timetable.
  • From the ferry terminal, it is around a 3-minute walk.

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 the home of the god in the famous Ise Jingū (伊勢神宮) in Mie Prefecture.

The shrine also has a few rare shrine features.

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 is a better place for natural scenery. 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 (成相寺) 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. Locating further up from Kasamatsu Park, you might see the fantastic sea of clouds scenery from the observation deck in the early morning. In addition, the temple is the 28th temple of 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 close to the Rotating Bridge, which is easy to get to 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 is filled with Kyoto’s fresh 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.

Tip: It is best to make a reservation by calling +81 772-45-1800 a day in advance.

• Ajikōbō Mamaya is open daily from 6:30 pm to 11 pm.
• The restaurant is a 5-minute 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!