Tomoyama Park (Kirigaki Observation Deck) is a spectacular spot where you can see the sunset. I will introduce the highlights
掲載日：2022.05.12
"Tomoyama Park" in ShimaCity is a spectacular spot where you can see Ago Bay and the sunset! Kirigaki Observation Deck in the park is also a famous place to watch the sunset. We will introduce in detail the time of day when the sun sets, the location, access methods, and highlights.
Mie photographer ``Fugamaru-chan'' and his partner ``Cham'' bring you information that will make you love Mie even more. This article is about the observation deck "Kirigaki Observatory" in Tomoyama Park.
▼Table of contents
What is Tomoyama Park?
Tomoyama Park is a park located in Daio-cho, ShimaCity City, Mie Prefecture, and is surrounded on three sides by Ago Bay, the ria coast.
Inside the park, there is a visitor center, a lawn area, and the ``Tomoyama Camp Village'' where you can enjoy camping, and it is a place that is attracting attention now that camping is all the rage.
The Kirigaki Observation Deck in the park allows you to watch the sunset all year round, and has gradually become more well-known as a sunset spot in Ise-Shima.
A new wooden deck was installed on February 28, 2019, allowing you to see Ago Bay even closer♫
It has a very spacious deck and benches so you can comfortably watch the sunset.
In this article, we will introduce the Kirigaki Observatory in Tomoyama Park in detail.
Parking lot/access method
Kirigaki Observation Deck in Tomoyama Park can be accessed by car and has a parking lot.
There is an observation deck (wooden deck) right next to the parking lot, and it is so close to Ago Bay that you can see the ocean from inside the car.
If you are using Google Maps navigation, you can set "Kirigaki Observation Deck" as your destination and it will guide you to the parking lot.
The parking lot can accommodate about 10 cars, but it can get full during sunset even on weekdays!
If the parking lot is full, we recommend the parking lot adjacent to Tomoyama Park Lawn Square!
There are many parking spaces, and Kirigaki Observation Deck is about a 6-minute walk away.
You can use the parking lot in Tomoyama Park for free.
Location and time of sunset
When you watch the sunset from Kirigaki Observation Deck in Tomoyama Park, the unique feature is that the position of the sun changes depending on the season.
We will introduce recommended times and viewing angles in detail below, using photos taken in spring and winter as examples.
April to May (Fugamaru recommended)
From April to May, the sun sets on the right side of ojima seen in the center from the observation deck.
In this season, around 6pm, the sea and the setting sun get closer, so the glow of the setting sun is reflected on the water surface ♫
*The above photo was taken on April 11, 2022 at 18:07.
After the sun goes down, a beautiful magic hour may appear!
The above photo was taken at 18:25 on April 11, 2022, and the water surface had a gradation from red to blue and was beautiful ♫
Buoys and rafts floating on the water are a unique sight in Ago Bay, where pearl farming is popular.
Furthermore, if you wait for an hour after the sun completely sets... countless stars will appear in the sky above Ago Bay!
It was a clear day and the air was clear, so I was able to capture a miraculous scene where I could see both the sunset and the starry sky.
*The above photo was taken on April 28, 2022 at 19:35
Even if the sunset is hidden behind clouds, there is still a chance
When I visited on April 20, 2022, the sunset was hidden behind clouds, but I was able to take a photo of the clouds turning bright red.
Even after the sun has set, the clouds can turn red if the weather conditions are right.
One of the charms of sunset photography is that you don't know what kind of sight you'll see until the sun has completely set ♫
Winter (January to February)
From January to February, the sun sets on the left side of the central ojima as seen from the observation deck.
Unlike spring and summer, winter is a season where you don't often get bright red sunsets, but since you can see the sunset from before 5pm, I think it's a good time to stop by on a day trip.
The sunset time from spring to summer is around 6pm, so it's a time when you'll be very hungry lol.
Your body gets cold in winter, so why not warm up at a day trip hot spring after watching the sunset?
About 3 minutes by car from Kirigaki Observation Deck is Miyako Resort Okushima Aqua Forest, where you can take a day trip bath until 9pm! *Last admission is 8:00 p.m.
The price is 1,050 yen for adults (junior high school students and above) and 550 yen for children (elementary school students), and I was happy that it included a towel.
FugamaruActually, I have taken a bath in this hot spring and was impressed by the view from the bath.
"Miyako Resort Okushima Aqua Forest" is a hotel operated by "Miyako Hotels & Resorts" including Shima Kanko Hotel, so the inside of the hotel has a gorgeous atmosphere ♫
You can stay in various types of rooms such as twin, Japanese-style, and Japanese-Western rooms, so if you are interested, please take a look at the interview report below.
Tips for photographing the sunset
Introducing tips for taking beautiful pictures of the sunset at Kirigaki Observation Deck! When I shoot here, I always bring a stepladder.
The reason for this is that part of the ocean is hidden by the trees in the foreground, so if you climb on a stepladder and take the photo, you can get a wider view of the ocean.
If you take a photo with a stepladder, it will block the view of the person behind you, so please refrain from using the stepladder when it is crowded.
When taking pictures ofFugamaru, be sure to keep in mind that everyone around you can have fun viewing it when you release the shutter.
Recommended sightseeing plan
I almost always go to Tomoyama Park to watch the sunset in early April every year, and the reason is that it coincides with ShimaCity Tourist Farm's moss phlox season.
ShimaCity Tourist Farm is about 25 minutes by car from Tomoyama Park, and after seeing the moss phlox here, my standard itinerary is to watch the sunset at Tomoyama Park.
The best time to see moss phlox is from early to mid-April, and in 2022, the best time to see them was on April 15th.
Click here for the article about ShimaCity Tourist Farm's moss phlox ↓
In addition to the moss phlox, sunflowers bloom in the park from mid-July to late July, so if you are traveling to Shima during the summer vacation season, please consider adding ShimaCity Tourist Farm to your list of travel destinations.
*The sunflower photo above was taken on July 22, 2021.
Last year at Chamu,a door was installed that looked like it appeared in a certain anime, allowing you to go anywhere, and it went perfectly with the sunflowers ♫
Furthermore, about a 15-minute drive from ShimaCity Tourist Farm, there is Yokoyama Observation Deck, which offers a panoramic view of Ago Bay.
The view of Ago Bay from here is also spectacular, so please visit in the following order: ShimaCity Tourist Farm → Yokoyama Observation Deck → Tomoyama Park ♫
* ShimaCity Tourist Farm is only open during the seasons when moss phlox (early to mid-April), sunflowers (mid-to-late July), and cosmos (mid-to-late October) bloom in the park.
What did you think
We have probably explained sunset photography at Tomoyama Park in more detail than any other website.
The first time I visited here was on April 2, 2017, so I have been photographing here for about five years.
I'm very happy that I was able to publish an article full of the best shots I took during those five years! lol
To end your trip to Ise-Shima, be sure to watch the sunset at Tomoyama Park (Kirigaki Observation Deck) ♫
Until the end Thank you for reading.
About Fugamaru-chan & Chamu
Fugamaru-chan (left side)
Active on Twitter and Instagram as a photographer who takes pictures of Mie. He started photographing his hometown of Mie in 2017, and in 2018 self-published his book ``Mie's Etoko Photo Collection''. Operates Mie Photo Gallery, which distributes photos of Mie Prefecture for free. We also operate a website called Mie no Etoko Meguri, which mainly covers restaurants in Mie. The cameras I own are EOS 6D and EOS RP.
Cham (right side)
Fugamaru-chan's partner. Specializing in low-angle photography, he captures landscapes with a unique worldview. She has been working with Fugamaru-chan since 2020 as a photography assistant, and has been working as a model for landscape photography. We are sending information about Mie on Twitter and Instagram. My camera is α7iii.
Lian (dog)
Papillon joined the family in May 2021. A mysterious dog who loves playing with cats and plays in a cat-like manner. I'm currently enjoying spots in Mie Prefecture that I can enjoy with my dog.
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