View of Mie Prefecture's scenic beauty and natural monument "Tategasaki" from the sea

"Tategasaki" is a rocky cape with a height of about 80m and a circumference of about 550m located on the north side of Nigishima Bay in Kumano City, on the border between KumanoCity KumanoCity and Owase OwaseCity, Mie Prefecture. .
A high cliff with columnar joints that seems to block people from rising into the sea. Green plants that seem to have been left behind. It is a spot where you can enjoy the spectacular scenery of Kumano's impressive nature.

You can enjoy different spectacular views of Tategasaki by land and sea, but this time we will take a sightseeing tour of Tategasaki and introduce you to the spectacular views from the sea!

*What is columnar joint?
A joint is a regular crack that develops in a rock with no visible deviation on either side, and a columnar joint is a joint in which a rock becomes columnar. It is often found in basaltic rocks and develops perpendicular to the cooling surface of magma. (Reference: Wikipedia)

The pleasure boat pier is located at Matsuzaki Port (KumanoCity Kumano City) near Onigajo.
If you are coming from OwaseCity side, get off the Kumano-Owase Road [Kumano Odomari IC], follow National Route 42, and go down the side road in front of Onigajo signboard, which will take you to the port.

From KumanoCity side, if you drive along National Route 42, paying attention to your right hand side, you will see a yellow signboard for `` Tategasaki Maritime Cruise'' posted on the road just after passing Onigajo.

There is a parking space at the port, but I could only find basic toilets, so I recommend using Onigajo Center while sightseeing nearby Onigajo.

Wear a life jacket at the port and board the ship!

We will leave Matsuzaki Port for a 1 hour and 10 minute boat trip that will take us from Onigajo to Gama no Kuchi to Tategasaki to Umikongo and return to Matsuzaki Port!! We are looking forward to seeing what kind of magnificent scenery awaits us!

For a sea excursion to Tategasaki, use this ferry. This is a boat that takes anglers to fishing spots. Therefore, the speed of movement is quite high!

The first thing that comes into view is Onigajo, a world heritage site and a nationally designated place of scenic beauty and natural monument, a piece of natural art created by upheaval, weathering, and wave erosion that stretches for 1 km facing the Kumano Sea.

You can see the entire rock wall, and enjoy an impressive panoramic view that is completely different from the view seen from the overland promenade.

Click here for details on Onigajo＞

Furthermore, we proceed through the ocean. Unfortunately it was cloudy on this day.

The waves were high and the boat was rocking quite a bit.

The force of nature due to the high waves is also worth seeing. We hope you will enjoy the sea breeze and the splashing of the waves as if it were a small attraction.

When the weather is clear and the waves are calm, you will be able to enjoy a different kind of boat trip, but if you are concerned about getting seasick, please bring motion sickness medication.

The coast of the sightseeing course has many spectacular views of strange and gigantic rocks that are unique to ria coastlines, such as rock walls that clearly show the characteristics of columnar joints that solidify into columnar shapes as the lava cools.

It is said that this area was formed by volcanic activity about 14 million years ago.

Many anglers enjoyed fishing in the rocky area, as it is a ria coastline and a great fishing spot.

As you walk forward, admiring the variously shaped rock walls, you will come across a cave that has a gaping hole in the rock wall.

"Blue Cave (also known as Toad's Mouth)"

The color of the sea changes due to the sunlight, making it a clear emerald green that is more vivid than the surrounding sea, and the sound of the waves echoing inside the cave makes it a very magical place.

Even with a little bit of sunlight, you can see a beautiful emerald green color, so on a clear day you can see an even more sparkling and beautiful sea surface.

Click here for details on the Blue Cave>

After walking for a while from the ``Blue Cave'' (also known as Toad's Mouth), a waterfall cascading down between columnar joints came into view.

A waterfall flowing into the sea. It's a very rare sight.

After about 30 minutes of being swayed by the waves, we finally arrive at Tategasaki, which is considered one of the most beautiful columnar joints in the country.

It is said that the name came from the cliffs made of Kumano oxidized rocks, which look like a series of shields.

It is also said to be the place where the legendary first emperor, ``Emperor Jinmu,'' landed during his Jinmu Eastern Conquest (an anecdote in which he conquered Yamato (present-day Nara) from Kyushu and ascended the throne).

Furthermore, in the travelogue ``Ihonushi'' by the Heian period poet Zouki Hoshi, he wrote the following about his visit to this area during the Heian period. .
``There are rocks that act as shields where God fights.'' There is also a song that says, ``If Tategasaki the tide of the tide that fills the ocean, we will be able to live forever.''

Were poets of the Heian period also overwhelmed by its majestic appearance?

After the beautiful shape of Tategasaki, we headed to Umikongo.
This Sea Kongo can only be seen by sightseeing boat, so it is a highly recommended spot by the local tourism association!

It is made up of many columnar joints, and its height is 162m. Surprisingly, the cliff is higher than that of Tojinbo.
It's amazingly powerful!

`` Tategasaki'' has a beautiful streamlined shape, and ``Umikongo'' has a brave figure that towers up into the sky.
A sea trip full of highlights.

Why not come and enjoy the spectacular scenery that can only be seen here?

Tategasaki sightseeing tour
・Matsuzaki Port departure/arrival route (required time: approximately 70 minutes)
・Departure time: 10:00, 12:00, 14:00
・Price (per adult)
1 person: 9,000 yen 2 people: 4,500 yen 3 people: 4,000 yen 4 people: 3,500 yen 5 or more people: 3,000 yen

Contact information
KumanoCity Tourism Organization
Address: 653-12 Idocho, KumanoCity City, Mie Prefecture
Phone number/0597-89-2229
HP／http://kumano-kankou.com/

To get to Tategasaki by land, get off at Kumano-Owase Road's Kata IC and continue along Prefectural Route 70. Turn right at the Kajiga/Kumano Kodo/Sone Jiro Sakataro Saka sign and continue along National Route 311.

After approximately 20 minutes of walking along the mountain path, you will see a tourist guide sign for hobocho on your left near the top of the mountain.

There are parking spaces for 4 or 5 cars at the tourist guide.

If you continue down the road a little further, you will find another parking lot with restrooms and a rest area on your right.

Park your car in a parking space near the summit and walk a little further down until you see a white road sign that says `` Tategasaki.'' You will see a wooden sign that says `` Tategasaki.''
The entrance to the promenade is where the guardrail is partially cut off next to it.
It's a 40-minute journey each way, passing through a deep forest and passing cliffs that look like they'll suck you in. If you are confident in your physical strength, please come and experience Kumano's natural beauty both from the sea and from the land.

How was it?
`` Tategasaki'' is a spectacular view created by nature.

It's a little difficult to visit, but it's worth it.