Mt. Uomidake (Fish-Seeing Mountain), 214.8 m above sea level, is a low mountain near the central part of Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is said that it was named so because fishermen watched the movements of fish schools from the top of the mountain.
The area around the mountain top is arranged into a natural park, to which you can go by car. Going up the stairs of the observatory deck, you can command a panoramic view of streets in Ibusuki City, Kagoshima Bay, and Chiringashima Island. On a fine day you can also see Mt. Kaimon, the Takakuma Mountain Range and Mt. Ontake in Sakurajima as well as Iojima Island in the distance.
Mt. Uomidake is a part of a volcano that existed in the ancient times. As the southern and eastern sides form sheer cliffs, the mountain is said to be like Diamond Head in Hawaii. About 10,000 cherry trees come into bloom in spring, when the mountain is alive with people who come to enjoy family hiking and driving.
This beach is located in Masuichi-cho, Muroran City, which is in the southwest part of Etomo Peninsula in Hokkaido. As one of Eight Scenic Spots in Muroran, the beach is known for its beautiful landscape enjoyed from the observation tower. The origin of the name of this beach is “masui chise,” which means a “house of black-tail gulls.” You can command a view of Mt. Komagatake across Uchiura Bay (Funka Bay) and diversified coast line as well as Kamome Rock (seagull rock) and Zo Rock (elephant rock) from the observation tower. It is also a place to observe falcons and other wild birds. Migration of Falconiformes can be also seen in autumn. Strange-shaped rocks rise around the coast and the ruins of ancient native people were discovered near the beach. Mt. Komagatake across the bay on a fine day is an exquisite beauty. Masuichi Beach is blessed with plentiful natural beauty.
Cape Kiritappu, or formally named Cape Tofutsu, is at the eastern tip of Kiritappu Peninsula, which was formed when the plateau-type island with an elevation of 40 to 60 meters joined the land area. As the kanji representing “fog (霧)” is used for the name “Kiritappu (霧多布),” fog often rises in the area around the cape due to the sea fog from the Pacific Ocean. You must be careful because you will be obliterated by the fog especially in summer. Rough waves of the Pacific Ocean break against the sheer cliffs and rocky coast below your eyes. As contrasted to Cape Azechi on the western tip of the peninsula, which has a gentle and elegant feminine-like coastline, this cape is sometimes referred to as a male cape. Still, when summer comes, Yezo daylilies bloom on this desolated plateau, over which thick fog floats from the ocean and creates a fantastic landscape.
Hidaka Yabakei is a 6-kilometer scenic coast along National Route 336 from Ana-iwa Rock in Fuyushima to the mouth of the Horoman River in Samani Town in Southern Hokkaido. The foothill of Mt. Apoi had been eroded by seawater and rough wind of the Pacific Ocean, which created the coast with oddly-shaped rocks and sheer cliffs. As this beautiful scenery of the continuing sheer cliffs resembles the cliffs in Yabakei Gorge in Oita Prefecture, the coast is called Hidaka Yabakei.
Shallowly spread their roots over the cliff, Ezo-yama-tsutsuji (Rhododendron kaempfer) produce red flowers in spring. Together with other alpine flowers such as Ezosukashiyuri（Lilium maculatum ssp. dauricum）and Ezo gentians (Gentiana triflora var. japonica), they delight the eyes of visitors.
Mt. Teine is a 1023.7-meter high mountain located on the border of Nishi-ku and Teine-ku in Sapporo City, Hokkaido. The Ainu people, the indigenous people of Hokkaido, had called it “Tannewenshiri,” which means “a long cliff,” but the Wajin (ethnic Japanese) began to call it “Teine” having borrowed a local place name, which was also an Ainu word meaning “a wet land.”
The mountain was developed as a mine since the Meiji period (1868-1912). The mine was once so flourished as to be called “the largest mine in Asia.” At its peak, it produced as much as 60,000 tons of gold, silver, copper, zinc and tellurium. However, the operation began to be diminished and finally closed in the course of time.
In 1926, Japan’s first “hütte” was constructed in the mountain. A “hütte” is a German word meaning “a mountain lodge.” Since then Mt. Teine has been called the birthplace of mountain skiing in Hokkaido. The hütte was closed in 1978 for having been decrepit. However, it was restored to the original form by the hand of volunteers. As was used in 1972 Winter Olympic Games, Mt. Teine is one of the best skiing resorts in Hokkaido.
Rebunge Coast is an about 20 km-long scenic coast extending from Toyoura Town to the direction of Oshamanbe Town in Hokkaido. Several dozen meter high cliffs stretch along the coastline and the sea is dotted with uniquely shaped rocks and stones. “Rebunge” derives from an Ainu word “repun-ke-p,” meaning “a collapsed cape.”
The view of Mt. Usu and its surrounding area seen from the beach in adjacent Literature Monument Park is most splendid. Camping sites are open from the middle of July to the end of August. Swimming is not allowed but the sea is abundant in marine resources, which attract many anglers.
Shimamui Coast is a 1 km scenic coast at the northern tip of Shakotan Peninsula in Hokkaido. It is selected as one of Japan’s 100 Beautiful Beaches and designated as the only underwater park in Hokkaido.
The entrance to Shimamui Coast is a narrow dark tunnel at the end of the parking lot. Once you pass through the tunnel, the splendid view of blue seawater will appear before your eyes! It is one of the most impressive scenes in Hokkaido.
From the observatory atop the sheer cliff, you can command the dynamic coastline that leads to Cape Kamui in front and Mt. Shakotandake in back. The sea below is so transparent that you can even see the bedrock. The sight of the waves splashing against Byoubu-iwa (Folding Screen Rock) in the cove is a sight you will want to see a number of times.
At the beginning of summer, the cliffs are decorated with the local flower, Yezo daylilies.
Otamoi Coast is a scenic spot in the northern part of Otaru City in Hokkaido. It is a part of Niseko-Shakotan-Otaru-Beach Quasi-National Park and counted as one of the 8 Scenic Spots in Otaru. The word “otamoi” means “a cove with sand beach,” but there is no sign of what its name shows. Today, it is a rocky shore with sheer cliffs towering at the edge of the ocean. The promenade is built on top pf the 200 cliffs, where you can enjoy viewing this dynamic seascape. In summer, people come for swimming and fishing. It is also famous as the practice area for rock climbing.
The area around the coast has been called “Hakuja-no-tani (White Snake Valley) since the ancient times, and the adjacent cove was considered as a holy place, where Otamoi Jizo is enshrined.
In the early Showa period (1926-1989), there was an amusement part called “Otamoi Amusement Park” here. The promenade was arranged from Japanese restaurant Ryugu-kaku, which looked very much like Kiyomizudera Temple in Kyoto, to Otamoi Jizo, along which the play equipment area, Benten-do Hall and the music hall were provided. Being called the finest amusement park in northern Japan, a large number of people visited this place. It was closed after the restaurant was destroyed by fire in 1952.