Cape Osaki

Overview

Cape Osaki is a scenic headland at the tip of the Karakuwa Peninsula, in the Karakuwa district of Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture. Jutting boldly into the Pacific, it is now part of the Sanriku Fukko (Reconstruction) National Park. The cape is marked by the Osaki lighthouse, and three rocky islets, Oisojima, Kookijima, and Oyamazaki, line its eastern shore, forming a rugged yet beautiful coastal scene.

Highlights

• ●A scenic headland at the tip of the Karakuwa Peninsula, jutting into the Pacific
• ●Coastal beauty with the three islets of Oisojima, Kookijima, and Oyamazaki in a row
• ●The tip of the cape marked by the Osaki lighthouse
• ●Clear waters where the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents alternate by season

History

This area once formed the southern end of the former Rikuchu Kaigan National Park, which existed from 1955 to 2013. It was later incorporated, together with the Minamisanriku Kinkasan Quasi-National Park, into the newly established Sanriku Fukko National Park, of which Cape Osaki is now a part. Through these changes in designation, the cape has been preserved as one of the representative scenic spots of the Sanriku coast.

Map

38.8577, 141.6735 · Wikidata

Suggested itinerary

1. 1Arrive at the Osaki parking area and take in the air at the peninsula's tip
2. 2Walk about 500 meters south along the trail through the red pine forest
3. 3Stand at the tip of Cape Osaki and look out over the Pacific and the three islets
4. 4View the Osaki lighthouse and set off home with the Sanriku coast in mind

Did you know?

💡 Because it juts into the Pacific, the cape enjoys highly transparent water and faces a rich sea where the Kuroshio and Oyashio currents alternate by season. The path through the red pine forest to the headland's tip, and the view of the three rocky islets in a row, are pleasures unique to the Karakuwa Peninsula.

Nearby spots