Overview
Cape Shionomisaki, in the town of Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture, is the southernmost point of Honshu. It juts far out into the Pacific Ocean (Philippine Sea), offering sweeping ocean views. Much of the cape lies within Yoshino-Kumano National Park and is known as a scenic spot crowned by the white Shionomisaki Lighthouse.
Highlights
- ●The southernmost point of Honshu
- ●Shionomisaki Lighthouse (one of the 50 Lighthouses of Japan)
- ●A grand panorama over the Pacific Ocean
- ●Landforms of marine terraces and coastal cliffs
History
The Shionomisaki Lighthouse is listed among the "50 Lighthouses of Japan" by the Japan Lighthouse Association. Originally an island, the cape became a land-tied island (tombolo) when gravel carried from a nearby river estuary was borne by coastal currents to form a sandbar linking it to the mainland.
Access
The cape is located in the town of Kushimoto, Wakayama Prefecture. It is a flat uplifted marine terrace 60 to 80 meters in elevation, edged by a coastal cliff about 40 meters high. Please confirm detailed routes with maps and official information.
Best season
Clear, sunny daytime hours are recommended, when the view stretches to the horizon over the Pacific. As the area sees frequent typhoons, checking the weather before visiting is wise.
Map
33.4375, 135.7544 · Wikidata
Suggested itinerary
- 1Arrive at Cape Shionomisaki and take in the southernmost point of Honshu
- 2Visit the Shionomisaki Lighthouse
- 3Overlook the Pacific from atop the marine terrace
- 4Walk the shore while sensing how the land-tied island formed
Did you know?
💡 Because typhoons pass by so often, the cape is nicknamed "Typhoon Ginza," and the Isewan Typhoon of 1959 also passed near Shionomisaki.
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