There are plenty of scenic spots at the Goishi Coast in Sanriku. Along the coast line, you can see a great variety of landscapes. In addition, the flowers that dot the coastal area are also very beautiful. In this article, we will introduce the Goishi Coast - a city rich in nature.
About Goishi Coast
Goishi Coast is located on the Suesaki Peninsula in Ofunato City of Iwate Prefecture. Goishi is a tool used in the "Igo" (Japanese board game) which has long been popular in Japan. The beach is covered with black and round gravel. Since the shape resembles Goishi, the beach is called the Goishi Coast.
There are several scenic spots on the coast called the "Goishi Hakkei". The particularly popular one among tourists is the “Anatoushiiso”. Due to wave erosion, the rock has unique formation of three holes. In addition, "Kaminari-iwa" (Thunder Rock) which emits a thunder-like sound when waves hit against the walls of the cave, is also spectacular. Near the "Kaminari-iwa", you can see the “Ranbouya valley” which is a cliff of several tens of meters high.
Things to do at Goishi Coast
Anatoshi-sen (cruise)
At Goishi Coast, you can go along the coast by small boats. Local fishermen maneuver the boat skillfully through the sea. At the end of the boat trip, the boat will lead you through the cave entrance of "Anatoshi-iso", which is the highlight of the Goishi Coast. The attractive point is that from the boat you can take a close look at the oddly-shaped stones of "Goishi Hakkei".
Goishimisaki
Goishimisaki is located at the tip of the Suesaki Peninsula. You can enjoy a superb view from the Goishisaki Observatory at the cape. If the weather is fine, you can even look over the Oshika Peninsula of Miyagi Prefecture.
Near the observatory is the Goishisaki lighthouse. The white lighthouse, 10.5 meters high, is known as the "Lover's sanctuary". It is said that the two lovers' relationship will become even stronger if they visit the lighthouse together.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Goishimisaki
- Street Address: Ohama, Massakicho, Ofunato, Iwate
- Access: About a 10-minute walk from Goishi Coast
Sekai no Tsubakikan Goishi
The area around Goishi Coast is full of seasonal flowers. Above all, the flower of Ofunato city (Goishi Coast) - Tsubaki - is very famous. At the Goishi Coast, there is a "Sekai no Tsubakikan Goishi" which displays Tsubaki indoors. You can appreciate about 600 kinds of Tsubaki collected from 13 countries around the world. The “Tsubaki Festival” is held every year from the second half of January to the beginning of March, which is the best time for appreciating the beauty of Tsubaki.
Spot Information
- Spot name: Sekai no Tsubakikan Goishi
- Street Address: 280-1 Ohama, Masaaki Cho, Ofunato, Iwate
- Access: 1 minute walk from the Goishi Coast Information Center
Access
The closest train station is the JR Ofunato Line Goishi-Kaiganguchi Station. It takes about 10 minutes by taxi or 40 minutes on foot from the station. You can also go by bus from Tokyo. Take the Kesen Liner at Ikebukuro Station West Exit and get off at “Sanria SC Mae” bus stop (about 9.5 hours). Change to Goishi Line (Bus) of Iwate Prefectural Transportation and get off at "Goishi Coast" bus stop (about 50 minutes).
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