Amanohashidate (天橋立) is a pine covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay in the scenic, coastal region of northern Kyoto Prefecture. Viewed from the mountains at either end of the bay, the Amanohashidate Sandbar (which roughly translates to "bridge in heaven") looks like a pathway between heaven and earth. The scene has been admired for centuries and is ranked among Japan's three most scenic views.
Mount Monju
We were surprised that to fully enjoy the view, access via the Amanohashidate Viewland （天橋立ビューランド） amusement park is required. But hey, for the price of Y850 for either the monorail or chair lift, we get to enter the park for free!
Amanohashidate viewed the right way up...
The recommended (and fun) way to view it...
(Might be a bit dizzying... but that's the high of it!)
People bend over to view the sandbar from between their legs. This unique way of viewing is called "Mata Nozoki", and the view itself is termd "Hiryukan" (the view of the flying dragon).
What you actually see...
The local legend says that Amanohashidate was originally a bridge connecting the Heaven and Earth. With a little bit of imagination, the inverted sandbar with its green pines looks a dragon, the guardian of the sea, flying up to heaven.
After the long journey up, it's time for a calorie-replenishing meal
at the cosy observation deck cafe...
at the cosy observation deck cafe...
Our choice of food - Miyazu-style Pork Cutlet Rice Bowl, Asari Clam Rice Bowl, Grater Crab Rice Bowl and finishing it off with a Iced Cafe Au Lait topped with crushed coffee jelly and vanilla ice cream...
And a try on a quirky ride for the fun of it (Cycle Cars at Y300)...
On The Ground
After View Land, it's time to do a bit of walking...
First we checked out the Kaisen Kyo Rotary Bridge at the foot of Mount Monju. Connecting Amanohashidate and Monju areas, this unusual bridge turns 90 degrees approach from the adjoining waterway. The bridge that was built in 1923 was turned by hand, but the present electric one was rebuilt in May 1960 to accomodate the high level of martime traffic.
As the boat approaches, this bridge moves!
"When people push and open the rotary bridge
Ama no Hashidate too swings blackly"
- Yosano Akiko (poet)
Despite being surrounded by the sea on all four sides, the Iso-Shimizu well water is not salty at all. The wonder of it has been celebrated in Haiku poetry with this evergreen phrase - "A single mouthful of the jewel of Iso-Shimizu". It was even recognized in 1988 as one of the “100 Best Waters in Japan” by the Environment Ministry.
Walking On The Sandbar
Walking on the sandbar is kind of a get-down-to-earth type of feeling, feeling the soil beneath your feet, and nope, it's not just sand. See the well-paved road?
This natural bridge is 3.6km long, and 15m to 170m in width. Filled with 8,000 pine trees of many sizes and shapes. The Ama no Hashidate prefectural road that traverses it longitudinally has been designated by the Construction Minister as a special road and one of “Japan's Best 100 Roads”.
We spent one hour strolling along the beach and soaking in the fresh pine scent. Really romantic...
The Other Mountain
For the completion of it, we continued up the other mountain to Kasamatsu Park via the Cable Car (Y320 each way).
From here the sandbar is said to look like the kanji for "one" (一). Called "matanozoki", this practice originated at this park, and visitors to Amanohashidate have been following it for over a millennium.
Sources
Text
- Japan Guidehttp://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3992.html
- JNTOhttps://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/rtg/pdf/pg-504.pdf
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/routes/g_route/golden_18.html
- Kyoto Viewshttp://kyotoviews.blogspot.sg/2012/03/amanohashidate-in-miyazu-city-kyoto-1.html
- Miyazu Amanohashidate Tourist Guidehttp://www.amanohashidate.jp/lang/en_sightinfo.html
- View Landhttp://www.viewland.jp/~e/
View Land (Cafe)
http://www.viewland.jp/~e/article_002.html
View Land (Rides)
http://www.viewland.jp/~e/article.html
View Land (Sights)http://www.viewland.jp/~e/article_001.html
Images
- Flickrhttps://www.flickr.com/photos/hickstersunited/5610421461/?rb=1
- Instagram http://blog.instagram.com/post/61129361891/amanohashidate
- Japan Guide
- JNTO
- Justin Klein
http://www.justin-klein.com/amanohashidate/
- Kyoto Views
- Miyazu Amanohashidate Tourist Guide
- Muza Chan
http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/japan-most-scenic-beauty-amanohashidate
- Myau Myau
https://myaukun.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/rotating-bridge-at-amanohashidate-miyazu-in-north-kyoto/
- Sumayado
http://en.sumayado.jp/tokusyu/amusementpark/jt02_35.html
- Trip Advisor
http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g1023393-d1863068-i64987392-Amanohashidate_View_Land-Miyazu_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html
- View Land (Cafe)
- Wikimedia
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amanohashidate_View_Land09n4592.jpg
No comments:
Post a Comment