Shimanto River, Cape Ashizuri Travel Guides

The Shimanto River and Cape Ashizuri are home to tourist attractions such as the Shimanto River, Hakusan Shrine, and Sasayama, tourist events such as the Shimanto River Ultra Marathon, Daimonji Fireworks Festival, and Shimanto Noryo Fireworks Festival, and local delicacies such as bonito tataki, bonito flakes, and sweet potato fries.

The Shimanto River, which has no dam in the mainstream, a rarity in Japan, is also called "the last clear stream in Japan. It is also one of the three clearest rivers in Japan, and has been selected as one of Japan's 100 best-kept secrets and one of the 100 best waters.

Because the river is wide, there are a number of long sunken bridges, creating a unique landscape. The Sada Chinka-bashi Bridge, in particular, has no parapet, giving visitors the strange sensation of moving on water, and attracts many tourists throughout the year.

The Shimanto River is home to fireflies and other creatures that can only be seen in clean water, and at the Shimanto City Dragonfly Nature Park, water flowers such as water lilies bloom from season to season, and more than 70 species of dragonflies can be seen.

If you want to enjoy outdoor life to the fullest in the great outdoors, the hands-on lodging facility "Shimanto Rakusha" is recommended. Try snorkeling or rafting on a handmade raft.

After enjoying the river, a drive to the sea is also refreshing. At Cape Ashizuri, one of the area's most famous tourist attractions, you can enjoy a panoramic view of the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean. As the southernmost point of Shikoku, the vast expanse of ocean stretching far into the distance is a sight to behold.

At the tip of the cape is the Ashizuri-misaki Lighthouse, one of the largest lighthouses in Japan, which still protects the safety of ships passing offshore. The area was the first in Japan to be designated as an underwater park, and the Ryukushi Underwater Park has been established.

Visitors can enjoy a relaxing underwater walk on a semi-submersible underwater observation boat and see the colorful coral reefs unique to the warm waters of the Kuroshio Current. One of the highlights of the area is the Hakusan Cave, a gigantic cave that was bored through by rough seas and has often been used for filming on location.

Gourmet food is just as you would expect, with both river fish and seafood available. Local cuisine using plenty of shrimps from the Shimanto River, green laver, and fish freshly caught in set nets offshore is very popular.

Shimizu mackerel, whose fatty flesh is likened to that of toro (fatty tuna), is one of the local specialties, and is a must-try. Shimizu's B-class gourmet nabeyaki ramen is also slowly gaining attention.