Shionomisaki

Cape Shionomisaki is the southernmost point of Honshu. When you actually visit the southernmost tip, you’ll find an expansive grassy area spreading across roughly 100,000 square meters. This spot originally had a naval lookout tower. As the haiku poet Seishi Yamaguchi wrote, "Aoi-misaki from sunrise until sunset," when you gaze out over the Pacific Ocean here, you can truly feel that the Earth is round. Since the Shionomisaki Tourist Tower was built in 1960, it has also become a beloved sightseeing destination. Every year on the last Saturday of January, an event called "Honshu’s Southernmost Fire Festival" is held: at sunset, fire is set across the vast lawn. While it is done to promote new growth by burning off dried grass, the scale is so large that not only Wakayama residents but also visitors eagerly look forward to the day to witness the powerful flames. To get to Cape Shionomisaki, take the Kushimoto Town Community Bus (Shionomisaki Line) from JR Kisei Main Line "Kushimoto Station," which makes it easy to also visit "Shionomisaki Lighthouse" and the "Shionomisaki Tourist Tower."