Tour Maps and Itinerary Ideas

Kenga-ike Pond is one of five ascetic training sites on the islands of Tomogashima. Because the pond is on Kamishima, an island that is off limits to visitors, you can view it from the yohaijo (a spot provided for worship at a distance) on Okinoshima. Legend has it that En no Gyoja confined a ferocious dragon to Shinja-ike Pond on Okinoshima. He prayed for success in this endeavor to the god Sukunahikona no Mikoto, who resided on Kamishima, and obtained an all-powerful sword from Kenga-ike Pond.

Go north about 2 kilometers along the ridge from Kamishima Yohaijo to arrive at the seashore on the eastern edge of Okinoshima. There, you will find a stone monument marking the site of Akai Well. Akai means a well from which you get water to offer to Buddha. It is said that Shugendo practitioners would get spring water from this well to purify themselves before making the crossing to Torajima, the location of the training sites Kannen-kutsu and Johon-kutsu.

After seeing the ascetic training sites of Katsuragi Shugen, let’s visit a former military site. During Japan’s Meiji Period (1868 to 1912), the government built five gun batteries to protect the Kitan Strait. The largest of these is Gun Battery #3. The structure’s aging red bricks recall a long-gone era and exude a solemn atmosphere. Gun mounts and ammunition storage areas are connected by tunnels which you can go inside. It’s pitch dark, so be sure to bring a flashlight.

After exploring Tomogashima, savor a meal of red sea bream, a specialty of Kada. At Inasa, enjoy seafood right from the ocean to your plate, such as red sea bream from Kada port caught using the pole-and-line method. Try the popular red sea bream courses skillfully arranged by the proprietor, a Kada red sea bream expert. The courses let you try the fish prepared in a variety of ways; including as sashimi, simmered, and—to get the full flavor of red sea bream—hot pot.

After a satisfying meal, head over to Kada Awashima-jinja, an ancient shrine with a gorgeous vermilion main hall and a history that traces back to semi-legendary Empress Jingu of the 3rd century. Countless hina dolls and maneki-neko (lucky cat figures) from all over Japan have been dedicated here, and the main hall is crowded with dolls. The shrine is reputed to be a magical and sacred site for women, answering their prayers for recovery from gynecological illness, safe childbirth, and romance. In the Hina-nagashi ritual held every year on March 3, the dolls that have been dedicated are ritually purified and then set out to sea in boats.

Since you’re visiting Awashima-jinja Shrine, why not pick up some souvenirs at this shop founded more than 60 years ago. Located on the approach to the shrine, Uoichi Shoten is packed with seafood such as Tomogashima nori (dried seaweed), furikake nori (seaweed sprinkle), and Kada wakame seaweed. In the shop, you can eat fresh shellfish grilled right in front of you, such as sazae no tsuboyaki (turban shell baked in the shell) and okugai (hard clams).

Our next stop is Kada Kasuga-jinja Shrine, another of the Shugendo training sites on Tomogashima.
The shrine is said to have been moved to its current location by Kuwayama Shigeharu (a retainer of warlord Hashiba Hidenaga) during the Tensho era (1573 to 1592). Legend holds that En no Gyoja, who was using Tomogashima Islands as a sacred training site, prayed to the shrine’s god as a guardian deity. For this reason, the head priest of Shogo-in Temple joins large numbers of Shugendo practitioners to make a pilgrimage here every April.

What better way to unwind after a day of sightseeing than at Hiina no Yu hot spring? From the ocean-facing open-air bath you can see the peaceful, picturesque Kitan Strait in the daytime and gorgeous sunsets in the evening. Relax to your heart’s content in the spacious bath and refreshing sea breeze. The hot spring’s source, simple spring water that is mildly alkaline, has beautifying properties and makes your skin feel silky smooth after bathing.