Cliffs, Caves and Islets on the Sea of Japan
The Kasumi Coast (香住海岸, Kasumi Kaigan) is a rocky Sea of Japan coast in Kami Town, Mikata District, Hyogo Prefecture, which in 1938 was designated a Place of Scenic Beauty.
The designation text describes Sea of Japan coastal scenery formed of various volcanic rocks and Tertiary strata rich in volcanic sediments.
The Agency for Cultural Affairs' Japan Heritage portal calls it the most deeply indented raised coast on the San'in shore, where countless caves, cliffs and odd-shaped rocks line a convoluted shoreline.
The Coast
According to the designation text, Kasumi Bay at the centre divides the coast into eastern and western sections. The eastern section has islets such as Kuroshima and Shiroshima, with a fine view from the Shiroyama peninsula.
The western section centres on the great cliff called Yoroi no Sode, armour sleeve, and the islets of Hachinosu and Takanosu below it, with a cluster called Tajima Matsushima a little to the east. Farther west, cliffs riddled with caves run from Matsugasaki to Saguri Point.
The Japan Heritage portal notes that Yoroi no Sode is separately designated a Natural Monument.
What to Look For
The portal describes mountains pressing close behind a deeply cut shoreline where, outside the coves and river mouths, waves have carved sheer rocks and exposed strata. This line of sculpture-like rock coast is the heart of the designated scenery.
In the east, look out from the Shiroyama peninsula to Kuroshima and Shiroshima; in the west, to the great cliff of Yoroi no Sode and the reefs of Hachinosu and Takanosu. The Kasumi Coast is also part of the Japan Heritage story of scenery shaped by the Sea of Japan winds.
Visiting the Kasumi Coast
The Kasumi Coast stretches along the shore, so the scenery changes with the viewpoint. No official information on visiting conditions could be found.
Cliffs and rocks can be dangerous: stay out of restricted areas and keep away from the shore in high seas. Enquiries go to Kami Town.
Q&A
- When was the Kasumi Coast designated?
- It was designated a Place of Scenic Beauty on 30 May 1938.
- What kind of coast is the Kasumi Coast?
- A rocky Sea of Japan coast of volcanic rock and Tertiary strata, lined with caves, cliffs and odd rocks.
- What are the highlights of the Kasumi Coast?
- The islets of Kuroshima and Shiroshima seen from the Shiroyama peninsula, the great cliff of Yoroi no Sode, and islets such as Hachinosu and Takanosu.
- What is Yoroi no Sode?
- A great cliff in the western section of the coast, also designated a Natural Monument.
- Where is the Kasumi Coast?
- On the Sea of Japan in Kami Town, Mikata District, Hyogo Prefecture.
Basic Information
| Name | Kasumi Coast (香住海岸) |
|---|---|
| Location | Kami Town, Mikata District, Hyogo Prefecture |
| Designation | Place of Scenic Beauty |
| Year Designated | Designated 1938/5/30 (Showa 13) |
| Quantity | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Dimensions | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Owner | Not recorded in the Agency for Cultural Affairs database |
| Public Access | Viewed from points along the coast |
References
- Agency for Cultural Affairs Database: Kasumi Coast (Japanese)
- https://kunishitei.bunka.go.jp/bsys/maindetails/401/1872
- Cultural Heritage Online: Kasumi Coast (Japanese)
- https://online.bunka.go.jp/heritages/detail/202206
- Agency for Cultural Affairs, Japan Heritage: Kasumi Coast (Japanese)
- https://japan-heritage.bunka.go.jp/ja/culturalproperties/result/4475/
Last verified: 2026.09.28