[Kushimoto, Shionomisaki] I tried using the refreshment leave system [The southernmost point of Honshu]

This is Ohara from the Technical Sales Department

This time, we will introduce the highlights of a two-day, one-night trip to Kushimoto/Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture, the southernmost tip of Honshu, using Beyond's employee benefit program, "Refresh Vacation."
*This article contains a lot of photos.

is a system that grants members who have been with Beyond for more than five years two weeks of leave plus a 100,000 yen merit bonus every five years

▼For more information on Beyond's Refreshing Vacation, click here▼

[Company system] Introducing refreshment leave [Long vacation]

Introduction

This was my first time visiting Kushimoto/Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture, so I'd like to briefly share some of the highlights and impressions below. By the way, I drove from Osaka to Kushimoto, and it took about three hours one way

● As it is the southernmost point of Honshu, there are many spots where you can see the Pacific horizon, offering spectacular views.
● You can experience a tropical atmosphere while still on Honshu.
● The temperature is dry, not humid like in urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka.
● As it is quite close to the ocean, there is a frequent breeze, making it cool even at night.
● The sea is emerald green. (It is home to the world's northernmost coral reef.)
● It has a history of deep ties with other countries dating back to the Edo and Meiji periods.
● The fish dishes are fresh and delicious. There are also plenty of fishing spots.

Kushimoto Underwater Park

First, Kushimoto Underwater Park . Apparently, you can also go diving at the adjacent Kushimoto Diving Park . (Due to schedule constraints, we were unable to go diving.)

We have arrived at the back of the Kushimoto Marine Park facilities. The tower-like structure in the center of the photo is the Underwater Observation Tower

The sign reads, "Kushimoto is home to the world's northernmost coral sea."

Many coral fossils had washed up on the shore

It's a little hard to tell from the photo, but the sea is emerald green, as it is a coral sea

Hashigui Rock

Hashiguiiwa, located at Kushimoto Roadside Station . Due to erosion by the sea, only the hard parts of the rock remain, and Hashiguiiwa looks like a bridge pile standing there. Legend has it that a long time ago, Kobo Daishi and Amanojaku made a bet that they could build a bridge in one night, and they built it in one night.

From this point onwards the weather started to improve

The sandy beach is very beautiful. The sun was so strong that I got sunburned just by being outside. The sun was strong, but because it was surrounded by the ocean, there was a good breeze and the temperature was dry and nice

Tahara Beach

It was very hot that day, so I went swimming at the beach. There was no one else there except me. I got sunburned while swimming

Cape Shionomisaki

We arrived at Cape Shionomisaki, the southernmost point of Honshu. Looking at the stone monument marking the southernmost point of Honshu and the sea, we realized how far we had come. By the way, the latitude is 33 degrees 26 minutes north and 135 degrees 46 minutes east

It's a vast prairie

It's a ship somewhere

Looking out from land, the ocean stretches out in a 180-degree angle. When you look at the horizon like this, you can really see that the Earth is round

Kishu Nagisa Station: Water Gate Festival (meal)

" Kishu Nagisa Station: Suimon Festival ," you can enjoy a seafood bowl topped with freshly caught fish while looking out at the emerald green sea.

Oshima (Turkish Memorial Hall and Kashinozaki Lighthouse)

Kushimoto Town in Wakayama Prefecture is a town with close ties to Türkiye

On September 16, 1890, the Ertuğrul, carrying the first Turkish (then Ottoman) delegation, was shipwrecked off the coast of the facility (at Shipshell Reef) on its way home after an audience with the Emperor. The islanders dedicatedly rescued the ship, and a history of friendship between Turkey and Japan began

If you continue along the road that leads to the Turkish Memorial Museum, you will come across the "Equestrian Statue of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk."

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk (hereafter referred to as Atatürk) is a great hero of the Turkish people who rose up to liberate his homeland from its divided occupation after World War I and led it to victory as its leader. As the first president, Atatürk carried out reforms in all areas and achieved the modernization of his country, and he is still deeply respected by the Turkish people today as the founding father

This equestrian statue was donated to Kushimoto Town by the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Japan in the year marking 120 years since the sinking of the warship Ertuğrul, which laid the foundation for friendship between Japan and Turkey, and in the hope of further developing friendship between the two countries

Further in, we came across the Kashinozaki Lighthouse, Japan's first stone-built lighthouse

The Kashinozaki Lighthouse Former Official Residence was located on the same grounds as the Kashinozaki Lighthouse

This official residence, built for use as an office and residence for the lighthouse keeper, is a historic stone building that was the first completed in Japan by British engineer Richard Henry Brunton (hereafter referred to as Brunton) in 1870. When the Edo Shogunate opened its doors to the world, the establishment of lighthouses was decided in the Edo Treaty of 1866, and it was built in response to this decision. Brunton was selected as the head of the building, and it was completed as a Western-style stone building

The fact that the construction of Kashinozaki Lighthouse and the former government housing was planned in the Edo period and completed in the early Meiji period gives it a very historic feel

Climb to the roof of Kashinozaki Lighthouse

This photo was taken from the roof of Kashinozaki Lighthouse. There's nothing but the open sea, so the view is amazing. I'm sure that in the past, people used this lighthouse to send signals to ships coming from both Japan and overseas

Oshima (US-Japan Friendship Memorial Hall, Umikongo)

The first American to visit Japan is often thought of as Commodore Perry, who arrived in 1853 (Kaei 6) during the Edo period in Uraga, what is now Yokosuka City, Kanagawa Prefecture, demanding that Japan open its doors to the world (the arrival of the Black Ships). However, in fact, the first American to visit Kushimoto actually arrived in 1791 (Kansei 3), 62 years before the arrival of the Black Ships

The US-Japan Amity Memorial Hall was built to commemorate for future generations the fact that two American merchant ships called at Japan's ports and offered to trade with the country before the arrival of Commodore Perry's Black Ships

We arrived at Umikongo, a rock formation made from magma that was eroded by the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean. The view from the observation deck at Umikongo is also beautiful

Accommodation

I stayed at a hotel called " Hotel & Resorts Wakayama Kushimoto

This is a photo taken from my hotel room at dawn

In front of JR Kushimoto Station

I took a stroll around the area in front of JR Kushimoto Station

summary

Although I visited a place I had never been to before, I learned a lot of things I hadn't known before, and it was a fresh and good experience. Also, because this trip was a two-day, one-night trip, I wasn't able to stop by and enjoy all the tourist spots, but there are still many places in Kushimoto/Shionomisaki where you can enjoy sightseeing and leisure, so I would like to go again if I have the opportunity next time