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

This is Ohara from the Technical Sales Department

This time, I'll be sharing some of the highlights from my 2-day, 1-night trip to Kushimoto/Shionomisaki in Wakayama Prefecture, the southernmost point of Honshu, using Beyond's employee benefit program, "Refresh Leave."
*This article contains many photos.

Incidentally, Beyond's refresh leave system is a program where members who have been with Beyond for more than 5 years2 weeks of leave + a 100,000 yen bonus every 5 yearsare granted

▼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 horizon of the Pacific Ocean, offering spectacular views.
● You can experience a tropical atmosphere while still being on Honshu.
● The heat is dry, not the humid heat of urban areas like Tokyo and Osaka.
● It is quite close to the sea, so there is often a 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 long history of close ties with foreign 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 Marine Parkwe arrived atKushimoto Diving Park." (Unfortunately, we couldn't go diving due to our schedule.)

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

located at the Kushimoto Roadside StationHashigui-iwa,. Hashigui-iwa is a rock formation that resembles bridge piles, with only the hard parts of the rock remaining due to sea erosion. Legend says that long ago, Kobo Daishi and a mischievous spirit made a bet that they could build a bridge in one night, and the rocks were erected in a single 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 no Eki: Suimon Matsuri," I ate a seafood bowl topped with freshly caught fish while gazing 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

"Hotel & Resorts Wakayama KushimotoI stayed at a hotel called

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