Road from Shimanto River to Nunoura
Road from Shimanto River to Nunoura
Starting in Shimato city at the Hatsuzaki Ferry point, located on the southern shore of the Shimanto River outlet, this beach course is 14.9-km long and ends in Tosashimizu city. Those who have walked this road admire the Shimanto River, which is so wide that it is often mistaken for the sea at Hatsuzaki Ferry. Daimonji Mountain, located about 2 km to the east of the path, is one of the rare sites in Japan where Kanji characters are burned on the side of a mountain. Walk a bit further to arrive at Onashishi Bay, a famous nesting spot for loggerhead turtles. Once you’re past this Bay, you will come across many routes through the mountains and finally enter Tosashimizu city. If you take a left at the Nunozaki Junction, you’ll find the Nunozaki Rest Area. Take a right to gaze upon the Pacific Ocean as you walk to the final destination of this course, Nunoura.
Road from Shimanto River to Nunoura（13.9km）
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Spots to photograph
If you wish to receive a certificate, please take a photo that includes yourself at the designated photo point for each course.
Nearby sightseeing spots
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Shimanto RiverSaid to be Japan’s "last limpid stream," the Shimanto River originates on Irazu Mountain, in the Shikoku mountainous region. The large river flows for 196 km to the Pacific Ocean and the limpid stream is a treasure trove of freshwater fish. Around 80% of the river basin is occupied by forest, and is the home of wild birds and dragonflies. The river outlet water where the sea water and fresh water mix is called "brackish water" and this is the habitat of "Akame" (Lates japonicus) one of Japan three biggest, monstrous fish. The origin of the name comes from the way the reflection of the light makes your eyes glow red in the dark. The Akame (Lates japonicus) can grow more than 1 m long and weigh over 30 kg. It is found only in Kochi and Miyazaki prefectures and a part of its popularity comes from the mysterious ecology.
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Hatsuzaki FerryThe "Hatsuzaki Ferry" is a docking point for the ferry that travels to Shimoda, across the Shimanto River. The number of customers decreased drastically when a bridge was built upstream over the Shimanto River, and the ferry was to be abolished in 2005, but it was reinstated in 2009 by the "Shimoda Ferry Maintenance Group" and still runs today.
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Daimonji OkuribiTo the east of the Hatsunozaki stop, a large Kanji is dug into the vegetation halfway up the mountain and a bonfire is lit with torches collected from the houses in the district. This is called "Dainojiyama" by locals and known more broadly as "Daimonji Okuribi." Around 500 years ago, Fusaya, the son of the same Ichijo Norifusa who fled the War of Onin, ended up in Nakamura. It is said that he started this tradition when he started yearning for Kyoto when he put to rest the souls of his father, Norifusa, and his grandfather, Kaneyoshi. This is a tradition only practiced in Kyoto and Nakamura. Known as "the fire of Lord Ichijo," it is enjoyed by many guests and signifies the end of summer.
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Onashishi BayIn 2021 there were no loggerhead turtle nests on this beach, but in 2022, five turtles landed on the beach, and over 500 eggs were confirmed. This led to a volunteer effort to clean up the beach and make efforts to protect it as a nesting ground. The beach is clean enough for sea turtles to venture onto, but there are signs warning that swimming here is dangerous due to the rip currents.
