Kushimoto

What to know

Kushimoto (串本) sits at the southern tip of the Kii Peninsula. This small town and its surroundings offer lovely coastal scenery and several mildly interesting museums.

Cape Shionomisaki, just south of Kushimoto's center, marks the southernmost point of Japan's main island, Honshu. A shrine and the Shionomisaki Lighthouse stand nearby. The lighthouse houses a small museum with exhibits on the building and local history. You can also climb to the top for a view.

Not far from Cape Shionomisaki, connected by a large modern bridge, lies Oshima Island. The island features two small museums with foreign connections and more coastal scenery.

The Turkish Memorial Museum commemorates a maritime accident in 1890, when a Turkish ship ran aground on Oshima's shores. Local residents cared for the survivors until they could safely return to Turkey. This event marked the beginning of a deep friendship between Japan and Turkey.

Oshima's other foreign-inspired museum is the Japan-US Friendship Museum, which recalls the arrival of two American trading ships to Oshima in 1791. This is said to be the first friendly encounter between the two countries. Walking trails connect the museum to a nearby observation point with views of the spectacular Umikongo Coast, named after Mount Kongo in Korea.

On the mainland, a series of rocks dot the coastline leading toward Oshima Island. Legend says these rocks, called Hashigui-iwa (meaning "bridge pillar rocks"), were created by the famous monk Kobo Daishi after a monster challenged him to build a bridge across the sea. He nearly succeeded, and the remains of his efforts still stand.