Amanohashidate

One of Japan's Three Scenic Views, Amanohashidate is a sandbar that connects the two sides of Miyazu Bay. Amanohashidate, translated as "bridge in heaven," got its name for its beauty, poetically described as a pathway between heaven and earth. The sandbar spans 3.3 kilometers (about 2 miles), and nearly 7,000 pine trees decorate the strip The panoramic view includes the bay on either side of the famous sandbar, as well as snow-capped mountains in the distance.

Nestled between the pine trees on the sandbar, Isoshimizu fresh water well is an attraction on its own, having been held in high regard since the Heian Period. Japan's Environmental Agency designated the well as one of the country's 100 best springs and rivers in 1985. Weather walking across the Amanohashidate sandbar or viewing it from above, this view is one of the most celebrated in Japan.

Practical Info

Amanohashidate rests in northern Kyoto Prefecture in the Tango-Amanohashidate-Oeyama Quasi-National Park. Located two hours from Kyoto or Osaka Stations, Amanohashidate Station can be reached on the Miyazu Line railway. The sandbar is a short walk from the southern end of the station. At either end of the sandbar, visitors can take in temples and shrines, enjoy a ride in a small amusement park, and take in the view at an observation deck. Sightseeing cruises around the bay abound.