A Submersible Bridge Famed for Film and TV Locations [Tokushima Prefecture: Wakimachi Submersible Bridge]
The Yoshino River (吉野川), known as ‘Shikoku Saburo (四国三郎)’ and considered one of Japan’s three most tempestuous rivers, is also known for its sunset view. A characteristic feature of the bridges over the Yoshinogawa is the prevalence of ‘submersible bridges’ (sensuikyo, 潜水橋) which lack parapets, designed to submerge below the water’s surface during floods to prevent them from being washed away. The Wakimachi Submersible Bridge against the sunset backdrop provides a beautifully striking contrast that is second to none.
Location : Wakimachi, Mima City, Tokushima Prefecture
Contact : Mima Tourism Bureau
Website : mimakankou.or.jp/event/wakimachisensuikyou/
An ‘Instagrammable’ Shrine Trending as a place of spiritual healing! [Kagawa Prefecture: Shirotori Shrine]
Located in Higashikagawa City (東かがわ市), at the eastern end of the prefecture, this ancient shrine preserves the legend that the spirit of Yamato Takeru no Mikoto (日本武尊) transformed into a white bird and flew to the site. The grounds are filled with numerous highly photogenic scenic spots, including wind chimes that resonate with a refreshing sound and a colourful ‘kazaguruma kairo (かざぐるま回廊; Pinwheel Corridor)’. Its popularity is soaring, not least due to the blessings promised by the ‘Good Fortune and Career Advancement Yellowtail Fish Fortune (Hamachi Mikuji, ハマチみくじ)’!
Location : 69 Matsubara, Higashikagawa City, Kagawa Prefecture
Website : shirotori-jinja.jp
A Stunning Sea View from the Platform! [Ehime Prefecture: JR Shimonada Station]
JR Shimonada (下灘) Station is famous among railway enthusiasts, having appeared in films, dramas, TV programmes, and on the JR Seishun 18 Kippu (青春18きっぷ) rail pass posters. The view of the Setouchi (瀬戸内) Sea from the platform is spectacular at any time: whether during the day when the sun-drenched surface of the sea sparkles, or in the evening when the setting sun bathes the water in a golden glow.
Location : Okubo, Futami-cho, Iyo City, Ehime Prefecture
Website : iyokannet.jp/spot/3580
Transparent Sea Where ‘Boats Seem to Float in Mid-Air’! [Kochi Prefecture: Kashiwajima Island]
Kashiwajima Island (柏島), connected by a bridge to the Otsuki (大月) Peninsula at the southwestern tip of the prefecture, is situated in a sea area where the currents of the Bungo (豊後) Channel and the Kuroshio (黒潮) Current converge. It is one of the world’s leading diving spots, said to be home to one-third of Japan’s fish species. The clarity of the sea is so exceptional that photos posted on social media, in which “boats appear to be floating in mid-air,” have become viral.
Location : Kashiwajima, Otsuki-cho, Hata-gun, Kochi Prefecture
Contact : Otsuki Town Tourism Association
Website : otsuki-kanko.jp/tourism/content1
This article is a reproduction from the August/September 2024 issue of WARAKU magazine.
This article is translated from https://intojapanwaraku.com/travel/247441/
