Shōtenkyō

What it is

• A three kilometer long sandbar separating the Sea of Japan from Kumihama Bay.
• Formed by rising sea levels following the end of the last ice age.
• Home to thousands of pine and silverberry trees planted by villagers since 1602.
• Recognized as one of Japan's Top 100 White Sand Green Pines locations.

What to see

• Rare coastal plants including the blue-flowered Veronica ornata growing along the shore.
• The Mitoguchi water channel which connects the inner bay to the open sea.
• The Minato Bridge which has spanned the local waters since 1981.
• Shotenko Onsen Kirara no Yu featuring sodium chloride and alkaline hot spring water.

When to go

• Summer months when the sandbar serves as a popular swimming beach.

Getting there

• Shotenko Station is located two and a half kilometers southeast of the sandbar.

Notes written by Japan Gems from facts in Japanese Wikipedia.