[2024 Imabari Attraction] Travel Guide for Kirosan Park (Updated Oct)
Observation Decks
Address:
487番地4 Yoshiumichō Minamiura, Imabari, Ehime 794-2115, Japan
Opening times:
Open year round, 24/7Open
Recommended sightseeing time:
1-2 hours
Phone:
+81 897-84-2111
Visit the Kamegamori Mountain Observatory to enjoy the most beautiful strait sunset
In Japan, almost every mountain has an observatory where you can shoot the sunset. Japanese people seem to be obsessed with the sunset, and so am I. After watching the whirlpool on the tide-watching boat in the afternoon, we went straight to the Kamegamori Mountain Observatory to wait for the sunset.
The Kamegamori Mountain Observatory is located at the top of Kamegamori Mountain at the southern end of Oshima, with an altitude of 307.8 meters. The design of the observatory is ingenious, with the lower half buried underground, perfectly integrated with the landscape, where you can enjoy the world's first triple suspension bridge - the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge, and also overlook the Ishizuchi Mountain.
In order not to disturb the experience of tourists, many scenic spots and observatories in Japan do not allow the use of tripods for shooting, but the Kamegamori Mountain Observatory does, and there are few tourists in this season. Arriving 30 minutes before sunset, you can occupy the best shooting position. In winter, the sun sets in the west and south at about 25 degrees, and you can see the sun slowly sinking into the sea. You need to use a wide angle to frame the sunset and the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge together; in summer, the sun sets in the west and north at about 25 degrees, and the sun crosses the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge and sinks into the sea. You can use a medium telephoto to highlight the 'interaction' between the sunset and the bridge. Shooting a time-lapse of the sunset from day to night can fully record this wonderful moment.
The Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge connects the scattered islands in the distance, the sunset glow reddens the skyline, and the last touch of red leaves in late autumn is still stubborn. The sun gradually sinks into the sea, the sky gradually darkens, the Seto Inland Sea is calm and beautiful, what a healing moment! Looking forward to the next visit to Ehime, not alone to enjoy the sunset, I hope to have the company of my family, to feel the warm and peaceful Ehime together.
HEAVEN HARRELL
Kengo Kuma designed Viewing Tower
Viewing towers everywhere around the world are often quite similar in design and purpose. They allows us to look at a place from a distance or from somewhere high in the sky. In almost all cases, we are only interested in admiring the distant sight and not the observation tower itself.
However in my recent trip driving through the Seto Inland Sea, we stopped at an observation tower that is unlike most others. It is located on Kirosan Park 龜老山 on Oshima Island - one of the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea and is closest to Shikoku. It is also designed by one of the most well known Japanese architect today - Kengo Kuma- in 1994.
The viewing park is about 10 minutes drive uphill from the nearest highway exit. Once you get to the top of the hill, the road becomes quite narrow. There are two parking lots and the one at the top can allow for about 10 cars to park. There is also a small shop selling drinks and souvenirs.
The signs would then direct visitors to walk up the viewing deck which is on the left side. The walk is about 5 minutes up a few flights of stairs that looked almost like a contemporary art museum. At this point, we saw many visitors simply posing on the staircase instead of going to the top for the scenic view. why? because it just looked so cool!
The view from the top is of course spectacular. It has a panoramic view of the Seto Sea , but most importantly it has a view of the Kurushima Kaikyo Bridge - which consists of 3 successive suspension bridges, and was the world’s longest suspension bridge ( total length of 4015 meters) when completed in 1999. The bridge connects Oshima and Shikoku.
We were lucky to have visited on a clear day, and it was so easy to see the bridge and the beautiful surrounding scenery. Many visitors also stood at the top deck to have their photos taken - they all appeared to be standing in the sky!
I would highly recommend to stop by the Kirosan Park Observatory to enjoy nature and architecture at the same time!
There is no fee to visit nor for parking, and it is opened 24 hours daily.
#we-create #japan #architecture #kengokuma #shikoku #setoinlandsea