The waves have carved out a cave 6 m wide and 60 deep.
The limestone cliff of the Noto Kongō coast is pierced by a natural cave carved out by the waves (6 metres wide, 15 high, 60 deep), which can be walked through from a coastal path or seen from the sea on the Noto Kongō sightseeing cruise, which in summer also goes into a second cavity called the ‘blue cave’ because of the way the light filters through the water.
A natural rock formation on the west coast of the Noto Peninsula, on the stretch called Noto Kongō by analogy with the Korean coast of the same name; the name ‘Ganmon’ (rock gate) literally describes the natural arch of the cave. The town of Shika, where it stands, was among the hardest hit by the Noto Peninsula earthquake of 1 January 2024.
ℹ️ A natural site with free access, a walkable coastal path, a 150-space car park and toilets on site. The sightseeing cruise runs from mid-March to mid-November, 9:00–16:00, 1,600 yen for adults (suspended in rough seas); the online booking calendar was showing as open for September–October 2026, a sign of regular operation under way. The town of Shika was among the hardest hit by the earthquake of 1 January 2024 (maximum intensity 7 recorded): a first-hand report from the site (30/09/2024) confirms that the cave and the path to the Senjōjiki-iwa viewpoint remain walkable, with only minor rockfalls inside the cave (‘the overall appearance has not changed’); the only element still closed was the decorative bridge ‘Shiawase no Ganmon-bashi’. No more recent source has been found that confirms or denies that this is still the situation today.
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