Sandanbeki

photo by iloverjoa · CC BY 3.0

photo by Antilovsky · CC BY-SA 4.0

The lift goes down 36 metres into a cave that sheltered the Kumano pirates, the legend says.

The cliff runs for about 2 kilometres along the coast, between 50 and 60 metres high. Below, you visit a sea-carved cave by going down 36 metres in a lift: 200 metres of tunnels with a reconstructed guard post, a large statue of Benzaiten and traces of ancient lead mining. Tradition links the cave to the Kumano navy (熊野水軍) of the Genpei period (twelfth century), which is said to have hidden its boats there. The name is thought to come from ‘mitsudan’ (the three steps from which people watched shoals of fish go by, or whales according to other sources). Since 2016 the site has been a ‘lovers' sanctuary’, with a heart-shaped monument installed in June of that year; in October of the same year it hosted a round of the Red Bull high-diving world championship.

National Place of Scenic Beauty in Shirahama, designated together with Engetsu-tō and Senjōjiki.

ℹ️ The view from the top of the cliff is free and open. The undersea cave is reached by lift and charges admission (exact price and hours to be checked on the official site); it closes in rough seas or typhoons. Bus from Shirahama (about 23 minutes). 10 minutes on foot from Senjōjiki, about 30 from Shirarahama.

🚉 Sandanbeki · 3 min walk

Sources: ja.wikipedia.org · ja.wikipedia.org

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