Yashima

photo by OS6 · CC BY-SA 3.0

photo by Photos of Japan · CC0

An island until the nineteenth century: 292 m of lava, in Japan's first national park (1934).

A mesa of volcanic rock 292 metres high, with steep sides and a flat top: the lava, harder than the granite beneath, protected the hill from erosion for thirteen million years while everything around it wore away. It was a real island until the nineteenth century, when the salt pans joined it to the mainland. From the top, at the Shishi-no-Reigan viewpoint, you can see the chequerboard of islands in the Inland Sea, and on clear days the Seto Ōhashi bridge.

In 1185 the Battle of Yashima between the Genji and the Heike was fought at its foot: here the archer Nasu no Yoichi, on horseback and in rough seas, hit the fan hanging from the mast of an enemy ship, a famous episode of the Heike Monogatari. On the summit also stands Yashima-ji, the 84th temple of the Shikoku 88-temple pilgrimage, founded according to tradition in 754. Japan's first national park (Seto Inland Sea, 1934); the mountain itself has also been a national Historic Site and Natural Monument since the same year.

ℹ️ You go up by the Yashima Skyway (6:30–22:00), now free; car park at the summit 300 yen (free for the first 20 minutes). Shuttle bus from JR/Kotoden Yashima, one service an hour, 100 yen. Yashima-ji: free entry to the temple during the day, treasure museum with an admission charge. The Shishi-no-Reigan viewpoint is the most photographed spot, especially at sunset.

🚉 Kotodenyashima · 28 min walk

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

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