Located on the tip of a panhandle stretching towards Kyushu, the hidden beauty of Cape Sada Misaki is to be found at the most westerly point of Shikoku.

The perfect spot to view the lighthouse, the ocean, and the big island of Kyushu, Sada Misaki lighthouse stands on a cliff at the tip of the cape…

According to the “Territorial Waters Act”, Cape Sada Misaki is one of the starting points of the Seto Inland Sea. To be precise, as per the map below, the mass of water north of a straight line drawn between Cape Sada Misaki lighthouse (Ehime) and Sekizaki lighthouse (Oita) is defined as the “Seto Inland Sea”.

So, this is where the Seto Inland Sea begins!

Let’s take a stroll around Cape Sada Misaki!

This is the view from in front of the parking area at the start of the promenade.

You can see the Inland Sea on the north side of the peninsula.

It’s about a 2km jaunt from the parking area to the tip of the cape along the well-maintained though hilly promenade. Along the way, there’s a point where you go through dense woods. At about the halfway point of the journey, the ocean makes an appearance at a rocky area through the woods where waves surge up to the shore. From here, you need to climb the hill on the right to get to tip of the Cape.

Finally arriving at the top of the hill, you’re treated to such a magnificent view that any exhaustion instantly vanishes!

No wonder this place was chosen as one of “Japan’s 100 hidden beauty spots”.

In the distance, you can just make out Kyushu…

The white lighthouse stands on the tip of the cape. As there are lots of fishing boats out, it must be a good place to catch fish…

Let’s get up close to the lighthouse.

At a height of 18m, Sada Misaki lighthouse has been chosen as one of “Japan’s 50 best lighthouses”.

Taking a detour around the cliff on which the lighthouse stands, you arrive at the tip of the cape.

Contrasting beautifully with the deep blue sea and the light blue sky, the white lighthouse stands tall…

If you make your way to the high ground, there’s a monument attesting to the fact that this is “the most westerly point of Shikoku”.

By the way, the image below is a view from the Inland Sea’s Sekizaki starting point in Ōita prefecture.

The bottom center shows Sekizaki lighthouse; you can also see Cape Sada Misaki on the far left.

Across the Hōyo Strait, Cape Sada Misaki and Sekizaki are only 13.5 kms apart.

Only those who are prepared to embark on the long walk along the promenade can reach the hidden beauty of Cape Sada Misaki ! Are you one of them??

Address: Shono, Ikata-chō, Nishiuwa-gun, Ehime

Website: http://iyokannet.jp/english/spot/spot2.html#anc13

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka