“An angel will appear in the middle of the sand bank and grant your wish!”

With this rumor currently circulating, Angel Road is starting to become a famous sightseeing spot that represents Kagawa. 

Angel Road is a sand bank that appears twice a day at low tide! They say that if you cross the ‘road’ while walking hand-in-hand with that special someone, your happiness will be cemented. It has been certified as a holy ground for lovers that leads to marriage.

Right before Angel Road there is a hill you can climb via a trail that leads to the “Yakusoku no Oka” (‘Hill of Promises’) observation deck, a spot that offers amazing views of Angel Road!

Here you can ring the bell of happiness, write your wishes on votive pictures or clam shells, and hang them up.

This is Angel Road as seen from the beach. The sandy road can be crossed around two hours before and after low tide, around 8 hours a day. 

During the winter season, you may even see Angel Road with the setting sun! This of course only happens if the road is visible when sunset occurs. 

You can find a timetable on the Tonosho area’s homepage (Link in Japanese: http://www.town.tonosho.kagawa.jp/kanko/tnks/info38.html), so be sure to check it out before planning your trip! 

Although it also depends on weather conditions and the tides, if you arrive at the time of the lowest tide, the road may be too wide and you may not be able to see the photogenic view you imagined. 

This is the view of the port in the background behind Angel Road. Around 20-30 minute walk from here, there’s a shrine on top of a small hill. The hill area is called Futagoura.
Though it’s not very well known, it offers a great view of Angel Road!

This is the way to Tomioka Hachimangu shrine. If you climb all the way up and turn around, you get to see this sublime view!

In the top right of the photo, you can see Angel Road and the islands of Yoshima floating in the sea. Beyond Yashima Island, Mt. Goken and other mountains of Shikoku can be seen. 

Standing firmly on the top of the hill, this is the main building of Tomioka Hachimangu shrine. At the Tomioka Hachimangu autumn festival, held annually on October 14 and 15, participants pray for large crops, thriving businesses and peace and prosperity for their household by offering a traditional Japanese dance, which is performed by children on top of a red boat-shaped portable shrine. 

Further down and slightly to the east of the shrine you’ll find the Futagoura observation deck. It’s a historical site of scenic beauty that was visited by Emperor Showa in 1950 during an imperial tour.

In addition to enjoying scenery where greenery meets azure seas, here you can also admire Angel Road! Although it’s still not very well-known, it has been selected among the top 100 Sanuki scenic spots.

In recent years Angel Road has become famous as a film location for movies and TV-dramas. If you visit Shodoshima Island, do come by and take a look at Futagoura’s beautiful scenery, which has been admired since olden times!

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Angel Road

Location: Ginpaura, Tonosho-cho, Shozu district, Kagawa prefecture
Parking area: Free-of-charge
http://www.my-kagawa.jp/point/point.php?id=356 (Japanese) 

Futagoura

Location: 2421 Fuchizaki, Tonosho-cho, Shozu district, Kagawa prefecture
Parking area: Free-of-charge
http://www.pref.kagawa.lg.jp/kankyo/shizen/guidemap/select/setouchi/10.htm (Japanese)

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka