The First Sunrise Of The Year In Tokushima

This is the view from Mt. Shiroyama, which is also the location of Tokushima Castle. The mountain in the background in the photo above is Mt. Bizan, the symbol of Tokushima City. Its name comes from the fact that its gentle slopes and ridges make it look like an eyebrow from whatever angle it’s viewed (Bi = eyebrow, zan = mountain).

The peak of Mt. Bizan is about 280 meters above the sea. It offers an expansive view over central Tokushima City and the Yoshino River snaking its way through the landscape to the sea. The Kii Channel, Awaji Island and Kii Peninsula are all visible in the background.

Mt. Bizan offers a spectacular view of the beautiful morning sun as it rises solemnly up from Kishu behind the Kii Channel. On January 1st, sunrise will be at about 7am and will appear a little more to the right than in the photo above.

Have a look at this time-lapse video of the sunrise as seen from Mt. Bizan.

Sunrise Timelapse Video

The summit has an observation platform, and every year a large number of people come here to experience the first sunrise of the year.

While its rays make the towns and city areas glitter in the morning light, the steadily rising sun colors the nearby sky in beautiful golden hues…

How do you get to Mt. Bizan?

By Cablecar or Road

There is a hiking trail that leads to the summit, but it’s faster and more convenient to either take the cablecar or drive up.

As it takes about 6 minutes from the foot of the mountain to the summit, I recommend taking the cablecar. The station is located on the 5th floor of the Awa Odori Hall, a place where tourists can enjoy watching awa dancing any time of the year.  To give everyone a chance to reach the summit before sunrise, cablecars will depart regularly on the morning of January 1st.

You can also get to the top via the Bizan Parkway and there’s a parking lot conveniently located near the summit. It takes about 5-10 minutes to walk from the parking area to the observation platform. There are no toll charges and parking is also free-of-charge (toilets are available).

Mt. Bizan is famous for being the very best spot in Shikoku to see the sunrise. The observation platform is expected to be packed with people, so it might be a good idea to arrive early. Doing so will give you a chance to see the stunning night view while waiting for the sunrise.

As it is situated pretty close to the central parts of Tokushima Prefecture, Mt. Bizan is easily accessible. How about coming here at New Year and seeing the fantastic first sunrise of the year for yourself?

Mt. Bizan (cablecar, summit station)
Address: 1 Mosukegahara, Bizancho, Tokushima City, Tokushima Prefecture
Tel: 088-622-4010 (Tokushima City Tourism Association)
Cablecar Fare: Adults – 610 yen one way, 1020 yen round trip). Elementary school children – 300 yen one way, 510 yen round trip.
Parking: Available (Mt. Bizan summit: 100 spaces, free-of-charge)
http://www.awanavi.jp/feature/bizan.html

Setouchi Finder Photo-writer: Hironobu Matsuoka