If you are going to Amanohashidate, you probably want to see it from above. Look into it and two viewpoints come up: Amanohashidate View Land on the south side and Kasamatsu Park on the north.
Both look out over the whole sandbar, and both have a spot for matanozoki, the local custom of viewing it upside down between your legs. Each view even has a name: Hiryukan, the flying dragon, from the south, and Shoryukan, the rising dragon, from the north. So which one should you pick?
The short answer is that neither view is better than the other. What decides it is how you get to Amanohashidate and where you go afterward. This guide lays out what you need to choose.
Amanohashidate View Land and Kasamatsu Park at a Glance
| Amanohashidate View Land | Kasamatsu Park | |
|---|---|---|
| Location | South side of Amanohashidate (Monju area) | North side of Amanohashidate (Fuchu area) |
| Name of the view | Hiryukan | Shoryukan |
| From Amanohashidate Station | About 5 min on foot | Sightseeing boat or local bus to the north side |
| Getting to the top | Chairlift or monorail | Cable car or chairlift |
| Fare | 1,000 yen adults / 500 yen children | 800 yen adults / 400 yen children, round trip |
| At the top | A small amusement park with a Ferris wheel and go-karts | Mainly viewing decks |
| Nearby sights | Chionji Temple, Kaisenkyo Bridge, shops and restaurants | Moto-Ise Kono Shrine, Manai Shrine, Nariaiji Temple |
| To the Ine boat houses | Around Aso Bay to the north side | About 25-30 min by car |
Five Points of Comparison
The View: Hiryukan from the South, Shoryukan from the North
The view from Amanohashidate View Land is called Hiryukan. Seen upside down between your legs, the sandbar looks like a dragon leaping into the sky, which is where the name comes from. It curves broadly across the bay, so photos come out with a strong sense of movement.
From Kasamatsu Park the view is called Shoryukan. The sandbar runs diagonally away from you, like a dragon climbing toward the sky. Kasamatsu Park is also known as the birthplace of matanozoki.
So which view is better? That comes down to preference. Compare the two photos and go with whichever one you would rather see in person.
Getting There: View Land by Train, Kasamatsu Park by Car
Think about how you are traveling and the answer gets much clearer.
It is about a 5 minute walk from Amanohashidate Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway to the chairlift and monorail station. Chionji Temple, restaurants and souvenir shops are all around the station, so the area works on foot without a car.
Kasamatsu Park takes more steps: cross to the north side by sightseeing boat or local bus, then ride the cable car or chairlift up from Fuchu Station. If the boat ride is part of what you came for, that is fine. If you want the view as soon as you arrive, Amanohashidate View Land is simpler.
With Children: The Amusement Park Is at View Land
With small children, Amanohashidate View Land is the straightforward choice.
The hilltop has a Ferris wheel, go-karts, pedal cars and a carousel, which makes it feel more like a small amusement park than an observation deck.
Adults want the view; children lose interest in scenery quickly. Amanohashidate View Land covers both in one place.
Nearby Sights: Kasamatsu Park for Shrines and Temples
The Fuchu area around Kasamatsu Park has Moto-Ise Kono Shrine and Manai Shrine. You can visit Kono Shrine, walk on to Manai Shrine, then take the cable car or chairlift straight up to the park.
With more time you can continue from Kasamatsu Park to Nariaiji Temple. The atmosphere is quite different from the south side, where the draw is the amusement park and street food.
If you want more than the view, and plan to spend time at old shrines and temples, the north side suits that kind of day better.
Traveling with a Dog: Check the Rules for Each Ride
With a dog along, there is no simple recommendation.
At Amanohashidate View Land you can carry a pet on the chairlift. Kasamatsu Park also allows the chairlift, but the conditions change with the size of the dog and which ride you take. For a large dog, check the official site or call ahead.
There is also a walking route up to Kasamatsu Park, but it is a steady climb of steep slopes and steps. It is not a walk to take on as an extension of an ordinary stroll.
Heading to the Ine Boat Houses? Start from Kasamatsu Park
If you are driving to Amanohashidate and continuing to the Ine boat houses, choose Kasamatsu Park.
The Fuchu area, where Kasamatsu Park is, sits on the north side. From there it is about 25 to 30 minutes by car to Ine, straight up Route 178 after you come down from the park.
From Amanohashidate View Land on the south side, you have to drive around Aso Bay to reach the north side first. For a day that runs Amanohashidate in the morning and Ine in the afternoon, starting at Kasamatsu Park keeps the route simple.
Knowing which side is which makes planning a combined Amanohashidate and Ine trip much easier.
Practical Details
Amanohashidate View Land (Hiryukan)
A viewpoint on the hill above the Monju area, on the south side of Amanohashidate. The Ferris wheel and go-karts at the top make it easy to use with a family.
| Name | Amanohashidate View Land |
|---|---|
| Address | 437 Monju, Miyazu, Kyoto |
| Access | About 5 minutes on foot from Amanohashidate Station on the Kyoto Tango Railway |
| Getting to the top | Chairlift or monorail, 6-7 minutes |
| Hours | Within 8:30-18:00, varies by season |
| Fare | 1,000 yen for adults (junior high and up), 500 yen for children (elementary school). Includes admission and a round trip on the chairlift or monorail. |
| Parking | Paid, 700 yen per car per day |
| Website | https://www.viewland.jp/en/ |
Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park (Shoryukan)
A viewpoint on the hill above the Fuchu area, on the north side. Known as the birthplace of matanozoki, it pairs naturally with Moto-Ise Kono Shrine and Manai Shrine.
| Name | Amanohashidate Kasamatsu Park |
|---|---|
| Address | 75 Ogaki, Miyazu, Kyoto (Fuchu Station for the cable car and chairlift) |
| Access | Cross to the north side by sightseeing boat or local bus from the Amanohashidate Station side, then ride up from Fuchu Station |
| Getting to the top | Cable car, about 4 minutes, or chairlift, about 6 minutes |
| Hours | Within 9:00-18:00, varies by season |
| Fare | 800 yen adults, 400 yen children, round trip (same for cable car and chairlift) |
| Parking | Use the private lots nearby |
| Website | https://www.tankai.jp/en/observatory/amanohashidate-kasamatsu-park/ |
Summary
Amanohashidate View Land and Kasamatsu Park look at the same sandbar from opposite sides. Neither view is better; what decides it is how you travel and where you go next.
- Coming by train, first visit, traveling with children – Amanohashidate View Land
- Coming by car, continuing to the Ine boat houses – Kasamatsu Park
- Visiting Moto-Ise Kono Shrine, Manai Shrine and Nariaiji Temple – Kasamatsu Park
- Plenty of time – see it from both sides
It is one sandbar, yet the direction you look from changes it completely. If time allows, seeing both Hiryukan and Shoryukan is the fullest way to do it.
Amanohashidate works as a day trip, but adding Ine or the shrines is easier with an overnight stay. Miyazu and Amanohashidate have plenty of inns with hot springs and good food, so plan the lodging along with the route.
More on the Amanohashidate Area
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Amanohashidate View Land: Highlights, Access and Nearby Attractions
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Kasamatsu Park in Amanohashidate: Highlights, Access and Nearby Attractions
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Explore the Sacred Shrines & Temples of Amanohashidate: Pray for Love, Wisdom & Success
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[Kyoto] The Ine Boat Houses: Scenery, Food, Where to Stay and How to Get There
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[Kyoto] How to Enjoy Amanohashidate – A 2-Day Model Course from Kyoto to Amanohashidate & Ine
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8 Hot Spring Ryokans with Excellent Food in Miyazu and Amanohashidate, Kyoto
