Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park
足摺宇和海国立公園
Green space designed around the seasons — plum, cherry, hydrangea, maple, snow.
Photos
Photos from Wikimedia Commons — click any image for the photographer and licence.
What this place is
Ashizuri-Uwakai National Park (足摺宇和海国立公園, Ashizuri Uwakai Kokuritsu Kōen) is a national park at the southwestern tip of the island of Shikoku, Japan. The park is spread over small areas on the western side of Shikoku in Ehime and Kōchi prefectures. The main feature of the park is Cape Ashizuri, the southernmost point of the island. The cape is noted for its extensive subtropical vegetation and its granite cliffs which offer views of the Pacific Ocean. Nakahama "John" Manjiro, the first Japanese to visit the United States, was born, shipwrecked, and was rescued in the vicinity of the park.
Background text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA)
Why it is worth the trip
- A planting plan that guarantees something in bloom or colour in almost every month.
- Paths, ponds and pavilions arranged so that the view reframes itself every few steps.
- A local gathering place: morning walkers, picnic blankets, festival stalls and evening illumination.
What you can do here
- Do a slow loop of the main path and stop at each designed viewpoint.
- Bring a bento or grab something from a nearby konbini and picnic on the lawn.
- Photograph the seasonal star — check the park's bloom calendar before you go.
- Rent a bike where available; larger parks are far quicker to see on two wheels.
Getting there
We do not have step-by-step transit directions for this spot yet. Open the location on Google Maps for routes from where you are staying.
Good to know before you go
- Peak bloom weekends are extremely busy; weekday mornings are calm.
- Bloom dates shift by up to two weeks per year — check the latest forecast before committing.
- Alcohol and barbecues are restricted in many parks; look for the posted rules at the gate.
Traveler reviews
No reviews yet — be the first to share how it went.