Mt. Haigamine's Night View and Ondo-no-Seto Strait (Car)

During the day, cross Ondo-no-Seto Strait, spanned by two red bridges, to Katsuragahama Beach on Kurahashijima Island, and from the evening, ascend Mt. Haigamine towering behind the Kure city center to view the night scenery on this driving course. In a single day, visit the strait with the legend of Kiyomori, the island beach praised in ancient Man'yoshu poetry, and the city lights of Kure, counted among the three great night views of the Chugoku and Shikoku regions.

History and Regional Appeal

To the south of Kure lies Kurahashijima Island floating in the Seto Inland Sea. The narrow strait between Kegoya on the mainland side and Ondo-cho on Kurahashijima Island is Ondo-no-Seto Strait. It retains the "Himaneki" (sun-beckoning) legend that at the end of the Heian period, Taira no Kiyomori called back the setting sun with a folding fan and cut open the channel in just one single day, and many ships have passed through this narrow waterway.

Kurahashijima Island is believed to have been called "Nagatoshima" in ancient times. In Tenpyo 8 (736) during the Nara period, an envoy delegation heading to Silla moored their ship on this island, and the poem composed at that time is included in the Man'yoshu. It is said that Motoura on the island built ships bound for foreign lands from ancient times, and it was known as a center of shipbuilding until the Edo period.

Meanwhile, directly behind the city center of Kure rises Mt. Haigamine with an elevation of about 737 meters. From the summit, you can overlook the urban area and port of Kure, which has developed as a naval port town, as well as the islands of the Seto Inland Sea. This is an area where you can appreciate the character of Kure, having lived alongside the sea, from both the seaside and the mountaintop.

Major Highlights

• ​Ondo-no-Seto Strait​​: Spanning the approximately 90-meter-wide strait side by side are Ondo Bridge, completed in 1961, and Second Ondo Bridge, added in 2013 and nicknamed "Himaneki Bridge." From Ondo-no-Seto Park on the Kegoya side's high ground, you can look down on the two red bridges and the strait; in spring, cherry blossoms and azaleas bloom. There is also the Himaneki Statue, a bronze statue of Kiyomori standing and pointing his fan toward the setting sun.
• ​Katsuragahama Park​​: A seaside park on Kurahashijima Island, where Katsuragahama Beach spreads out in front and is counted among the "100 Best White Sands and Green Pines." On a hill overlooking the beach stands Katsuragahama-jinja Shrine, whose main hall (honden) is a national Important Cultural Property, and the pine grove on its grounds is designated as a prefectural historic site, "Man'yoshu Historic Site: Nagatoshima Pine Grove." Nearby, there is also the Nagato Shipbuilding History Museum, where you can enter a full-scale replica of a Japanese envoy ship to Tang China (Kentoshi-sen), and the day-use hot spring facility Katsuragahama Onsenkan.
• ​Mt. Haigamine​​: A mountain marked by the white round meteorological radar dome at its summit. During the day, an expansive view opens up showing Kure Port, the shipyards, and the islands of the Seto Inland Sea; after dusk, the lights of the city and factories spread out along the coastline. The night view from Mt. Haigamine is counted as one of the "Three Great Night Views of Chugoku and Shikoku," along with Hinoyama Park in Shimonoseki City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, and Mt. Godaisan in Kochi City.

Recommended Route and Travel Time

The estimated time required is about 6 hours. First, head toward Ondo-no-Seto Park, about 25 minutes from Kure Interchange on the Hiroshima-Kure Road (Clair Line). The park has a parking lot; after viewing the strait and bridges, cross the bridge to Kurahashijima Island. Katsuragahama Park is located approximately 10 kilometers south of Ondo-no-Seto Strait in a straight line. The beach, shrine, history museum, and hot spring facility are clustered close together, so park your car and explore on foot.

When evening arrives, pass through Kure city center and head toward Mt. Haigamine. From the city center, follow Route 185 toward Kuregoe Pass, and enter the mountain road leading to the summit from the Nishihata traffic signal. The road is narrow with many curves, so reduce speed and drive carefully, especially at night. Because there are only a few parking spaces at the summit, arriving well before sunset will give you peace of mind to enjoy the transition from dusk to night view. The temperature on the mountain is lower than in the city, so bring an outer layer of clothing. Cherry blossoms at Ondo-no-Seto Strait are generally at their best from late March to early April, and azaleas from late April to early May.

Summary of the Experience

A strait steeped in the legend of Kiyomori with two red bridges, the white island beach praised in Man'yoshu poetry, and the city lights of Kure viewed from atop the mountain. Take a full day by car to enjoy the shifting expressions of Kure's sea and city, from the daytime seaside to the nighttime mountaintop.