Not Just Tsunoshima Bridge! 4 Must-Visit Spots for Sightseeing in Tsunoshima

If you want to fully enjoy Tsunoshima, summer is the best time to visit.
You can experience a uniquely Japanese summer景色, as the island’s biggest attraction, its crystal-clear cobalt-blue sea, sparkles in the strong summer sunlight.
Another reason summer is recommended is that you can enjoy marine activities such as swimming.

Here is how to access Tsunoshima starting from Yamaguchi Ube Airport, which has international flights.
If you use public transportation, you will need to transfer between trains and buses multiple times, so accessing the island by rental car is recommended.

When visiting sightseeing spots in Tsunoshima, the main ways to get around are by bus or rental bicycle.
If you take the bus, you can sightsee without much physical effort as long as you pay attention to departure and arrival times.
Exploring by rental bicycle is also recommended, as it lets you enjoy the island’s wonderfully open atmosphere.
Since the island itself is not very large, getting around by rental bicycle should not be too difficult.
Still, the most recommended option is a rental car, which lets you enjoy the spectacular views of Tsunoshima Bridge the most.

Tsunoshima Bridge opened in 2000.
It connects the mainland side of Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture with the remote island of Tsunoshima, and at 1,780 m in length, it is one of the longest free bridges to a remote island in Japan.
Located within Kita-Nagato Kaigan Quasi-National Park, the bridge was designed with piers kept to a height of 18 m in consideration of the surrounding landscape.
Because the road is close to the sea surface, you can enjoy a drive while feeling the ocean up close.

At Makizaki Kaze no Koen Park, located at the northernmost tip of Tsunoshima, you can experience the island’s dynamic natural beauty.
It is known as a habitat for wild daruma chrysanthemums, which bloom from late October to mid-November, and you can enjoy seasonal scenery while walking along the well-maintained promenade.
You can take in sweeping views of the Sea of Japan, with refreshing sea breezes in spring and summer and rough waves crashing ashore in winter.

Tsunoshima is a popular filming location for movies and TV dramas, and the scenic bridge leading to the island is often used in shoots.
One of the island’s spots is Yumesaki Nami no Koen Park, where you can spend peaceful time while feeling the sea breeze.
Inside the park, flower beds inspired by waves rolling onto the shore line the paths, and seasonal flowers such as hamayuu, daruma chrysanthemums, daffodils, and beach morning glory add beautiful color throughout the year.

This Western-style lighthouse stands at the northwestern tip of Tsunoshima in the Sea of Japan. It was first lit in March 1876 as the first large lighthouse on the Sea of Japan coast, and it remains in active use today.
It is known as one of the few lighthouses in Japan that visitors can climb. After ascending 117 steps made up of a spiral staircase and ladder, you can enjoy a magnificent 360-degree view of the Sea of Japan from the landing.

Tsunoshima, located in the northwestern part of Shimonoseki City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, draws many visitors for fishing, swimming, camping, and more.
Washokudokoro Yumisaki is a place where you can enjoy gourmet dishes unique to an island surrounded by the sea on all sides.
It offers a wide variety of rice bowls featuring pufferfish, salmon and salmon roe, fresh sea urchin, and abalone, with seasonal options such as yellowtail and hiramasa also appearing on the menu.

Tsunoshima OZ BURGER is a hamburger shop located Approx. 3 minutes by car from Tsunoshima Bridge.
Its signature feature is a homemade patty made with 100% Yamaguchi Kanmon Pork, a branded pork from Yamaguchi.
The buns are also specially made, and their crispy yet chewy texture enhances the flavor.
Popular menu items include the OZ Double Cheeseburger and Teriyaki Burger, and there is also a wide variety of toppings such as jalapeños.

A dining spot inside Shiokaze no Sato Tsunoshima, which also houses a souvenir shop and other facilities.
The building was designed to resemble a menoha hut, which is used to store tools for gathering seafood from rocky shores, and here you can enjoy seafood dishes.
You can savor fish caught near Tsunoshima as sashimi or simmered dishes, and the menu includes sashimi set meals served with small side dishes, rice, miso soup, and pickles, as well as rice bowls generously topped with fresh sea urchin landed in Hohoku Town and tendon topped with pufferfish tempura.

Tsunoshima Bridge is hugely popular on social media for its photogenic scenery, where the bridge and island seem to float on a cobalt-blue sea. One accommodation near it is Hotel Nishinagato Resort.
All guest rooms have an ocean view. From the windows, you can enjoy a sweeping panorama of endless blue sea and white sandy beach, creating a full resort atmosphere.

This inn stands in an excellent location overlooking Yuyawan Bay, surrounded by nostalgic scenery reminiscent of a traditional Japanese port town.
Its pride is the hot spring, known for its thick, silky water that gently envelops the skin and is said to have outstanding skin-beautifying effects.
Famous as “Bijin no Yu,” or a hot spring for beautiful skin, it has an exceptionally smooth feel. From the open-air bath in the large communal bath, you can enjoy a peaceful view of Yuyawan Bay that soothes away the fatigue of travel.

A hotel in a mountain village surrounded by clear air and abundant nature.
It features a hot spring with soft alkaline water said to help not only beautify the skin but also relieve neuralgia and muscle pain.
In addition to an open-air bath and a spacious indoor bath, there are also private family baths available, which are great for families.