Oga Peninsula Namahage and Geopark

Certified as a Japan Geopark, the Oga Peninsula offers both the Namahage tradition and dramatic coastal scenery in a single day. Experience living culture and the making of the land at once.

Course Route

9:30 Start at the Namahage Museum and Oga Shinzan Folklore Museum In the Shinzan area, view real Namahage masks, then watch a re-enactment of the New Year house visits at the folklore museum.

11:00 Visit Shinzan Shrine Walk the quiet cedar-lined approach of this old shrine, said to be the birthplace of the Namahage.

12:00 Coastal lunch Savor seafood such as Oga hot-stone soup and shottsuru hot pot.

13:30 Head to Godzilla Rock and Unosaki Beach Photograph the jagged rocks and the shallow beach that turns mirror-like at low tide.

15:00 Finish at Cape Nyudo Take in the Sea of Japan from the cape, with its black-and-white lighthouse, wide meadow, and open horizon.

Highlights

The Namahage is a nationally designated important intangible folk cultural property. The Oga Peninsula is shaped by volcanoes and the sea, with geological sights dotted across the geopark.

Access and Tips

From Oga Station, travel is mainly by car. A road follows the coastline, so going clockwise lets you tour efficiently.

A Quick Tip

The cape is often windy, so a jacket helps. At dusk Cape Nyudo glows as the sky turns, a truly special sight.