Tsunomine Shrine, a Hilltop Power Spot Overlooking the Sea in Anan, Tokushima

Tsunomine Shrine crowns the summit of Mount Tsunomine, at an elevation of 284 meters, in Anan city, Tokushima. It is said to have begun in the first year of the Jinki era, 724, when by divine oracle the deity Kashihahime was enshrined on this sacred peak as a god of national protection and long life. From the summit you can take in Tachibana Bay, praised as the Matsushima of Awa, and the Kii Channel, and on clear days you can see as far as the Great Naruto Bridge and Wakayama. Locals cherish it as a spot to greet the first sunrise of the year.

Highlights

• An ancient shrine of nearly thirteen hundred years, dedicated to a deity of long life
• The grand sea views of Tachibana Bay and the Kii Channel seen from the summit
• The trees lining the approach and the open scenery spreading across the hilltop
• The Tsunomine skyline road leading near the summit and the convenience of the pilgrimage lift

Enjoying the Seasons

In spring fresh greenery fills the mountain path, making for a pleasant visit. In summer sea breezes sweep through and the hilltop stays refreshing. In autumn the clear air lets you see the Kii Channel sharply, and in winter crowds gather to greet the first sunrise.

Access and Basic Information

• Location: Tsunomine town, Anan city, Tokushima
• Access: by car you can drive up the Tsunomine skyline road to the eighth station parking area, which holds about 250 cars; from Awa Tachibana Station on the JR Mugi Line it is a few minutes on foot to the large torii at the foot, from where you can also climb the approach
• From the eighth station parking area to the summit, use either about 300 stone steps or the pilgrimage lift
• Tsunomine Skyline road: toll-free since April 1, 2025 (the 250-space parking lot at the 8th station is also free)
• Pilgrimage lift: 500 yen round trip, 350 yen up, 200 yen down (as of 2026); hours are roughly 9:00 to 17:00, varying on festival days, so confirm on the official site
• Because it is a height overlooking the sea, dress with care on windy days

Practical Travel Notes

• Best season and time: for the view over Tachibana Bay, the clear daytime of autumn and winter is recommended; New Year Day is very crowded for the first sunrise
• Time needed: about an hour for worship and the view using the lift, or a little more if you walk the stone steps
• Avoiding crowds: the first sunrise and festival days are busy, so a weekday is best for quiet worship
• Nearby real spots: the Tachibana Bay coast, central Anan city, and Shikoku pilgrimage temples such as Tairyuji and Byodoji make popular combined itineraries
• Budget sense: the skyline road is toll-free, so allow 500 yen round trip for the pilgrimage lift, plus fuel and meals
• The lift is basically cash only, so having coins ready is reassuring

A Quick Tip

After your visit, be sure to spend a while looking down on Tachibana Bay from the summit. Wrapped in the glittering sea and the wide sky, you may feel the small worries of daily life grow lighter. Choose the stone steps or the pilgrimage lift to suit your energy, and keep your visit comfortable and unhurried.

📚 Sources

This article draws mainly on the history, worship guidance, and the Tsunomine skyline road and pilgrimage lift information published officially or on site by Tsunomine Shrine, and the sightseeing information of Anan city and Tokushima Prefecture. It also reflects the interpretive signs in the precinct and on the hilltop. The skyline and lift fees and hours and festival dates may change, so please confirm with the official information of Tsunomine Shrine or Anan city before you set out.

Visitor Checklist

• Estimated time: About one hour for worship and the view using the lift, or a little more if you walk the stone steps.
• What to bring: Coins, as the lift is basically cash only; dress with care on windy days, as it is a height overlooking the sea.
• How to get around: By car up the Tsunomine skyline road to the eighth station parking area, then about 300 stone steps or the pilgrimage lift to the summit.
• Time of day: For the view over Tachibana Bay, the clear daytime of autumn and winter is recommended; New Year Day is very crowded for the first sunrise.
• Note: Choose the stone steps or the pilgrimage lift to suit your energy.

Practical Information for Your Visit

• Worship: Visiting the shrine precincts is free of charge
• Shrine office and goshuin: Reception is from 9:00 to 17:00. Goshuin seal stamps are issued at the shrine office within these hours
• Tsunomine Skyline: The toll was abolished on April 1, 2025. The road is open from 6:00 to 22:00
• Parking: There is free parking for 250 cars at the eighth station, reached by driving up the Skyline
• From the eighth station to the summit: Climb about 300 stone steps, or take the pilgrimage chairlift
• Pilgrimage chairlift: 500 yen round trip, 350 yen up and 200 yen down. Operating hours are 9:00 to 17:00, open every day (with special services during festivals)
• Access by car: You can drive up the Tsunomine Skyline to the eighth-station car park
• Access by train and on foot: The trailhead is a 3-minute walk from Awa-Tachibana Station on the JR Mugi Line, and the approach path starts there. It takes roughly 30 minutes from the station to the summit. The front approach suits beginners, while the rear approach is steep
• How long to allow: About 1 hour for worship and the views if you use the chairlift. Allow about 1 hour 30 minutes if you walk up the stone steps
• In rainy weather: The chairlift is open to the elements, so on rainy days the stone steps may keep you drier. Strong winds can affect chairlift operation, so check with the shrine office
• Footwear and clothing: There are about 300 stone steps, and walking the approach path means taking a mountain trail. Wear non-slip shoes. As this is high ground overlooking the sea the wind is strong and it can feel much colder, so bring an extra layer to be safe
• Strollers and wheelchairs: Since the summit is reached only by stone steps or the chairlift, the shrine is not suited to visits with a stroller or wheelchair. You can drive as far as the eighth-station car park, so it is possible to simply enjoy the view from there
• Avoiding the crowds: The first sunrise of New Years Day and the cherry blossom festival in April are the busiest times. To savor the view over Tachibana Bay at leisure, a weekday daytime in autumn or winter, when the air is clear, is recommended
• Payment: The chairlift is basically cash only. It is wise to have small change ready
• Budget guide: Now that the Skyline is free, you can visit for just the 500 yen round-trip chairlift fare
• Location: 343 Higashibun, Tsunomine-cho, Anan City, Tokushima Prefecture 774-0021
• Inquiries: Tsunomine Shrine, 0884-27-0078 (9:00-17:00)

Information Sources

The shrine's founding in the first year of the Jinki era, the composition of its enshrined deities (Kashihahime-no-Okami together with Oyamatsumi-no-Okami, Ebisu-no-Okami and Okuninushi-no-Okami), its status as a shrine listed in the Engishiki, the origin of the title "the only shrine of its kind in Japan" as the sole shrine nationwide enshrining Kashihahime-no-Okami, the sea caves remaining on the mountainside (the Shinmei, Kagu, Musubi, Kagami and Kinchaku caverns) and their position at an elevation of 180 meters, and how the legend of the lent bowls came to appear in a 1949 (Showa 24) Japanese-language textbook were confirmed on the history page of the official Tsunomine Shrine website. The shrine office reception hours, the 250-space capacity of the eighth-station car park, the roughly 300 stone steps to the summit, the opening hours of the Tsunomine Skyline, and the trailhead a 3-minute walk from Awa-Tachibana Station together with the difference between the front and rear approaches come from the access page of the same site. That the Tsunomine Skyline became free on April 1, 2025, the pilgrimage chairlift fares (500 yen round trip, 350 yen up, 200 yen down) and its 9:00-17:00 operating hours, and the fact that parking is free are based on the guidance on the official pages of Awa Kotsu, which operates the chairlift and the Skyline. The elevation figure of 284 meters, the shrine's location within Muroto-Anan Kaigan Quasi-National Park, and the details of the April cherry blossom festival were confirmed on the Tokushima Prefecture tourism information site "Awa Navi" and in the facility information of the Anan City Tourism Association. Fares and operating hours are subject to change, so please check official information before you set out.