See the Unique Rock Formations of Tategasaki and the Stunning Blue Grotto Up Close from a Pleasure Boat

Written by Vern Begg 
About the Author: 

I believe travel is an opportunity to feed your soul and I will never stop exploring our amazing planet. Originally from Canada, I now live in Osaka with my family and have learned that Japan is an incredible place for discovering new experiences.

The ocean has always been a mysterious place for me because I grew up so far from the coast in Canada. Whenever I get an opportunity to get out on the open water in a boat, I rarely pass it up. When I was in Kumano City, the unique rock formations in Nigishima Bay were a must-see from what I had read and heard about the area. The main attraction on a pleasure boat cruise of the bay is Tategasaki, which features a massive rock face of pillared stone that rises nearly 100 meters out of the water.

Passengers on a boat cruise are treated to a 70-minute tour of the unique coastline shaped over eons of time by earthquakes, volcanoes and the Pacific Ocean. I reserved a spot on a boat leaving from Matsuzaki Port on the edge of Kumano City that would include up close viewings of Onigajo, Gama-no-kuchi (the Blue Grotto of Kumano ), Tategasaki and Umi Kongo. 

Caption: I was on the boat and ready to depart from the port.

I made my way down to the port and met the organizer of the tour who gave me a life jacket to wear and made sure I put it on properly. Soon after that, our tour boat arrived and the captain deftly brought the nose of the vessel up to the concrete dock. Without any fanfare, he waved everyone who had bought a ticket for the tour onto the boat and we were on way into Nigishima Bay.

It was a gorgeous day for the tour and the sun was breaking through the light cloud cover and making the pristine water glimmer beautifully. I took a seat on the bench at the back of the boat and just enjoyed the feeling of cruising over the softly rolling waves of the sea. The air was refreshing and when I leaned over the edge of the boat I could feel a gentle ocean spray on my face.

Caption: The fresh air and sea spray felt great.

The start of the tour was a chance to see the cliffs of Onigajo, a nearly 1 km stretch of naturally sculpted stone that was selected as one of the 100 Landscapes of Japan. The wide-angle view from the sea allowed me to truly appreciate the grand beauty of the famous spot in its entirety, which is something that is not possible from land. The smooth lines of the recesses and shapes of the cliffs gave the stone the appearance of being alive.

Caption: The cliff faces of Onigajo are a natural work of art.

As we moved on from Onigajo, our long white boat sliced through the waves as they grew in size. The coast and islands on this part of the Kii Peninsula have very unique basalt rock formations and I was amazed to see so many fishermen perched in the nooks and crannies of the stones. I imagine that it must be an incredible experience to stand over the water and pull fish out of the sea as the powerful waves crash below you relentlessly.

Caption: The pillared rock formations were amazing.

The next stop on our tour was the amazing Gama-no-kuchi, which is also known as the Blue Grotto of Kumano. As we approached the cave, it looked like a relatively small opening at the base of one of the pillared rock faces. When our boat moved in close to the cave mouth, I was amazed at the bright blue hue of the water and I realized that the cave was much larger than it had appeared to be from the distance. I moved to the front of the boat to get a better look.

Caption: The entrance to the Blue Grotto of Kumano was much bigger than it looked from afar.

Caption: It was spectacular inside the Blue Grotto.

Imagine my surprise when our captain guided the boat directly into the cave. It was calm and beautiful inside and it was an experience that you can only get by taking a boat tour. The captain had cut the engines and I was able to take my time and savor the natural beauty of the one of a kind scenic spot. After giving all of the passengers enough time to take some photos and marvel at the splendor of the cave, we backed out and started towards Tategasaki.

Caption: We had plenty of time to enjoy the atmosphere of the Blue Grotto.

Tategasaki is the largest and most spectacular formation of columnar joints in Nigishima Bay and as it came into view, I was glad I took the opportunity to check out this lesser-known natural attraction in Mie. At its highest point, Tategasaki is almost 80 meters high and as we got closer, its size was overwhelming and its beauty was breathtaking. The sharp-edged rock formations on the main face were amazing and some intrepid fishermen were trying their luck while standing on the cliff ledges.

Caption: Tategasaki was the main attraction of the tour.

There is a land bridge connecting Tategasaki to the mainland, but there is no better way to appreciate it than by sea. We were able to get up close and then travel around the base of the formation to see it from every angle. It was awe-inspiring and the waves smashing against the stones at its base were the perfect accent to its sheer size.

Caption: Tategasaki was a highlight of the tour.

The final spot on our tour was Umi Kongo, which is behind Tategasaki and has a 162-meter high rock wall that towers over visitors who approach the water line. The jagged ancient rocks made me think of when the earth was untouched by mankind and only prehistoric creatures would be able to see them. I felt lucky to have seen so many special features of the rias coast in Mie on my boat tour.

Caption: The last spot on the tour was the impressive Umi Kongo. 

Caption: It was humbling to stand so close to the massive rock formations.