Amanohashidate 天橋立
One of the Nihon Sankei, ‘Three Great Views’
Ranked as one of Japan's Nihon Sankei (three most scenic views), this pine-covered sandbar that spans the mouth of Miyazu Bay is worth dropping into if you’re making an off-the-beaten-track trip along Kansai’s Sea of Japan coast.
Amanohashidate’s sandbar - roughly translates to ‘bridge in heaven’ - looks like a pathway between heaven and earth and has long been popular with Japanese domestic tourists.
A tad bizarrely, the traditional way to view the sandbar from various viewing spots is to turn your back towards the bay, bend over and look at it from between your legs.
It takes about 45mins to walk and 15mins to cycle the length of the sandbar. There are a number of popular swimming spots along the way in summer.