Amakusa Islands, Kumamoto: Dolphins, Sakitsu and the Five Bridges

3. Amakusa's most spectacular viewpoints

The islands are full of places with breathtaking views. These three are the highlights.

3-1. Driving the Amakusa Pearl Line (Amakusa Five Bridges)

The Amakusa Five Bridges connect the Kyushu mainland with the Amakusa islands. Also known as the Amakusa Pearl Line, the route is a superb scenic drive past the islands of Amakusa Matsushima, one of Japan's "three great Matsushima" island landscapes. Each of the five bridges has its own structure and design, and together they sit beautifully in the scenery. At dusk the sun sinks towards the horizon and turns the sea gold, a sight that stays with you.

• Route: along National Route 266, from Oyano-machi to Matsushima-machi, Kami-Amakusa City
• Total length: about 17.4 km
• Highlight: from the Takabutoyama Observatory you can see the whole of Amakusa Matsushima and all five bridges at once.

3-2. Rock formations and sunsets at the Onigaura Observatory

The Onigaura Observatory is one of the most scenic spots on Amakusa's west coast. From here you can see, up close, the dramatic rock formations sculpted by the rough waves of the Amakusa-nada. It has been selected as one of "Japan's 100 Best Sunsets", and the romantic view of the sun dropping below the horizon is not to be missed. A walking path leads down from the observatory to the shore, so you can feel the power of the rocks for yourself.

• Address: Shimoda-kita, Amakusa-machi, Amakusa City, Kumamoto (熊本県天草市天草町下田北)
• Access: about 50 minutes by car from Amakusa Airport, or about 2 hours 40 minutes by car from Kumamoto City.
• Parking: available (about 15 cars)

3-3. Kuratake Shrine, the "torii in the sky"

Kuratake Shrine stands on the summit of Mount Kuratake, which at 682 metres is the highest peak in the Amakusa Islands. It has become popular on social media as the "torii in the sky": seen through the gate, the sea, the sky and the islands floating on the calm water make the torii look as if it is suspended in mid-air, which makes for a genuinely magical photo. The road to the top is narrow and steep, but there is a car park just below the summit, and a short climb up the steps brings you to the view.

• Address: Miyata, Kuratake-machi, Amakusa City, Kumamoto (熊本県天草市倉岳町宮田)
• Access: about 1 hour 15 minutes by car from Amakusa Airport; about 20 minutes by car from the foot of the mountain.
• Parking: available, just below the summit.

4. Amakusa's seafood

Surrounded by rich seas, the Amakusa Islands are known as a treasure house of seafood, and dishes made with the freshest local catch are one of the great pleasures of a visit.

• Ise-ebi (spiny lobster): in season from about September to May; treat yourself to it as sashimi or onigawara-yaki (grilled in its shell).
• Sea urchin (uni): several kinds are caught around Amakusa through the year, but the red sea urchin landed from about July to September is especially popular for its rich flavour.
• Kuruma prawns: Amakusa is the birthplace of kuruma prawn farming, and its output ranks among the highest in Japan. Wild prawns are at their best in summer, farmed ones from autumn to winter.
• Octopus: raised in fast currents, Amakusa octopus has a firm, springy bite; try it in tako-meshi (octopus rice) or as sashimi.

Restaurants serving this seafood are scattered all over the islands. Two popular places for fresh local fish and shellfish are Kaisenya Fukushin (海鮮家 福伸) in Matsushima-machi, Kami-Amakusa City, and Ikesu Ryori Toraya (いけす料理 とらや) in Amakusa City. Whether you choose a seafood rice bowl (kaisen-don) or sushi, make time to taste Amakusa at its best.

5. Getting to the Amakusa Islands and getting around

Depending on where you start, the journey to Amakusa can involve a flight, JR trains, a highway bus or a ferry. Once you are on the islands, a rental car is by far the most convenient way to get around.

5-1. Travel times from key starting points

Approximate journey times to the main sights, to help you plan your days:

5-2. Why a car makes sense on the islands

• Distances are longer than they look. Amakusa City alone takes more than an hour to cross from Hondo to Ushibuka, and the main sights sit in different corners of the islands.
• Some viewpoints are hard to reach without one. The road up Mount Kuratake is narrow and steep, and the car park just below the summit is what makes the "torii in the sky" easy to visit.
• The drive is part of the trip. The Amakusa Pearl Line is a destination in its own right, and both the Onigaura Observatory and Kuratake Shrine have their own parking.
• By bus, allow plenty of time. Sakitsu Village can be reached by bus from Amakusa Hondo Bus Center, but the ride takes about 1 hour 15 minutes each way.

If you want to explore at your own pace, you can book a rental car with OlaChill. Timetables, opening hours and fees can change, so check the latest information with each operator before you travel.

6. When to visit

Amakusa has no single "right" season. Choose by what you want to see and eat:

Whatever the season, try to keep an evening free for the sunset: the Onigaura Observatory and the Pearl Line are both at their most beautiful as the sun goes down.

Final thoughts

Amakusa rewards travellers who take their time. In a few days you can meet wild dolphins off Itsuwa, walk through the Hidden Christian village of Sakitsu, stand among the rocks at Onigaura as the sun sets, photograph the "torii in the sky" on Mount Kuratake and finish each day with Ise-ebi, sea urchin or kuruma prawns fresh from the surrounding seas. Cross the Five Bridges, slow down, and let the islands show you a side of Kyushu that most visitors never see.

Planning a wider trip? Pair Amakusa with the vast landscapes of Aso Caldera, also in Kumamoto, or build it into a 7-day Kyushu itinerary.