Jōdogahama

Jōdogahama (浄土ヶ浜)
Protected Area
typical rock formations at Jōdogahama
Country Japan
Prefecture Iwate Prefecture
City Miyako
Coordinates 39°38′56″N 141°58′54″E / 39.64889°N 141.98167°E / 39.64889; 141.98167
IUCN category III - Natural Monument

Jōdogahama (浄土ヶ浜) (lit. 'Pure Land Beach') is a series of rock formations along the coast of Miyako Bay in the city of Miyako, Iwate Prefecture, in the Tōhoku region of northern Japan. The area is part of the Sanriku Fukkō National Park, and is also a nationally designated Place of Scenic Beauty.[1]

The area consists of groups of Paleogene period volcanic rock formations in a sandy beach area, which have been weathered by wind and rains into fantastic shapes. Together with Japanese red pine tress, the rocks form a natural version of a Japanese garden. The rock formations have inspired many fanciful names, and by the early Edo period has been identified in popular imagination with various landscape features of the Buddhist Western Paradise. [2] The area was also popularised by the works of Kenji Miyazawa in 1917.

Part of the Rikuchū Kaigan National Park<ref>"Introducing places of interest: Rikuchukaigan National Park". Ministry of the Environment. Archived from the original on 8 February 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2012.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "浄土ヶ浜". Agency for Cultural Affairs. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
  2. ↑ "Jōdogahama". Miyako City. Retrieved 10 February 2012.
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