History and Nature Woven into Amaharashi's Winter Landscape

Along Toyama Bay lies the enchanting Amaharashi Coast (rain-clearing coast) of Takaoka City. On clear days, this magnificent shoreline commands sweeping views of Mt. Tate’s 3,000-meter (9,843-foot) peaks, standing sentinel alongside the graceful Onna-iwa (Woman Rock, named for its feminine silhouette).

Though the Tateyama mountain range remained veiled on this day, the dancing sea mist known as kearashi (steam fog) painted an equally breathtaking scene. This storied coast once inspired countless verses by Otomo no Yakamochi (8th-century poet of the Man’yoshu, Japan’s oldest poetry anthology).

The Yoshitsune Rock, where the legendary warrior Minamoto no Yoshitsune sought shelter from sudden rain during his flight to northern Japan, gave this place its name “Amaharashi” (rain-clearing).