Osezaki: A cape of mysterious nature and faith

Ose Shrine, a symbol of faith for fishermen in Suruga Bay, is known as the guardian deity of the sea.

Every year on April 4th, the "Ose Festival" is held to pray for a bountiful catch and safe voyages, with young men dressed in women's clothing performing the "Iwamiki Odori" dance on dance boats.

Ose shrine, a symbol of faith for fishermen in Suruga Bay, is known as the guardian of the sea.

"Ose Matsuri (Ose festival)" is held on April 4 every year to pray for a good catch and navigational safety. Young people who dress like women perform a unique dance called "Isami Odori" on a fishing boat.

Osezaki, a cape jutting out into Suruga Bay, is a landform called a "sand spit," created by the accumulation of rocks and sediment carried by ocean currents along the coast. Marine leisure activities are popular in the calm sea protected by this sand spit.

Within the rugged, rocky terrain of Gunseichi Cape lies a juniper forest, the northernmost natural cluster of juniper trees in Japan. Some of these trees are estimated to be over 1,000 years old, having withstood harsh natural environments and numerous tsunamis.

Kamiike, located at the tip of Cape Kamiiketansuiike, is a freshwater pond (a pond of fresh water, not saltwater) at an elevation of about 1 meter, surrounded by the sea. Why is there a pond in this pond, which is counted among the Seven Wonders of Izu?

It is unknown whether freshwater is accumulating there.

Cape Osezaki extending into the Suruga Bay is geologically called "Sashi (sand spit)". It was created by the scraped rocks and dirt, carried by the current along the coast. These materials accumulated in a bandlike shape to create the Cape Osezaki. The calmness of the sea bounded by this Sashi is ideal for a variety of leisure activities.

The forest of Junipers that extends in the rough rocky inland part of the cape is recognized as the northernmost natural cluster of Junipers in Japan. One giant Juniper tree is estimated to be over 1,000 years old, and it has survived the harsh natural environment and tsunami many times in the past.

Kamiike pond located at a head of the cape is a freshwater pond surrounded by the sea, located at an elevation of about one meter above MSL. This pond has been named as one of the seven wonders in Izu area because of the mystery surrounding the question of how freshwater could accumulate here.