Oga Peninsula

The Oga Peninsula has a lot of attractions and people usually enjoy taking a road trip around it. Oga is home of the Namahage, so here you will find big Namahage statues, souvenirs, and themed shops. Namahage are demons in Japanese folklore and there’s even a festival dedicated to them! Check out my Namahage Festival blog post for more information.

At the start of the trip to explore the peninsula, there are 2 massive Namahage statues. Near these statues is a rest stop that sells Namahage themed souvenirs. I absolutely love everything Namahage, so taking a photo with the statues was a must after shopping. Continuing the road trip up the peninsula, there are plenty of places worth stopping for. There are a lot of mountain roads which offer some fantastic views overlooking the water. During my first trip, I lost count of how many times I had pulled over to get out and take a picture.

There are numerous shops, restaurants, and snacks at the end of the peninsula. Stunning views surround this area as well with some interesting structures. With so much to do, time really gets away from you!

Godzilla Rock

One of the most popular spots (and my favorite) along the peninsula is Godzilla Rock. It’s literally a rock shaped like Godzilla! This is located on a jagged, rocky beach and it took me a while to find it. I ended up following other people and there it was. It was hidden behind other rocks and kind of dangerous terrain. While I was there, I watched a few people climb up to stand just under the mouth. I attempted this but the rocks were way sharper than I thought. I decided that just sitting at the base was sufficient. I applaud those who were able to make it up, though. It’s harder than it looks! I went during the day but I later decided that I wanted to go back to see the sunset. Sunset at Godzilla Rock is awesome and is the most popular time to visit. If you’re lucky and go on a sunny, cloudless day, it looks like the sun is in Godzilla’s mouth. It’s definitely a great photo opportunity and a wonderful marvel of nature.

Cape Nyudozaki

At the tip of the peninsula is Cape Nyudozaki. There’s a lighthouse and beautiful view of the Japan Sea. There’s also a monument commemorating the location of Cape Nyudozaki since it’s latitude is exactly 40 degrees North. Beijing and New York also share the same latitude. The lighthouse is actually famous here and it’s been recognized as one of the 50 Great Lighthouses of Japan. Visitors can climb up it to see some pretty amazing views, too.

Cape Nyudozaki is also where those shops and restaurants are that I mentioned earlier. At the front of the shops, visitors are greeted by Namahage. When I first approached one of these shops, I realized that the Namahage had speakers and were yelling just like they do in the festival! It was a nice surprise. Just next door is an ice cream shop where I got a Namahage ice cream. Two chocolate coated corn puffs are inserted on both sides of the ice cream giving it Namagage horns. I’m always seeking out cute, themed food like this when I visit places.

The statue that commemorates the location

Dairyuji Temple

Driving along the Oga Peninsula and stopping at some spots along the water is the main attraction. However, there are more interesting places for those who are willing to drive more inward. One of these places is a temple called Dairyuji. Zach and I happened to stumble upon this place while we were walking around enjoying our day. I guess we happened to find it at the right time because a very friendly woman invited us in for a tour. We were shocked by how welcoming the people were at this temple. Their kindness is what really makes this experience stand out for me.

A lot of the rooms within the temple had a no photography rule, so I don’t have many photos of this special place. In my opinion, the most impressive area was the garden. During our tour, the woman that invited us in told us that this area could be photographed and actually encouraged us to take pictures. She stood behind us during our photo shoot and asked if we got any good ones. She was a very sweet woman and I was happy to share my photos with her!

Before we left, we had a conversation with some of the other people in the temple. They asked us some questions about our home country and if we liked living in Japan. I love having the opportunity to talk to locals when I’m traveling because sometimes they talk about hidden gems in the area. It’s also fun to have a conversation about the differences between Japanese and American culture. I think it makes a trip more special when kind strangers are involved.

The people we spoke to at the temple also gave us some insight about the place. Apparently, Dairyuji is a Zen Buddhist temple that welcomes visitors who want to learn how to meditate or just relax, drink tea, and reflect. Occasionally, they have retreats that anyone can sign up for, too. The temple is gorgeous and I’m grateful I was able to tour it!

Mount Kampu Revolving Lookout

This is a perfect place to see amazing views of Oga. There’s no hiking involved to get here, just an easy drive and a small fee to get in. There’s a climb up to the observatory but it’s not too bad because there’s a little museum on each floor. It talks about how Oga came to be and showcases some ancient artifacts that were dug up when structures were being built on the peninsula. It’s crazy to think about how old some of this stuff is. Tools that were used back in the day and clothes that were worn are also showcased.

The observatory itself is pretty big, and the entire thing spins slowly so visitors can see a 360 view. I noticed that it was spinning before I entered and worried that it would make me sick but that wasn’t the case. I was so enamored with the views that I barely noticed I was moving. On sunny days, paragliders are out soaring over the mountains. They’re very easy to see from the observatory and I think they added to the atmosphere.

Mountain roads seen from the observatory

This was taken on the way up to the observatory

Around the Peninsula

These are a few more photos I’ve taken from driving around the peninsula. There are more Namahage statues scattered around and views of fantastic blue water. There are even some small towns that live right on the water.

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