You can cross the bridge to Ebisu Island, an uninhabited island made of submarine volcanoes. The tuff cliffs formed by the accumulation of whitish volcanic ash are stunning geological formations. It should be called "the stratum" that is mentioned in science textbooks. Whether you are a junior high or high school student who has just learned about it at school, or an adult who wants to study geology again, you will be satisfied if you see the geological formations here with the guide's explanation.
| ｜Area | Southern Izu Area (Shimoda City) |
| ｜Geological Period | 10 million ~ 2 million years ago, strata deposited by volcanic ash and pumice from submarine volcanoes that erupted on the shallow seabed |
| ｜Itinerary | At the foot of the bridge to Ebisu Island→ geological observation→ Senjojiki observation (only when the tide is out) → Ebisu Island Ritual Site→ At the foot of the bridge to Ebisu Island |
| ｜Distance | Approx. 1km |
| ｜Duration | Approx. 60 minutes |
| ｜Level | Walking (with stairs) |
| ｜Meeting Point | Beyond Suzaki Fishing Port In front of the bridge to Ebisu Island <MAP> |
| ｜Ending Point | In front of the bridge to Ebisu Island (same as meeting point) |
| ｜Participation Fee | Adults: 2,000 yen Elementary school children: 1,000 yen |
| ｜Number of Participants | 1 to about 10 people (1.000 yen more when operating for 1 person) |
| ｜Reservation | Please make a reservation at least one week in advance. |
| ｜What to Wear/ bring | Comfortable clothing, footwear (no sandals), hats, drinks, etc. |
| ｜Notes | The tour will be operated in case of light rain, but in case of stormy weather it will be cancelled. Not in operation in summer (please contact us) Please read about the cancellation policy. |
| ｜How to Apply | Please apply from the "Reservation Form" at the bottom of the page. |
Beyond Suzaki Fishing Port, in front of the bridge to Ebisu Island
If you look left at the fishing port of Suzaki, you will see Ebisu Island and the small bridge leading to it. Cars cannot cross, so please park in front of the bridge. That's where we meet. After meeting with your guide, you will walk across this bridge and enter Ebisu Island.
↓
Beauty of tuff formations
Once you've crossed over to Ebisu Island, you'll walk along the cliff trail that circles the island for a while. As you walk, you will see a beautiful striped formation. A long time ago, at the bottom of the shallow sea, submarine volcanoes produced a large amount of volcanic ash and pumice. Eventually, volcanic ash and pumice piled quietly on the seabed, solidifying into rocks over the years.
↓
Senjojiki
When the tide is low, a wide and flat land area appears. Erosion by waves flattened the rocks. And when the flat rocks rise to the very edge of the sea level due to the uplift, a thousand tatami mats are formed that appear only at low tide. There are traces of people quarrying stones in the past.
↓
Strata of underwater debris flows
In addition to tuff, you can see the layer of underwater debris flow on Ebisu Island. It is the remains of a large-scale volcanic eruption on the seabed that once caused a cliff collapse that accompanied the eruption
↓
Poetry Monument of Wakayama Bokusui and Mikomoto Island
In the place where Mikomoto Island can be best seen, stands a poetry monument of Wakayama Bokusui. He visited a friend who was a lighthouse keeper on Mikomoto Island and stayed on the island for a week. His poem about it is engraved on the monument.
