Ryugu Shrine Over the Pacific Ocean in Tosashimizu Shikoku
Ryugu Shrine Over the Pacific Ocean in Tosashimizu Shikoku
Overview
In this short but stunning live stream, John Daub takes viewers to the edge of Shikoku, specifically Tosashimizu in Kōchi Prefecture. He visits Ryūgū Shrine (Dragon Palace Shrine), a location perched dramatically over the Pacific Ocean. The video captures a breathtaking sunset, with the sun glistening on the sea and a lighthouse visible in the distance. John shares the unique atmosphere of the site, describing it as one of the most beautiful spots he has encountered in Shikoku.
John provides context about the shrine's history, sharing a local anecdote about women praying for their husbands' safety while fishing. He also shows viewers the hike required to reach the shrine, displaying photos of the forest path that feels like something from a fantasy land. Using Google Maps 3D view, he orientates viewers to the geography of the location, emphasizing its remote and natural beauty.
The video concludes with John discussing the local marine life, noting how ocean currents contribute to the quality of fish in the region. He mentions his upcoming travel plans, preparing to leave Shikoku for Tokyo, and invites viewers to consider visiting hidden gems like this rather than sticking only to major cities like Kyoto or Tokyo.
Highlights
- 00:04 John introduces the stunning sunset view at the edge of Shikoku.
- 01:01 The interesting story behind Ryūgū Shrine and prayers for fishermen.
- 01:42 John uses Google Maps 3D to show the shrine's dramatic location.
- 02:15 Photos of the hike through the woods described as "fantasy land."
- 03:31 The "Indiana Jones moment" when the view breaks through the trees.
- 04:14 Discussion on local fish quality due to Pacific Ocean currents.
- 06:00 John encourages viewers to seek out sites like this beyond Tokyo and Kyoto.
Timeline / Chapters
- 00:00 — Introduction at Ryūgū Shrine during sunset.
- 01:00 — Local legend about women praying for fishermen.
- 01:40 — Google Maps 3D orientation of the location.
- 02:15 — Showing photos of the hike through the woods.
- 03:30 — Describing the reveal of the shrine from the forest.
- 04:15 — Commentary on the Pacific Ocean, currents, and local fish.
- 05:30 — Closing remarks and upcoming travel plans.
- 06:00 — Call to action for viewers to visit hidden gems.
Japan Travel Tips
- Getting There: Reaching Ryūgū Shrine requires a hike through the woods; allow about 20 minutes to walk from the parking area.
- Timing: Visit during sunset for the most dramatic views, but bring a flashlight or ensure your phone is charged for the return hike in the dark.
- Location: This is at the edge of Shikoku in Tosashimizu, Kōchi Prefecture—a remote area compared to major tourist hubs.
- Safety: John noted low battery on his phone flashlight; ensure you have adequate lighting if staying past dusk.
- Alternative: If you cannot hike, the Google Maps 3D view gives a good sense of the geography before visiting.
Japanese Language & Culture Notes
- Ryūgū Shrine (龍宮神社): Named after the Dragon Palace from Japanese folklore, often associated with the sea god Ryūjin.
- Local Legends: John shares a folk story about women showing themselves to fishermen as a reminder not to forget their families while at sea. This reflects the deep connection between coastal communities and the ocean.
- Regional Pride: John highlights Kōchi's special position facing the Pacific Ocean, which influences local culture and cuisine (specifically fish).
Food & Drink Guide
- Local Fish: John mentions that the currents running through the Pacific Ocean near Kōchi cause fish to "muscle and fatten up," resulting in delicious seafood in this area. No specific dish is tasted in this video, but it is highlighted as a regional specialty.
People
- John Daub: Host and creator of Only in Japan Go. He is traveling alone in this video, sharing his personal experience of the hike and view.
- Jason: A contact who works in the local tourism department. He is mentioned by John as the source of the shrine's legend, though he does not appear on camera.
Key Takeaways
- Some of Japan's most beautiful spots are found in remote prefectures like Kōchi, not just in Kyoto or Tokyo.
- Ryūgū Shrine in Tosashimizu offers a dramatic combination of forest hike and ocean sunset views.
- Local geography (ocean currents) directly impacts the quality of regional cuisine.
- Exploring off-the-beaten-path locations requires preparation (lighting, timing) but rewards visitors with unique experiences.
Notable Quotes
- 00:04 "Wow, that is so beautiful. I am at the edge of Shikoku here, looking at this sunset view, which is incredible."
- 02:15 "I went even further. So you come out of the woods to this. And it looks like something from a fantasy land. Almost surreal."
- 03:31 "It's just like the Indiana Jones moment. This is one of those explorer moments. One of the most where beauty punches you in the face."
- 04:14 "A lot of the fish that come in, they muscle and fatten up as a result, and this has very delicious fish in this area."
- 06:00 "Tokyo's cool. Kyoto's cool. But this beats anything that I can find in Kyoto. Maybe."
Related Topics
- Shikoku Travel Guide
- Hidden Shrines in Japan
- Kōchi Prefecture Tourism
- Japanese Coastal Legends
- Sunset Viewing Spots in Japan
Search Tags
#only-in-japan-go #tosashimizu #kochi #shikoku #ryugu-shrine #sunset #pacific-ocean #hidden-gems #japan-travel #hiking #shrine #travel-vlog
Full Transcript
00:04 John Daub: Wow, that is so beautiful. I am at the edge of Shikoku here, looking at this sunset view, which is incredible. And I thought I would share a little bit, waving to you across the Pacific, everybody who's over there in the United States and Hawaii. But this is Tosashimizu. This is Ryūgū Shrine (dragon palace shrine), which is one of the most stunning places. I actually only have a couple of minutes because I have to hike to get here and I don't want to do that in the middle of the night. But you can see the sunset is just, this is one of the most beautiful spots that I've been in Shikoku. And just having the sun here glistening onto the sea there. There's a lighthouse in the distance.
01:01 John Daub: The shrine right here has a very interesting story. Jason who works in the tourism department, I called his name over there. He wasn't there. I asked him about the story. He said apparently women used to come here to pray for their husbands and they would lift up their skirts and show the goods to the fishermen as they left. Maybe because they wanted them not to forget them or something. Did he go over there? Jason! Oh, that's not Jason. That's another guy. Whoops.
01:42 John Daub: This is a stunning sight here. I've been calling Jason's name for the last couple of minutes. And I don't know where he is. Ryūgū Shrine. This is what it looks like here from Google Maps. Let me bring it up onto the screen. So I'm here on the edge of Shikoku. And this is what it looks like. It's a stunning location, isn't it? Let's go 3D. Beautiful.
02:15 John Daub: I want to show you when I came through the woods. It was absolutely stunning. Check this out. There's actually no signal. So I had to walk this. I went even further. So you come out of the woods to this. And it looks like something from a fantasy land. Almost surreal. This was about 20 minutes ago. And it's just absolutely stunning. This is one of the most natural beauty places that I've seen in Japan. At the end of the prefecture of Kōchi. Look at that. And the steps take you all the way to where I am right now. It's just breathtaking.
03:11 John Daub: Oh, here's the one I should have showed you. This is the beginning. Check it out. So I'm going to leave you here in about two minutes. So this is going to be a short live stream. But I wanted to share this with you. So the hike through the woods looks like this. And it's not going to look like this when I go back. So I'm going to want to get back to the car really soon. I do have a flashlight, which is this phone. But it's on low battery.
03:31 John Daub: Now when you get out of the woods, this is what hits you. You starting to see it right now? It's just like the Indiana Jones moment. This is one of those explorer moments. One of the most where beauty punches you in the face. Just look at that. It breaks through the trees and you can see the shrine up there. That's where I am right now, kind of in the back of the photo. It's just a stunning location. Check it out. The sunset is almost gone. And it's nice to be able to share.
04:14 John Daub: Last sunset here in Kōchi. I go to the airport tomorrow at 6 p.m., I'll see the sunset from the plane, but to share this with you—there's a lighthouse on the right side there, that's the mighty Pacific Ocean, not so mighty, even more mighty when the typhoon comes in. And we've had a couple of them roll through, but Kōchi has been spared pretty good over the last couple of months as the rest of the country has been getting nailed. There's a lot of places with views like this that you think in Japan, but Kōchi is in a special position which is just facing the Pacific Ocean. I think that's Kyūshū over there, I'm not even sure, but there's a current that runs through that. A lot of the fish that come in, they muscle and fatten up as a result, and this has very delicious fish in this area. Just a magical time.
05:34 John Daub: So there you go, I hope that you enjoyed it. That's all I have for you. I just wanted to share a little bit of my experience at the airport that day from Shikoku. And this is an island on the right side of Kōchi where we have a pretty good view of the park. That's great to be right here at the top of Ryūgū Shrine. I've prayed, but see you again tomorrow. I'm gonna be doing a live stream maybe from a boat, but I want to show you a little bit more of Kōchi before I leave this island of Shikoku to head back to Tokyo. See everybody, have a good night wherever you are.
06:00 John Daub: And leave me a comment: is this a place that you think you might want to visit? Finding sites like this is something that you all need to do. Tokyo's cool. Kyoto's cool. But this beats anything that I can find in Kyoto. Maybe. Let me know in the comments below. Bye, everybody.