Miho no Matsubara

This scenic spot attracts visitors with its beautiful view and the legend of the robe of feathers. Located on the Miho Peninsula, it has long been protected as a shrine grove for the Miho Shrine.

It stretches a total of 7 kilometers and features a sandy beach over 100 meters wide and a pine forest of 54,000 trees. Fuji and the Izu Peninsula across Suruga Bay.

This beautiful place is also known as one of the “New Three Views of Japan” and “Japan’s Three Great Pine Barrens,” and is designated as a national scenic beauty spot.

Fuji - Object of Faith and Source of Art,” a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Miho Peninsula with its long history and poetic sentiment

The Miho Peninsula has long been a beloved place, and Miho Matsubara, which stretches to the east of the peninsula, is of particular historical value and poetic sentiment.

It has a total length of 7 kilometers of pine forests and beautiful sandy beaches, with Suruga Bay in the background and views of Mount Fuji and the Izu Peninsula.

Fuji, the greenery of the pine forests, the white waves lapping against the shore, and the blue of the sea are like a picture in a painting, and have been depicted in ukiyoe paintings by Hiroshige Utagawa and others.

It has been the subject of many waka poems.

Miho no Matsubara has been popular since ancient times, and was even mentioned in Japan’s oldest collection of waka poems, Manyoshu.

‘When I look at the view overlooking Miho no Matsubara at Kiyomizaki, my thoughts and worries disappear into nowhere.’
(Ruharano no Jomi-no-zaki no Mihonoura no Kanmi-jaru Mononen-me-nanobu)
Taguchi Masuto, Manyoshu

It also appears in the song “Hagoromo” and has captivated the hearts of many poets.

Beauty and legend intersect in the pine tree of Hagoromo

The Pine Tree of Hagoromo is a revered presence as the sacred body of the Miho Shrine. It is believed to have been the deity of Mihotsuhiko-no-mikoto (Okuninushi no Mikoto) and Mihotsuhime-no-Mikoto at the time of their descent, and its appearance is considered beautiful and sacred.

The first “Hagoromo no Matsu” sank during the Hoei Era eruption, but the third “Hagoromo no Matsu” now stands.

The second “Hagoromo no Matsu” was a black pine approximately 10 meters tall with a circumference of 5 meters, and was 650 years old. It was cut down with about 3 meters of the trunk remaining because it was dying.

The tree is also the setting of the legend of the robe of feathers, in which a heavenly maiden descends from the tree and drapes the robe of feathers over the tree.

Formation of Miho Peninsula and Matsubara

The Miho Peninsula is a vast sand spit formed by sediment carried by the rough waves of the Pacific Ocean from the Abe River. The sediment that has flowed into the area over hundreds of years has created the broad sandy beaches on the Shizuoka and Shimizu coasts.

During the Edo period (1603-1867), the peninsula was protected by the Edo shogunate and covered with a forest of pine trees, but after the Meiji Restoration, the shogunate officials cut down the trees.

In addition, Miho Matsubara was damaged by an earthquake in the past. However, the pine trees and beaches have been preserved, and the natural beauty of the area remains attractive even today.

Miho Shirube” to further enjoy the charm of Miho Matsubara

At the foot of Hagoromo no Matsu, there is a World Heritage guidance facility called “Mihoshirube,” a cultural creation center in Miho Matsubara.

Even on days when you cannot see Mt. Fuji due to bad weather, you can enjoy the scenery of Mt. Fuji from Miho Matsubara in each of the four seasons in the video theater.

Before heading to the pine grove or the coast, you can collect basic information displayed here and obtain a map of the area to enjoy an efficient walk.

You can also purchase items made from Miho pine trees and Miho-specific souvenirs at the museum store. Miho Shirube” is a spot that further enhances the charm of Miho Matsubara.

The green of the pine forest, the sandy beach, the blue sea, and the beauty of the Hagoromo pine trees stimulate the mind in abundance. Visit Miho Matsubara and immerse yourself in the scenery.