Cape Nagasakibana

Cape Nagasakibana protrudes from the southern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula, formed entirely of volcanic rock that creates dramatic shapes along the coast. Ryugu Shrine at the cape's edge is dedicated to the sea god Ryujin and is traditionally linked to the legend of Urashima Taro, a fisherman who was spirited away to an undersea palace and fell in love with the princess Otohime. Visitors still come to pray here for good fortune in matchmaking. Beyond the shrine, the cape looks out across open sea toward Mt. Kaimon, and the mild year-round climate supports a variety of subtropical plants that bloom even in winter.