Kisakata Kujukushima

象潟九十九島

4.1Est. 30Nikaho, Tohoku

Local Pick

Overview

Former lagoon islands now rising from rice paddies. Basho's lost maritime landscape.

These 'ninety-nine islands' were once islets in a coastal lagoon visited by haiku master Basho in 1689. A massive earthquake in 1804 raised the seabed by two meters, transforming the lagoon into rice paddies with tree-covered hillocks rising from the fields like landlocked islands. From the hilltop viewpoint, the surreal landscape of green mounds dotting flooded paddies is best seen during June rice planting.

Practical info

Japanese name: 象潟九十九島
Nearest station: Sakata Station (50 min drive)
Payment: Cards accepted
Reservations: not required

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