HOME > Japan’s Local Treasures > Kinosaki Onsen’s Sea of Clouds
With a little luck, you may be able to see this ethereal spread of clouds, which attracts photographers from across the world to Hyogo Prefecture
Toyooka Tourism Innovation
An ocean in the sky? You may get lucky during your visit to Kinosaki Onsen and witness the unkai, or sea of clouds, an experience that is on the bucket list of many autumn visitors.
This misty sea of clouds is a natural phenomenon, occurring when stark differences in air temperature cause clouds to spread horizontally at low altitude. This happens most often during early mornings in autumn, creating an unforgettable natural sight from the mountaintops in Kinosaki Onsen.
Two locations near Kinosaki Onsen boast particularly good views of the mystical cloudy waves, one rolling atop the Sea of Japan and another circling nearby mountaintops.
The uninhabited island of Nochigashima off the coast of Kinosaki is known as the Dragon Palace, as the pavilions built there during the 1950s remind many of a legendary palace from a Japanese folktale. During the early morning hours in autumn, people wait on the shoreside observation desk to see if a cascading waterfall of clouds will billow around the Dragon Palace in ethereal waves.
Mount Kuruhi is likely the most well-known unkai spot in Kinosaki, as the mesmerizing waves of clouds above the Maruyama River have been captured in photos by pros and lucky visitors alike, framed by the red and orange leaves of the surrounding forest.
How to get there
From Kyoto Station, take the JR Express Kinosaki train to Kinosaki Onsen Station (2 hours and 20 minutes). The Dragon Palace is located right next to Kinosaki Marine World, about 15 minutes by bicycle from Kinosaki Onsen Station. Mt. Kuruhi is a 40-minute drive from Kinosaki Onsen Station.
Viewing Point
Seto, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo-ken
Kuruhi, Shirosaki-cho, Toyooka-shi, Hyogo-ken
