Mount Shiude
Also written: 紫雲出山（しうでやま） · 紫云出山
In cherry blossom season Mount Shiude offers a stunning panorama where the island-dotted Seto Inland Sea harmonizes with blooming cherry trees; the site has been featured in The New York Times.
An Illustrated Japan / Kagawa / Townscape & Scenery
About this place
Mount Shiude, 352 meters high on the Shonai Peninsula in Takuma Town, Mitoyo City, Kagawa Prefecture, is a flower and archaeology mountain offering one of Shikoku's best panoramas over the multi-island Seto Inland Sea dotted with Hiburi, Awashima and Shishijima islands. In spring about 1,000 cherry trees including Somei-Yoshino, Yamazakura and Shidarezakura dye the summit pale pink from late March through early April, contrasting with blue sea to create spectacle listed among Yahoo! Japan's 15 Best Cherry Blossom Views, book To Die For World's Great Sceneries Japan Chapter by author Shiho, U.S. New York Times 2019 destination list, and French Le Figaro online edition, drawing about 20,000 visitors yearly including foreign tourists. Name derives from Urashima Taro legend where fisherman opened tamatebako treasure box from Dragon Palace, white smoke rose and turned into purple clouds trailing over mountain, naming purple cloud emergence. From mid-June to mid-July hydrangeas in white, light blue, blue-violet, pale purple form gradient bouquets lining both sides of ascent trail, while summit area includes Shiudeyama Iseki Museum open 9:30 to 17:00 exhibiting artifacts from Yayoi period highland settlement 2,000 years ago designated National Historic Site. Stone arrowheads, stone spearheads, stone axes excavated suggest defensive lookout over shipping lanes capable of monitoring Seto Inland Sea traffic, with postholes implying five meter tall pillared buildings. Two shells called enmusubi kai placed in site bring happiness when paired, couples write wishes on shell and tie to happiness tree. During cherry bloom private cars require advance online reservation to control narrow mountain road, with conservation cooperation fee 1,750 yen weekdays and 2,300 yen weekends, large buses prohibited, community minibus alternative available, café near summit offering local orange drink and zenzai sweet bean soup while viewing sea. Mountain road narrowness forces private car advance reservation and traffic control during cherry season and Golden Week holidays, large buses boarding at foot and transferring to community minibus. At summit Iseki Museum cafe serves cherry blossom inspired sakura latte and sudachi original drink blended with local citrus, sipped from counter seats overlooking Seto Inland Sea multi-island panorama dotted with bridges. Near summit reconstructed Yayoi pit dwellings and shell paths adorned with two shell enmusubi kai oracle bring happiness when paired, couples writing wishes on shells and dedicating to happiness tree. Geology exhibit describes highland settlement defensive role and five meter pillared buildings possible watchtowers over shipping lanes used for monitoring ancient maritime trade and piracy. Mountain road narrowness forces private car advance reservation and traffic control during cherry season and Golden Week holidays, large buses boarding at foot and transferring to community minibus. At summit Iseki Museum cafe serves cherry blossom inspired sakura latte and sudachi original drink blended with local citrus, sipped from counter seats overlooking Seto Inland Sea multi-island panorama dotted with bridges. Near summit reconstructed Yayoi pit dwellings and shell paths adorned with two shell enmusubi kai oracle bring happiness when paired, couples writing wishes on shells and dedicating to happiness tree. Geology exhibit describes highland settlement defensive role and five meter pillared buildings possible watchtowers over shipping lanes used for monitoring ancient maritime trade and piracy.
