The Ten Scenic Views of Ieshima are a collection of ten celebrated landscapes and historic sites across the Ieshima Islands in Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. Located in the Seto Inland Sea, the islands are known for their beautiful coastlines, peaceful harbors, wooded hills, and places associated with Japan’s religious and maritime history.
Each of the ten views has its own character, combining natural beauty with stories and traditions passed down through generations. Exploring them offers visitors a chance to discover a quieter side of Hyogo, away from the bustle of the mainland.
The selection is believed to have originated in Harima Kagami, a regional gazetteer written in 1762 by Hirano Yōshū, a historian of Harima Province, which corresponds broadly to the western part of present-day Hyogo Prefecture. The book includes classical Chinese poems in seven-character quatrain form describing historic sites across the Ieshima Islands. These poems are regarded as the inspiration for the Ten Scenic Views.
Located on Shiroyama Hill on Ieshima Island, Maura Kokaku refers to the remains of a former fortification. From this elevated position, visitors can look down over Maura Port and enjoy expansive views across the Seto Inland Sea. The site brings together traces of the island’s history and the beauty of its maritime landscape.
Tenman Reiju refers to the sacred woodland surrounding Ieshima Shrine, located at Tenjinbana on the main island. The shrine has a distinguished history and is traditionally associated with the prestigious category of shrines known as Myōjin Taisha.
According to local tradition, the celebrated scholar and court official Sugawara no Michizane stopped at the shrine in 901 while traveling to Dazaifu, where he had been exiled. The wooded shrine grounds preserve a sense of spiritual tranquility amid the island’s natural surroundings.
Kankan Chōbō describes the view from a former guard station known as Kankan, which once stood at the highest part of Shimizu Park on Ieshima Island. The Edo-period Tokugawa shogunate established the station in 1639.
The elevated location offered a broad view of the surrounding landscape and waterways. Its historical role reflects the importance of monitoring maritime traffic and protecting coastal routes during the Edo period.
Shirahige Reishi refers to the sacred grounds associated with Miyaura Shrine on Ieshima Island. The site has long been regarded as a place of spiritual power and religious significance. For worshippers and visitors interested in local traditions, it offers a glimpse into the islanders’ enduring relationship with sacred places.
Miyaura Yahaku celebrates the atmosphere of Miya Port on Ieshima Island, particularly the quiet beauty of spending a night there. The traditional scene evokes boats resting on still waters, their silhouettes reflected against the harbor and the surrounding landscape.
This view captures the peaceful character of a small island port and the poetic appeal of the Seto Inland Sea after dark.
These paired scenic views are associated with Sakuradani in the Miyahabū area of Ieshima Island. Akasaka Shimizu celebrates a spring of clear water, while Sakuradani Sekkei depicts the beauty of the valley in winter, when snow transforms the landscape.
The combination of flowing spring water and seasonal scenery reflects the traditional appreciation of nature expressed in Japanese landscape poetry.
Kannonzaki Tsuki refers to the moon rising above Cape Kannon at the southern tip of Ieshima Island. As moonlight spreads across the Seto Inland Sea, the coastline and surrounding waters take on a serene, atmospheric beauty.
The scene evokes the classical Japanese tradition of appreciating the moon over the sea, making it one of the most evocative views in the collection.
Bōzeji Ato refers to the remains of an ancient temple on Bōze Island. From the area, visitors can enjoy views of Nazako Port and Ebisu Shrine, which stands on a nearby hilltop.
The setting combines the island’s religious heritage with its coastal scenery. It is a particularly interesting destination for visitors who enjoy exploring historic sites in peaceful natural surroundings.
Awaga Tatezaki is a scenic location on Ojika Island, known for its quiet shoreline and green, undulating landscape. The combination of the sea, coastal terrain, and vegetation creates a tranquil setting that illustrates the natural appeal of the Ieshima archipelago.
Matsushima Noma refers to the former landscape of open grazing land on Matsushima. In the past, horses could be seen feeding on the grass, creating a pastoral scene in harmony with the surrounding natural environment.
The view preserves the memory of a landscape that differs from the islands’ better-known harbors and rocky coastlines, adding another dimension to the variety of the Ten Scenic Views.
The Ten Scenic Views are located throughout the Ieshima Islands in Ieshima-cho, Himeji City, Hyogo Prefecture. The islands lie in the Seto Inland Sea and are reached by passenger boat from Himeji Port.
The boat journey takes approximately 30 minutes to reach the main island of Ieshima or Bōze Island. Traveling by sea is part of the experience, offering views of the surrounding islands and coastal scenery along the way.
Because the ten locations are spread across several islands, visitors should plan their route according to ferry services and local transportation options. Allowing time to explore the harbors, hills, shrines, and historic sites makes it easier to appreciate the distinctive character of each scenic view.