Information of accommodation in Shimanto City and Kuroshio town is packed!

The Ocean & Whale Watching

Extending over a distance of four kilometers, the Irino Coast is a prefectural nature park with beautiful white sandy beaches and deeply green pine trees.
Irino Matsubara pine forest ranks among the "Hundred Greatest Pine Forests" in Japan, while its beach is designated as one the "Hundred Most Beautiful Shores".

The beach is also used as the venue of unique events such as the annual T-shirt Art Exhibition during Golden Week, where T-shirt artworks are displayed as if hanging on clothesline to dry, and the Sea Breeze Quilt Exhibition in November, when Chinese shallot flowers are in bloom.

With warm currents all year round, the seas off the coast of Ogata are said to be one of the best places in the prefecture to spot whales. Here, whale watchers can encounter various species of whale and dolphin, including Bryde's whales and Risso's dolphins.

Especially thrilling is the site of Bryde's whales. There is a good chance of spotting one, as it is believed that a Bryde's whale with a size of 12 to 14 meters in length and 12 to 18 tons in weight has made the seas off the coast of Ogata its home.