The coast of Jōgasaki (城ヶ崎海岸 Jōgasaki Kaigan) is located on the eastern shore of Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka prefecture, just south of the city of Itō. The rugged and picturesque coast was formed some 4,000 years ago when Ōmuroyama volcano erupted, and its lava flowed into Sagami Bay, creating new land when it reached the ocean and cooled. The outermost edge of the solidified lava shaped the rocky coastline characterised by unique geological, botanical and zoological features that can still be seen today. In the picture below, the protuberant mound of Ōmuroyama with its bowl-like crater is clearly visible.

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The Izu-Tobu Volcano Group (伊豆東部火山群 Izu Tōbu Kazangun) is a cluster of monogenetic volcanos that started to become active around 150,000 years ago. Monogenetic volcanos are smaller volcanos that only erupt once. About 100 of these are conglomerated on the eastern part of the Izu Peninsula and its offshore ocean floor. Notable examples of monogenetic volcanos are Ōmuroyama, Komuroyama (小室山), Sukumoyama (巣雲山), and Lake Ippeki.

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Jōgasaki Coast near Cape Kadowaki (門脇崎)

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Kadowaki Lighthouse (門脇埼灯台)

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The sea cave between Hanshiro Otoshi Cliff and Cape Kadowaki.

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Kadowakitsuri Bridge (門脇つり橋) is a suspension bridge that is 23 metres long and 48 metres high. It is part of a scenic hiking trail that runs about 9 kilometres from Bora-Naya to Cape Kadowaki.

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Kadowakitsuri Bridge (門脇つり橋)

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Photo credit: Oyamax

South of Cape Kadowaki lies Kannonhama Beach, another vast field of jagged lava flow and the site of the Kannonhama Pothole (かんのん浜ポットホール), a circular hole housing a perfectly spherical rock of about 70 centimetres in diameter that has been shaped by breaking waves over thousands of years.

Access:

Cape Kadowaki can be reached on foot in less than 30 minutes from Jōgasaki Kaigan Station on Izukyu Line or by bus from Izu Kogen Station. Get off at Kaiyo Koen (海洋公園). If you arrive by car, there is free parking for about 130 cars close to the Kadowaki Lighthouse.