Kinkasan Island 金華山

The island of good fortune

Kinkasan is a small island northeast of Miyagi Prefecture in the Tohoku region. It lives to the rhythm of nature and the famous Koganeyama shrine, believed to bring wealth! 

However, poorly served, it has remained a unique place since the Shinto priests and the staff of the Koganeyama shrine are the only inhabitants of the island! Springwater flows there but there is no running water...

You reach the entrance to the sanctuary area after climbing a paved path from where you can admire a rural landscape. In particular, it is possible to see deer grazing on the green hills. Secondary shrines, prayer halls, torii, bells, and other structures and elements of the Shinto religion welcome worshipers and visitors. The place is home to eight sanctuaries, of varying size and importance.

Le sanctuaire Koganeyama-Kinkasan

Koganeyama-Kinkasan Shrine

Geomr, Wikimedia


Address, timetable & access

  • Address

  • Timetable

    You can access Kinkasan from the port of Ayukawa (about a 20 min trip), or from Onagawa (about a 35 min trip) which are served by buses from the city of Ishinomaki. Please note: there are very few ferries. Weekends for example a departure at 11 am on Saturday from the port of Onagawa (return at 1:30 pm) and one at 10:30 am on Sunday from Ayukawa (return at 12:30 pm).

Latest Articles

Pine trees on land overlooking Matsushima Bay

Matsushima

Matsushima is famous for its view of over the bay, considered one of Japan's Three Great Sights. However, it offers visitors ancient cultural treasures as well. 

Japan Visitor - tendo-guide-1.jpg

Tendo Guide Yamagata

Tendo guide Yamagata: read a travel guide to the city of Tendo, the home of shogi (Japanese chess) in Yamagata Prefecture, northern Japan close to Sendai.

Tsutsujigaoka Park

Top Three Places for Hanami in Sendai

The cherry blossoms, or sakura, are the great attraction of early spring in Japan, during which the population goes out picnicking in the parks under the swollen branches of pink flowers.