Sometimes, it’s the orange glow of the setting sun that makes you suddenly realize, “Oh, it’s already this late.”
To end each day on a pleasant note, it’s my daily routine to check the sky every evening.
Sunsets can be seen just about anywhere, but Washuzan Hill in Kojima is apparently a spectacular sunset-viewing spot that has even been selected as one of the “100 Best Sunsets in Japan.”
Eager to see one of the spectacular views on the list, I looked up how to get to Washuzan Hill and learned about the Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus, which visits sunset-viewing spots in Kojima and Shimotsui.
As someone without a car, I thought there couldn’t be a better-value bus, so I decided to take a ride.
The information provided was current when this article was published in January 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus?
The Washuzan Sunset Bus is a sightseeing bus operated by Shimotsui Dentetsu.
It travels along the coast in the Kojima and Shimotsui area, stopping at two sunset-viewing spots.
The bus runs year-round on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, but departure times vary depending on the season, so check the timetable.
It runs every day only during the Obon season.
The route is as follows. Spots marked with ☆ are sunset-viewing points.
- Kojima Station
- Washuzan Shimoden Hotel
- WASHU BLUE RESORT Kasago
- Setouchi Kojima Hotel
- Sanbyaku-yama ☆
- Washuzan Observatory ☆
- (On the return trip, the bus goes from each hotel to Kojima Station.)
Hotel guests need to make a reservation, but no reservation is required if boarding at Kojima Station.
The fare is a flat 520 yen for adults and children. Payment is cash only and is made to the driver on the bus.
Taking a ride on the Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus
The Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus departs from bus stop 5 in front of Kojima Station.
The sky was brilliantly clear that day. The sun shining on Kojima Station made me more and more excited to see the sunset.
At stop 5, a bus was parked with “Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus” written in large letters on its windows. Several buses were coming and going, but this one looked easy to identify.
I got on right away and handed the driver 520 yen, and received a commemorative ticket.
It’s nice to have a keepsake ticket to remember the ride.
Enjoy the ride while traveling
When departure time came, the sunset-viewing bus finally set off.
Soon after departure, an announcement introduced Washuzan Shimoden Hotel, the next stop, and pointed out sights along the way.
There were two passengers who boarded at Kojima Station that day, including me.
After the announcement, the driver asked us, “Where are you two visiting from?”
I never expected to get to chat with the driver, and was immediately swept into a world outside the everyday.
The bus stops at three hotels along the way, but it seemed there were no passengers boarding from the hotels that day, so we set off again right away.
On the way to Sanbyaku-yama, the driver shared lots of interesting facts, such as why the jeans industry flourished in Kojima and how Brazilian Park Washuzan Highland was also the model for the amusement park in “Suzume.”
This bus lets you enjoy the journey while learning about Kojima and Shimotsui and taking in the sunset.
Sunset-viewing spot ①: Sanbyaku-yama
As I enjoyed the driver’s stories and the view from the window, we arrived at Sanbyaku-yama in no time.
Just before we got off, an announcement said, “We’ll be stopped here for about 15 minutes, but you can come back inside if you get cold.”
After bundling up warmly and getting off the bus, a magnificent sunset spread out right before my eyes.
The vast Seto Inland Sea, the deep blue sky, and the dazzling sunset. The timing was just about perfect.
There were a few clouds that day, but their dynamic shapes added to the scene’s painterly beauty.
It was a view I could have gazed at forever, but the cold December wind got the better of me, and I soon returned to the bus. I was relieved to be back in the heated interior.
The driver’s kind “Welcome back” warmed my heart, too.
Learning about Shimotsui on the way from Sanbyaku-yama to Washuzan Hill
The bus then set off for Washuzan Hill.
There are various sights along the way from Sanbyaku-yama to Washuzan Hill, and you can enjoy sightseeing from the bus window while listening to the driver’s interesting facts and lively announcements.
Soon after departure, an explanation of Shimotsui Port, our destination, and the folk song “Shimotsui-bushi” played over the bus speakers.
As we drove along, the Shimotsui Dentetsu depot came into view on the right. The driver slowed down and drove a little more slowly, giving us a brief glimpse of the cute, miniature-like train cars.
A little farther on, Shimotsui Port came into view.
The driver also explained Shimotsui’s famous octopus and the history of the Seto-Ohashi Bridge. About 12,000 years ago, this area where the Seto-Ohashi Bridge now stands was land, not sea.
“A Naumann elephant fossil has even been caught in the net of a trawler,” the driver told us. It was impossible not to feel the grandeur of history.
The bus passed beneath the Seto-Ohashi Bridge and continued on toward Washuzan Hill.
Seen from below, the Seto-Ohashi Bridge is an impressive sight that is unique to the Kojima and Shimotsui area.
Sunset Spot ② Washuzan Hill
About 15 minutes from Mt. Sanbyaku, we arrived at the parking lot for the Washuzan Second Observation Deck, our second sunset spot.
After the driver told us how long we would stop (about 20 minutes), we got off the bus together, and he showed us where the restrooms were. It’s reassuring to have a restroom break.
After climbing the stone steps from the parking lot, the observation deck, lit by the setting sun, came into view.
From the observation deck, you can take in the islands floating in the Seto Inland Sea, the Seto-Ohashi Bridge, and the sunset sinking below the horizon.
The clouds were beginning to hide the sun, but the gradations of color in the sky were reflected across the Seto Inland Sea, creating a magnificent view.
As the sky’s appearance changed moment by moment, I couldn’t help wanting to press the camera shutter again and again.
The sky on the opposite side from the sunset was also beautiful, with pink clouds floating across it.
Even after the clouds hid the sun, a golden-yellow hue lingered in the sky for a while, and we returned to the bus with a sense of lingering afterglow.
That brought our sunset viewing to an end, and the bus set off for Kojima Station. The driver continued sharing entertaining stories on the ride back, and we had a thoroughly enjoyable time until we got off.
From the Writer
The Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus was a little bus tour that was enjoyable not only for visiting sunset spots, but also for the time spent traveling between them.
We visited two sunset spots, but all the scenery visible from the bus windows along the way was beautiful, and there was never a dull moment.
And the driver’s stories about what makes Kojima and Shimotsui special seemed to offer insights that only someone who has driven around this area for many years could share.
It was a ride that gave us a deep sense of his love and affection for the local area.
The Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus lets you experience the charms of Kojima and Shimotsui while taking in a spectacular sunset.
Whether you want to see a moving sunset, take beautiful photos, or get away from everyday life and take a breather, this is a bus I’d recommend to all kinds of people.
Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus Information
| Name | Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus |
|---|---|
| Dates | Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Operates daily only during the Obon season Operating times vary depending on the season, so please check the timetable on the official website. |
| Location | Bus stop in front of Kojima Station, Stop 5 |
| Admission (tax included) | 520 yen (same price for adults and children) |
| Website | Explore Kojima and Shimotsui by bus! Washuzan Sunset Viewing Bus |
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