Ozato Matsubara Beach
Ozato Matsubara is 3 kilometer stretch of beach that runs south along the Ozato area of Kaiyo, Tokushima prefecture in the Shikoku region.
Known for its bow-shaped coastline and unobstructed view of the Pacific Ocean, it is a perfect place to see the sun rise above the horizon. In the summer, the beach is also a place for loggerhead turtles come to lay their eggs. Although swimming is prohibited, the beach attracts many anglers and is a great place to go for a jog while enjoying the pleasant ocean breeze.
Behind the seawall is a pine tree grove that separates the coastline and the Ozato residential area. The pine trees were first planted during the Edo period (1603-1868). Locals believe that it helped to dampen and protect them from the effects of tsunamis, and forest conservation efforts by the locals still continue till this day.
Also in the vicinity is the Ozato Hachiman shrine. The shrine is most famous for its Ozato Hachiman Shrine Autumn Festival held annually in October and attracts many visitors from all over Tokushima Prefecture. In this festival, 2 sekibune which are large portable boat-shaped shrines, and 5 danjiri (portable wooden shrines) are pulled along the road by large groups of people, starting from surrounding neighbourhoods in the Kainan and Kaifu areas, and at last, finishing at the Ozato Hachiman Shrine.
On the evening before the festival, a fireworks display is set off near the Kaifu River and the beach provides a great vantage point to observe the fireworks.
Check out the town’s tourism website for the latest information about the beach and shrine.
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