Oga Peninsula Circuit — Namahage Cliffs & Sea of JapanSunset.

Distance

100 km

Duration

1 day

Climb

1,100 m

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Curated by Rider · Updated Jun 2026

Overview

Oga Peninsula Circuit — Namahage Cliffs & Sea of Japan Sunset.

The Oga Peninsula juts west into the Sea of Japan from Akita Prefecture, offering one of Tohoku's finest coastal circuits. The Kitaura cliff road traces 30-metre drops at exactly the 40th parallel north, while the ridge roads look over the whole peninsula. The Namahage tradition — demon-god visits on New Year's Eve to discipline idle children — originates here, with the Men-no-Sato museum displaying 24 regional mask variants. Sunsets over the Sea of Japan from the western cliffs are among the finest in Japan.

Quick facts

SurfacePaved

Distance100 km

Days1

Total climb1,100 m

DifficultyModerate

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Day-by-day

The route.

ROUTE

5 stops

Oga CityStart · Start in Oga City at the base of the peninsula. Fuel up here. Head northwest toward the Oga Hot Springs area and the Men-no-Sato Namahage Museum.

Men-no-Sato — Namahage MuseumScenic Point · The definitive museum for the Namahage tradition. Demon-gods visit homes on New Year's Eve to discipline lazy or misbehaving children. Twenty-four regional variants of the terrifying straw-and-mask Namahage are on display. The surrounding Oga Onsen district is one of Tohoku's finest hot spring areas.

Godzilla Rock — Kitaura CliffsPhoto Spot · A sea-eroded tuff formation on the Kitaura coast that unmistakably resembles Godzilla emerging from the Sea of Japan. The 30-metre cliffs run for several kilometres above the water. Best photographed at the golden hour before sunset when the silhouette is at its most dramatic.

Cape Nyudozaki — 40th Parallel LighthouseScenic Point · The striped Nyudozaki Lighthouse stands at exactly 40 degrees north latitude — a monument on the lawn marks the parallel line. One of Japan's 50 finest lighthouses and one of only 16 that can be climbed. Glass-bottom boat cruises depart from below the cliffs. The Sea of Japan sunset from here is outstanding.

Oga CityEnd · Return to Oga via the east coast road. The seasonal specialty is hatahata (sandfish, October–November) — a small roe-filled fish unique to the Sea of Japan and central to Akita's cuisine and sake culture.

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