A. Start: Itoigawa Station

5 min. by car

B. Itoigawa (Jade) Coast

　A pebble beach with a wide variety of stones the Itoigawa Coast is an excellent place to hunt for and collect rocks. Jade pebbles which are carried down the Himekawa River are also occasionally deposited here by sea currents. With luck, you may find some.

5 min. by car

C. Yuhigaoka Park

　The observation tower here offers a fantastic view of the Sea of Japan. Just below the park are Himekawa Port and Itoigawa Fishing Port, where fresh fish are brought in daily from the Sea of Japan. The park’s name means “Sunset Hill” and not without reason—the view of the sunset here is one of the best.

10 min. by car

D. Fossa Magna Museum

　This earth sciences museum features exhibits about the birth of the earth, rare and beautiful minerals, the Fossa Magna, jade, and Dr. Naumann, who is said to be the Father of Japanese Geology. It is a must for anybody visiting the Geopark.

5 min. by car

Miyama Park Observation Tower

　This observation tower, built atop a water tower, offers an excellent view of the Northern Alps, the Kubiki Mountains, the Umidani Mountains, and the Himekawa River. These mountains straddle the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line and vary widely in age.

10 min. by car

Fossa Magna Park

　This "outdoor museum" is actually the site where the word "geopark" was first coined. Centered upon an exposed portion of the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line which splits Japan onto two continents, the Fossa Magna Park also features a number of examples of pillow lava formed when this area was at the bottom of the Fossa Magna Sea.

15 min. by car

E. Goal: Itoigawa Station