Shimameshiya Hokuto
Kasumaki: A celebratory sweet passed down in Tsushima since the Edo period.
What is Himegamiyama Battery?
Restaurant & Cafe Lilac is a welcoming, long-standing Western-style restaurant located in Kechi, Mitsushima-machi, Tsushima City, Nagasaki Prefecture. Highly popular among local residents, the restaurant is situated along the roadway just a short distance from Tsushima Airport (Tsushima Yamaneko Airport), making it a highly convenient dining stop before or after a flight.
The Kechi area of Mitsushima-machi serves as a central transportation hub on the island, balancing natural surroundings with daily conveniences. With an inviting exterior and an interior reminiscent of a classic Japanese jun-kissa (pure coffee shop) from the early Heisei era, the restaurant has long served as a comfortable gathering place and neighborhood fixture.
Highlights of Restaurant & Cafe Lilac
Visitors can explore the remains of barracks, observation posts, and underground ammunition depots, all meticulously constructed using the English brick-laying method.
The contrast between the silent, weathered ruins and the surrounding wilderness gives the site a distinct aesthetic quality, often compared to the atmospheric ruined worlds seen in animated films. Additionally, climbing up toward the mountaintop observation post rewards visitors with an open, panoramic view of the islands and inlets across Aso Bay.
This is a place where you can experience Tsushima’s significant history firsthand and deepen your understanding.
How to Enjoy Your Visit
The most practical way to reach the site is by rental car. After parking at the designated lot at the base of the mountain, visitors can take a 20-minute uphill hike along a shaded, green pathway that originally served as a military access road. Wearing comfortable walking shoes is highly recommended.
Upon reaching the ruins, you can walk through the arched brick barracks and inspect the dark, sturdy ammunition vaults. The interplay of sunlight and shadow through the forest canopy makes the location excellent for moody, historical landscape photography.
The ideal time to visit is from morning to early afternoon when sunlight filters through the trees to illuminate the brickwork. Because the site is completely unlit and lacks artificial lighting, making the trek during bright daylight hours is essential for safety.
Basic Information
- Name: Himegamiyama Battery Ruins (Himegamiyama Hodai Ato)
- Operating Hours: Open 24 hours (Visiting during daylight hours is strongly recommended).
- Closed: Open year-round
- Price: Free
- Parking: Available (Free, space for a few vehicles at the trailhead).
Access
・Address: Ogata, Mitsushima-machi, Tsushima-shi, Nagasaki Prefecture
By Public Transport: About 20 minutes by taxi from Tsushima Airport, or a combination of bus and taxi from Izuhara Port (Rental cars are highly recommended due to limited transit schedules).
By Car: By Car: About 20 minutes from Tsushima Airport to the parking area, or 35 minutes from Izuhara Port. The ruins are a 20-minute walk from the parking area.
Nearby Ryokan
SPOT
