Discover the new charm of southern Senshu in Misaki Town, the southernmost part of Osaka

Ai Nishimura

Administrator of the blog "My Diary," which began in 2004. A writer who has traveled to all 47 prefectures and loves local culture and history.
Author of Shimane's "Geography, Place Names, and Maps" Mysteries (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha), My Town is the "Number One in Japan" Dictionary (PHP Institute), and Prefectures Explained in Neko Neko Japanese History (Jitsugyo no Nihonsha). Official blogger for Suntory Gourmet Guide, official top user for Retty, and official platinum blogger for Excite.

9:30 Head to the Wakayama Prefecture border from Fuka Port by rental bicycle

The second day starts from Fukeko Station.

The Nankai Railway branches off from the main line and takes the Tanagawa Line. As you get to this area, the scenery becomes more and more idyllic, and you start to feel like you've reached the edge of Osaka.

The large old wooden roof at Fukako Station tells us how old the station is. Fukako Port, located right next to the station, was where ferries crossed Osaka Bay to Awajishima and Sumoto Port, and it must have been a very busy station when regular ferry services were in operation.

If you walk a little way from the station towards the port, you will see the blue building called "Sanporta Fuka Port Tourist Information Center." Here you can rent electric bicycles, ask for local information, get pamphlets, and even take a break inside.

Nearby, early morning fishermen are leisurely casting their fishing lines. A red lighthouse can be seen in the distance, providing a nostalgic view of the quiet port town.

Fuka Port Tourist Information Center Sanporuta

10:30 A mecca for fishing where you can catch high-quality fish: Roadside Station Tottori Park Kojima

First, I decided to go to the southernmost part of Osaka, and headed for the roadside station Tottori Park Kojima, which is on the border with Wakayama Prefecture. On the map, it looked like it was quite a distance, but with an electric bicycle, it was no problem. There were ups and downs along the way, but I was able to ride comfortably without any problems.

Tottori Park Kojima Roadside Station is a facility where you can enjoy fishing from an artificial pier jutting out into the sea. The pier was used to transport soil and sand when Kansai International Airport was built, and it is repurposed. The restaurant attached to the station is shaped like a fish, which makes it very unique and easy to see from afar.

Apparently you can catch some pretty big fish here, and people with serious fishing gear were happily casting their fishing rods. It opens early in the morning, so by the time I arrived, some people had already caught some big fish! From a big sea bass to a giant sea bream that looked like it belonged to a champion sumo wrestler, to a flounder. There was such a parade of gorgeous fish that it made me wonder if this was the Dragon Palace on land. Another attraction of Tottori Park Kojima is the large-scale scenery, with the island of Awaji in the distance and the Tomogashima Islands in Wakayama Prefecture all visible.

The prefectural border with Wakayama is less than 10 minutes by bicycle from Tottori Park Kojima. There is also a stone monument of Kii Province. When I went to the southernmost point of Misaki-cho, the southernmost point of Osaka, I somehow felt like I had conquered Misaki-cho. With my feelings fulfilled and my motivation to pedal my bike increased, I headed to the next spot.

11:20 Get a cute hand-drawn goshuin at Tennomiya (shrine)

Now we will continue our journey back to Fukakominato Station.

I stopped off at "Tennomiya Shrine." Actually, I passed by it once on the way to Tottori Park Kojima and then came back. I visited the shrine with my goshuincho (stamp book) in hand, which I hadn't brought out in a while.

At this shrine, you need to make a reservation to receive a goshuin. The goshuin here are all hand-drawn, not written down, and there are several different types to choose from. Visitors who make a reservation will be purified, leave their goshuin book, and be guided from just before the torii gate. As they guide visitors one group at a time, it seems that the number of people who have become interested in Shinto and come to pray frequently is increasing. I was also shown around the shrine grounds while they were drawing my goshuin.

They were kind enough to explain everything from the origins of the shrine to the meaning of Shinto itself. Amanomiya Shrine conveys the ancient Japanese belief in nature that predates recorded history. They explained the idea that gods reside in everything, from the sea, mountains, plants, stones, and natural phenomena, using the trees and stones within the shrine as examples. The shrine is a very pleasant place to be, with well-maintained grounds with pure water flowing through them.

A monthly festival called Tsukimisai is held on the 1st and 8th of each month, and it is possible to attend. By the time I was done praying, my goshuin was complete. The cute goshuin made me feel refreshed.

"A fun shrine that makes you feel close to it."
We were able to break new ground with the shrine.

Tennomiya

12:30 Lunch at the popular bagel specialty shop "Ouchipan"

I was told that if you go to Misaki Town, you should definitely visit this bakery! They have a wide variety of breads and a cafe with seating both inside and on the terrace.

Ouchipan's bagels are very soft and easy to eat, and yet still have the chewy texture that bagels are known for. This characteristic shines even more when they are made into a sandwich, and not only are they easy to eat, but the bagel and the filling complement each other perfectly...were bagels always this delicious?!

The main sandwiches for the day were a BLT sandwich made with bacon made with underground water from the foot of Mount Kongo, which is famous for its excellent spring water, or a hamburger steak topped with rich cheddar cheese. Both were photogenic lunches filled with soft, fresh vegetables and marinades. There were six types of mini sandwiches to choose from that day. Many of them were sweet or fruity, so you could choose as if it were a dessert. The set also included a creamy soup and salad, making it both healthy and satisfying.

There are countless varieties of bagel dough, from plain to mugwort, matcha, purple sweet potato, and chocolate. Furthermore, the combinations are endless depending on the cream and ingredients you put in between. It's always fun to choose.

Ouchipan's soft bagels are an all-rounder that can go with any meal of the day. I've never really thought much of bagels before, but now I've fallen in love with them all over again.

Ouchipan

15:30 When you think of Senshu, Osaka, you think of towels. Learn about towels at the "Senshu Towel Museum"

When I heard about Senshu in Osaka, the first thing that came to mind was "Senshu towels."

Senshu is the birthplace of Japan's towel industry. The first towels in Japan were made there, and it has a history of over 130 years. Even today, towels made in the Senshu region, mainly in Izumisano City, are sold nationwide under the "Senshu Towel" brand, and their production volume accounts for about half of all towels made in Japan. What exactly are Senshu towels? We came to the "Senshu Towel Museum" to find out.

The characteristics of Senshu towels can be summed up in one word as "highly absorbent, clean, safe and secure towels." This is due to the traditional manufacturing process of Senshu towels, known as "atozashi."

The process of making towels requires a step called "sarashi," which involves bleaching and washing.
Most Senshu towels are bleached after all the steps of towel weaving are completed, so they are classified as "post-bleached" towels. The "aqua-finish method" bleaches and washes away the oils that cotton naturally contains, the glue and wax that make it easier to weave, and any impurities that may have accumulated during the process, resulting in a clean, highly absorbent finished towel. Because of this characteristic, Senshu towels have an established reputation for being "absorbent and soft to the touch from the day you buy them."

At the Senshu Towel Museum, you can see a variety of Senshu towels, as well as exhibits on the development of looms and other aspects of the history of Japanese towels. Apparently, Senshu towels these days have a mark sewn onto them, so I checked the towels at home and discovered I'd been using one without even realizing it! They're very comfortable to use, and it's one of my favorites.

Nowadays, due to the popularity of foreign towels, domestic towel production has fallen to about 20%, but there are still many people who prefer domestic towels for gifts. Towels made in Senshu are not only easy to use for everyday use, but also high-quality premium towels are differentiated by the brand name "Senshu Specialty Towels".

You can't understand the quality of towels until you try them, and you won't notice them unless you pay attention to them. I've decided to pay more attention to Japanese towels, which are made with the utmost care in terms of the materials, weaving, texture, management, and design.

Senshu Towel Hall

17:30 Rinku Park: A stylish photo spot near Kansai Airport

Rinku Town is the next station to Kansai International Airport Station. It is known for its large shopping malls and outlets. The park built on this reclaimed land is one of the attractions of Rinku Town. I stopped by there at the end of my trip.

We passed through the well-maintained flower beds and headed towards the area overlooking the sea. We could see a large fountain and the long bridge leading to Kansai Airport. There were also people walking their dogs and jogging. Due to the weather, we weren't able to see the sunset, but it's a location where you can expect to see it as well.

If you are using Kansai Airport, you can't miss Rinku Town. It's a great place to take photos with the ocean in the background, go shopping, and make great memories.

I spent two days traveling on Nankai Railway around the Senshu area of Osaka using Kansai International Airport.
In Misaki Town, where you can hear the quiet sound of the waves, the people and scenery are both very peaceful; it was a side of Osaka I had never known.
The easy-going nature and caring nature of the people of Sennan (southern Senshu) makes every kind comment I received from the people I met during my travels a lasting memory.
It's easily accessible from the center of the big city, Osaka, so why not take a trip to Misaki Town to cleanse your soul?