Cape Hirotazaki
Cape Hirotazaki lies at the tip of the peninsula just south of the Goishi Coast. It is known for the jumble of white granite rocks, from massive boulders to pebbles, that cover the shore. “Hirota” comes from the word for “beautiful beach” in the language of the indigenous Ainu people who once lived here. At one time a paved promenade followed the shoreline, but only a few sections remained after the tsunami of March 11, 2011. The contrast of white granite and blue sea is particularly dramatic when the rocks are illuminated by the setting sun. Just off the coast lie Aomatsushima Island, named after its evergreen pine trees, and Tsubakishima Island, a breeding ground for black-tailed gulls that is covered with their guano.