五色
ABOUT
Goshiki is a former town, which today occupies the western third of the city of Sumoto-shi. It consists of five villages: Tsushi and Torikai, which are on the coast; and Aihara, Hiroishi, and Sakai, which are inland.
For visitors, Goshiki is most notable for its low-key beaches and campgrounds along the coast, as well as a small scattering of historic sights.
ATTRACTIONS
Tsushi has a pleasant little beach just south of the village, marked by a single wind turbine at sea level. The beach is backed by some protective cliffs, giving it an isolated feel. On a hill overlooking Tsushi is the Wellness Park Goshiki, which houses a number of facilities, including a park and a museum. The latter is dedicated to Edo-era sailor Takadaya Kahei; those interested in learning more about him will find a memorial hall in the village as well.
South of Tsushi, along the coast, the village of Torikai has more beach and camping options, as well as the Torikai Hachimangu, one of Awaji’s better preserved shrines.
Inland, the village of Aihara has the look of a small, well-planned company town, giving it a different feel from other villages on Awaji. It’s the base for visiting the Shirasu Castle Ruins, an historic sight with an interesting tale and impressive views over the island.
Following the 66 south of Aihara, one passes through the villages of Hiroishi and Sakai on the way to Minami-Awaji; the Old Stone Pagoda in Sakai is one possible diversion along the way.
TRANSPORT
The village of Tsushi is served by regular buses to and from Kobe: see here. These buses don’t pass any of Goshiki’s other villages.
Those villages are covered by three local bus routes, though neither offers frequent services:
Tsushi Route – Links Sumoto with Aihara and Tsushi, and sometimes Torikai and Minato (in Minami-Awaji) as well.
Torikai Route – Links Sakai and Torikai with Sumoto and Minato.
Hiroishi Route – Links Hiroishi and Aihara with Tsuna.
Visiting the Shirasu Castle Ruins is tricky, whatever transport options are available to you! Be prepared for some hiking.
There are two main north-south roads running through Goshiki: the 31, which runs along the coast and is fairly flat, and the 66, which runs inland. The 66 links Goshiki with Tsuna, to the north, and Minami-Awaji, to the south.
The 46 and the 472 are the main roads linking Tsushi and Torikai with Sumoto, respectively; both can be quite narrow at times. The inland area of Goshiki offers plenty of scenic countryside, but cyclists will have to deal with many ups and downs.
TIPS
Though difficult to get to, the Shirasu Castle Ruins are an interesting place to explore, while the coast of Goshiki offers some nice, quiet beaches and great views over the Inland Sea. The villages of Goshiki are all fairly small, but despite this (or perhaps because of this) there’s a lot of accommodation along the coast.
Those with small budgets will find more choice in Goshiki than nearly anywhere else on the island. Staying here may well appeal, particularly to those looking for a quiet, rural getaway, and lots of little beaches to explore. Goshiki is well situated as an overnight stop for those cycling around Awaji.
Awaji Island 